Community Education at San Jacinto College includes a wealth of free and low-cost services to enrich the lives of community members and help those planning for their next steps in education. The classes appeal to all ages from youth to senior citizens.
This area of the Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) division includes Community Education Centers that offer free health and wellness workshops, grant opportunities for adult learners to receive free training, and lifelong learning courses to enrich the lives of community members.
“We seek to empower our community through knowledge,” said Dr. Janice Sullivan, dean of Community Education at San Jacinto College. “We work in collaboration with industry and organizations to engage and assist our community to develop the skills needed to be successful from basic education to leisure learning.”
The Community Education Centers, located at the College’s Central and North Campuses, welcomed approximately 500 visitors this academic year for free workshops and programs. Through an expanding collaboration with community service providers, the centers typically offer at least four workshops per month. Recent workshops delivered by Legacy Community Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA) have provided varied educational resources for nutrition, diabetes, blood pressure, skin cancer and opioid addiction. Numerous workshops also offered free health screenings. In addition, the City of Houston delivered informational sessions on the availability of support for low-income home ownership and home repair.
Sullivan said the centers also work in collaboration with Harris County Public Health – Healthy Living Matters of Pasadena to provide courses in carpentry, vertical agriculture, Master Gardener, and healthy cooking. Those interested in attending may call 281.478.2786 to receive a monthly calendar of free activities.
Education and Lifelong Learning
Another area of Community Education includes grant programs for the adult learner.
The Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) program places adult learners on a fast track to entry-level employment. For those who qualify, the program provides financial aid to economically disadvantaged residents desiring to enroll in designated CPD job training programs in health care, business and computers.
Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Grants are also available to assist those needing to improve their English proficiency, earn a high school equivalency, or develop college and career readiness.
A large area of Community Education includes courses in English as a Second Language (ESL), GED, Child Development Associate (CDA), ParaEducator training, and the HESI A2 Exam Prep. ESL students begin by completing a free placement evaluation. There are four ESL levels, and classes start monthly at the North, South and Central campuses. The GED Prep class helps individuals, who do not have a high school diploma, to successfully pass the GED test. CDA prepares students to become certified to work at child care centers, and ParaEducator training qualifies students to work as Level 1 teacher aides at local school districts. Both are a great first step on the pathway to becoming a teacher. The CDA program is also offered in a Bilingual Spanish format. The HESI A2 exam is required for entrance into many nursing programs, including San Jacinto College. ACT and SAT prep courses will soon be available for high school students.
The lifelong learning program offers a variety of low-cost courses for personal enrichment. The College offers more than 40 leisure learning options to help community members learn new skills, expand their horizons and have fun. Affordable and flexible course schedules make it easy to fit learning into a busy lifestyle. Popular courses include Motorcycle License, Online Driver Safety, Cake Decorating, Spanish, Guitar, Zumba, Pilates, Qigong, Yoga Therapy, Tai Chi, Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Jewelry design and more. Exciting travel packages, local excursions and new courses in party planning, basic sewing and crochet will be added fall 2018.
“Community Education is pleased to support San Jacinto College in becoming a recognized leader in the quality and availability of alternative delivery offerings,” said Sullivan. “By offering classes in convenient locations throughout the community, we lead the way in removing barriers so that more people can have an opportunity at enriching their lives through education.”
For more information about these programs offered through Community Education at San Jacinto College, contact [email protected] or call 281.542.2020
