Historical Statement
SECTION I
The San Jacinto College District was born as the East Harris County Union Junior College District in May 1960 upon approval of voters in the Channelview, Deer Park, Galena Park, La Porte and Pasadena school districts. In that same election, a Board of Regents was elected and voters authorized the governing body to levy a tax for the operation and maintenance of the college.
A subsequent election in 1961 set the tax rate of 20 cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property. It was also during 1961 that the Board of Regents changed the college district's name to The San Jacinto College District.
The Board of Regents designated the name of San Jacinto College, determined the location of the college for Pasadena, and made other plans for the September 1961 opening of the college in renovated buildings in downtown Pasadena.
It was during the summer of 1961 that the Board of Regents awarded a contract for the district's first building, the Vincent C. Henrich Science Building, on its campus site at 8060 Spencer Highway. A science lecture building was completed in March 1963. Both of these buildings were paid for with current funds.
The Pasadena campus would later become known as San Jacinto College Central, as the college district grew to include two more campuses and numerous buildings which were primarily funded with proceeds from bond sales. Bond issues totalling $53 million were approved by voters from 1961 through 1979. Bonds issued in 1972 included funds for the North campus, while development of the South campus was funded through bonds issued in 1976.
Central campus facilities include an administration/classroom building, a library containing more than 113,000 volumes, a student center building, a fine arts building with a newly renovated 1,000-seat auditorium, three science buildings, a newly constructed health sciences building, a gymnasium, occupational-technical educational buildings, welding and automotive mechanics buildings and a truck driving range. Athletic training amenities include tennis courts, an all-weather track and field facility and a nine-hole golf course. Some 10,000 students now make use of these educational facilities each semester.
:Next::>
