South Campus celebrates two grand openings in one week: Cosmetology Center, Engineering and Technology Center

PASADENA, Texas — San Jacinto College celebrated innovative technology and bright, open spaces for hands-on learning with the recent grand openings of its Cosmetology Center and Engineering and Technology Center at the South Campus.

Although opened to students in 2020, both facilities had their grand opening events postponed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

The College celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and these new learning spaces show its commitment to provide the latest tools and technology to prepare students for the workforce or for transfer to four-year institutions.

"San Jacinto College is teaching different students today than we did when we first opened our doors in 1961," Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer said. "That is why we continually look at how we can better serve them where they are as today's modern students. New facilities such as the Cosmetology Center and Engineering and Technology Center allow students to learn through hands-on training, using cutting-edge technology and techniques taught by some of the best industry leaders and educators available."

Cosmetology Center

On Monday, Sept. 20, elected officials, community members, faculty, and staff attended the grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for the Cosmetology Center. Afterward, guests witnessed cosmetology students in action with demonstrations from facials, haircuts, and manicures to makeup artistry. Massage therapy students also offered five-minute chair massages.

At 39,300 square feet, the Cosmetology Center houses eight labs for manicures, pedicures, hair cutting/styling, facials, and makeup. It also features massage therapy labs with an embedded classroom. Demo stations in each lab allow instructors to project live demonstration feed by camera onto lab monitors.

Programs offered include ...

• Cosmetology instructor
• Cosmetology operator
• Cosmetology high school operator dual credit
• Barber conversion (coming spring 2022)
• Facial specialist/esthetician
• Nail technician
• Massage therapy

The building also features The Salon, a full-retail spa where the public can get pampered while students gain hands-on experience. The Salon currently offers shampoo, blow-dry styles, haircuts, and basic manicures. Expanded services — including makeup artistry, facials, and pedicures — will be available in spring 2022.

Services are by appointment only. Haircuts start at $10, styling at $5, and manicures at $10. To schedule a service, call 281-998-6150, ext. 3406.

"We encourage the community to come and take advantage of these affordable prices and to help our students grow in their confidence and offerings by learning in action," said Mary Lindsay, department chair of consumer and business technology services.

Engineering and Technology Center

On Wednesday, Sept. 22, the College celebrated the grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for the Engineering and Technology Center, with elected officials, community members, faculty, and staff attending.

The event culminated in a tour of the building's labs, including X-ray/CAT scan and CADD, and an interactive virtual reality demonstration.

The 74,000-square-foot Engineering and Technology Center houses these programs:

• Engineering
• Math
• Computer science/information technology
• Engineering design graphics
• Biomedical equipment repair technology

Collaboration and state-of-the-art facility design are the focus — from three-sided whiteboards for student engagement to SageGlass with on-demand tinting and solar tubes for energy efficiency.

An innovation area, the Thinkerspace, provides virtual and augmented reality capabilities for teams to design and test ideas before creating prototypes. The Makerspace, the building's centerpiece, allows students to transform ideas into real solutions through 3D printing, a metal shop, a wood shop, and a welding area.

"The Makerspace includes a 3D print shop where we were able to help health care leaders in our community when the COVID-19 pandemic began by 3D-printing several hundred brackets for face shields," said Kevin Morris, South Campus dean of business and technology.

Both the Cosmetology Center and Engineering and Technology Center stemmed from the College's 2015 $425 million bond referendum.

"I want to thank our community members and the residents in our district for supporting us and approving the bond so we can add new buildings and update older facilities to meet the needs of our industry partners, our community, and our students," Dr. Aaron Knight, South Campus provost, said.

 

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.