College opens new Welcome Center

San Jacinto College Central Campus students will soon be able to access all student services under one roof in the new Central Campus Welcome Center.

Funded by the College's 2015 bond referendum of $425 million, the 43,000-square-foot Welcome Center will serve as a central hub for student services, including educational planning, financial aid, enrollment services, business office, testing, orientation and campus tours, veteran services, and career services. The building will also have a new computer lab and multi-purpose room to serve as a space for workshops, trainings, campus events, and meetings. The College's North and South Campuses currently have Welcome Centers, built in 2011 and 2012 respectively, as part of the College's 2008 bond referendum.

"This new Welcome Center will be a one-stop-shop for our students to get all of the assistance they need to enroll and stay enrolled at San Jacinto College," said Van Wigginton, San Jacinto College Central Campus provost. "We are focused on removing barriers to student success, and this centralized location for student services is just one of the ways we are ensuring that students have access to all of the essential enrollment and financial services they need to succeed in completing their associate degree or technical certificate."

Joanna Zimmerman, associate vice chancellor of student services, adds that the new Welcome Center will also serve as the "front door" of the campus.

"Having the Welcome Center as its own dedicated space in a more accessible area on campus will help new students find their starting point for enrollment and all other student services they'll need when they're here," said Zimmermann. "Prior to the new building, all of our student services were in different areas, some tucked away that were not easy to find. Now students will have a central location with parking available and a familiar place on campus they know they can always visit for student resources."

For more information on student services and resources, visit sanjac.edu/support.