By Andrea Vasquez
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at pottery? What about learning a new office software? Thinking about buying a motorcycle and need the license to ride? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to enter a new career field or add a new certification to your current professional expertise.
San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) can help you achieve your goals, whether it’s learning a new hobby, being more informed on your health and well-being, or taking the first steps toward your new career.
Community Engagement
CPD’s Community Engagement Center offers free health and wellness Learn@Home workshops that provide information on a variety of topics, including health care, fitness tips, financial planning, and career information sessions.
Recent Learn@Home workshops included MD Anderson’s nutrition and cancer prevention, understanding telemedicine, stress management, budget tips during a pandemic, Medicare 101, long-term care insurance, and career information sessions from various workforce training programs. These free workshops are hosted via Zoom.
For more information on upcoming free Community Education Center workshops, visit the Learn@Home webpage at sanjac.edu/learn-home. To register, email [email protected] or call 281-476-1893.
Adult Education
Community Engagement offers Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) grant programs for the adult learner, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), GED, Child Development Associate (CDA), and paraeducator training. These grants are available to assist those needing to improve their English proficiency, earn a high school equivalency diploma, or develop skills for college and career readiness.
ESL students begin by completing a free placement evaluation for one of the four ESL levels, with classes available monthly at the Central, North, and South Campuses. The GED preparation classes prepare individuals to successfully pass the GED exam to earn a high school diploma equivalency. The CDA program prepares students to become certified to work at child care facilities and is also offered in a bilingual English-Spanish format. The paraeducator training courses qualify students to work as Level 1 teacher aides at local school districts. Both the CDA and paraeducator programs are great first steps to a teaching career pathway.
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 workforce training programs. Courses include Microsoft Office specialist, medical office professional, accounting specialist, payroll specialist, QuickBooks, Intro to CNC, and commercial driving license (CDL). Additional courses may be available.
For more information on CPD adult education, language, and TPEG courses, visit sanjac.edu/continuing-professional-development/grants or call 281-542-2020.
Professional Development and Workforce Training
For those looking to upskill or move into a new career field, CPD’s professional development and workforce training courses can help you achieve that next step.
The Business Operations, Supply Chain, and Entrepreneurship sector offers courses in accounting, banking, business, career development, human resource management, project management, and supply chain.
The IT Tech area offers courses in advanced manufacturing, keyboarding, business applications, and drafting.
Health and Safety courses include certified nurse aid (CNA), emergency health, medical office professional, and phlebotomy technician.
Applied Trades courses include auto body collision repair, motorcycle basic rider, truck driving, occupational health and safety, construction, and welding.
Aerospace education and workforce development provides courses in FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test Prep, drone flight operations, and drone building. Additional courses include aerospace composites and mechanical and quality structures technician tracks, aerospace engineering drawings, nondestructive examination, and more.
For more information about CPD professional development and workforce training courses, visit sanjac.edu/continuing-professional-development.
Lifelong Learning
CPD lifelong learning programs offer more than 40 low-cost leisure learning courses for exploring personal enrichment, learning new skills, expanding your horizons, and having fun. The affordable and flexible course schedules make it easy to fit learning into any busy lifestyle. Popular courses include cake decorating, Spanish, guitar, Zumba, Pilates, Qigong, yoga therapy, Tai Chi, aromatherapy, massage therapy, jewelry design, and more. New courses in special event planning, basic sewing, and crochet will be available soon.
For more information on CPD lifelong learning courses, visit sanjac.edu/continuing-professional-development/community/life-long-learning.
