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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, September 18, 2011, marks the 50th anniversary of |
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the day San Jacinto College opened its doors, and students, |
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faculty, staff, and alumni are celebrating this milestone |
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throughout the 2011-2012 academic year; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally known as the East Harris County Union |
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Junior College, the institution operated out of a storefront |
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location in downtown Pasadena and held its first day of classes on |
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September 18, 1961; its initial enrollment was close to 900 |
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students, and the following year, a permanent campus opened within |
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sight of the San Jacinto Battleground; by 1964, the campus included |
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the administration, science, and music buildings, as well as a |
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gymnasium; and |
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WHEREAS, San Jacinto College was awarded full accreditation |
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by the Texas Association of Colleges and Universities in 1963, |
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becoming the first college to do so after just two years of |
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operation; during the 1960s, the institution granted associate |
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degrees and offered the first two years of a four-year college |
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curriculum in both day and evening programs, as well as technical |
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training in data processing, electronics, police administration, |
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nursing, and other fields; and |
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WHEREAS, By 1965, San Jacinto College ranked as the |
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second-largest junior college in the state with an enrollment of |
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more than 3,500 students; San Jacinto College North opened in the |
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fall of 1975, followed by San Jacinto College South four years |
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later; in December 1995, the board of regents adopted the official |
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name San Jacinto Community College District; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, San Jacinto College includes three campuses, |
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nine extension centers, and an early college high school; it serves |
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nearly 30,000 students in more than 140 degree and certificate |
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programs, including university transfer courses and job training; |
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in 2008, taxpayers approved a bond referendum to support growing |
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enrollment through renovations at each campus and the construction |
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of student success centers, science and allied health facilities, |
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and a 92,000-square-foot transportation center that will house |
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automotive technology programs; and |
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WHEREAS, For the past half-century, San Jacinto College has |
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provided students with important opportunities in higher |
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education, and in so doing it has enriched the lives of countless |
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area Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 50th |
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anniversary of San Jacinto College and recognize September 19, |
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2011, as San Jacinto College Day; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for San Jacinto College as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |