Fall classes begin Aug. 23 at San Jacinto College

Money for tuition, pandemic relief available for students

PASADENA, Texas — The fall 2021 semester begins Aug. 23 at San Jacinto College.

"We are excited to welcome students back to campus this fall," said Jose DeJesusGil, dean of enrollment services. "We know students want options for their learning environment, so we have increased our face-to-face course offerings, but we still have online and hybrid options available. We are also increasing our face-to-face opportunities for student services in advising, veterans services, career services, financial aid, counseling and enrollment, and will have more opportunities for students to get involved through our student engagement and activities department."

Student services remain available to all students online for those who wish to connect virtually, regardless of which course modality students select. Services include tutoring and advising, on-campus document drop-off, and virtual appointments for things such as admissions, career services, dual credit, financial aid, testing, veterans services, and more. Registration for the fall semester is open, and students can register for a class up until the first class meeting.

San Jacinto College has several funding options available to students as well to help pay for their tuition, books, supplies, and other things such as child care, health care, food, and housing. Those options include:

• Through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, students who were enrolled at the College on or after March 13, 2020, can apply for up to $1,500 in emergency aid relief. This money is paid directly to the student to help those with hardships due to the pandemic.
• San Jacinto College also removed any outstanding balances for students who were enrolled at the College on or after March 13, 2020, with funds from HEERF. By removing these financial barriers, students can enroll for the fall, obtain transcripts, remove any holds related on their accounts, and other important activities.
• Thanks to a generous donation from MacKenzie Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, high school seniors from the class of 2021 who live within the College's taxing district can attend college this fall and have their tuition paid for. The 21Forward Scholarship was established with money from the donation to help incoming freshmen begin their higher education journey. Students must enroll in at least six hours beginning this fall.
• Students who attended San Jac in fall 2020 or spring 2021 and received a W or an F in a class can retake the class this fall, and the College will pay their tuition for up to two classes. Students should register in SOS, set up an installment payment plan, or pay in full, and tuition will be waived if they meet the criteria.

For students who are looking for a program that will have them in the workforce in under a year, San Jacinto College is further developing its fast-track programs as part of the Texas Reskilling & Upskilling through Education initiative. This effort will define programs that require one year or less of training and lead to a workforce certificate and a livable wage. Through HEERF money, the College will be able to pay for the costs for students to obtain the training. The College plans to release more information on this in the coming weeks.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. San Jacinto College is among the top 10 community colleges in the nation as designated by the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence, and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. The College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually, and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. San Jacinto College's impact on the region totals $1.3 billion in added income, which supports 13,044 jobs. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA and Aa2 by Standard & Poor's and Moody's.

For more information about San Jacinto College call 281-998-6150, visit sanjac.edu or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.