The grant will help the college improve program design, upgrade data and advising services and ensure training aligns with today’s workforce needs, according to a Dec. 16 news release.
“Houston Endowment’s investment underscores the essential role community colleges play in shaping the region’s workforce and expanding economic mobility,” San Jacinto College Chancellor Brenda Hellyer said.
The background
HB 8, passed in June 2023, replaces the previous enrollment-based funding formula with a performance-based model that ties state funding to outcomes, focusing on:
- Completion of credentials of value
- Successful transfer to four-year institutions
- Dual credit completion for high school students
These reforms are designed to position community colleges as catalysts for economic mobility and workforce readiness, according to the release.
Why now?
In Texas, 1.7 million new jobs are expected between 2018 and 2028, and by 2030, more than 62% of all jobs will require education beyond high school, according to Georgetown’s Center for Education and the Workforce.
Houston Endowment awarded $5 million in planning grants to nine Gulf Coast community colleges and a statewide nonprofit leading efforts to align higher education with Texas’ growing economic needs, according to a Nov. 12 news release.
Each selected institution received $500,000:
- Alvin Community College
- Brazosport College
- College of the Mainland
- Galveston College
- Houston Community College
- Lee College
- Lone Star College
- San Jacinto Community College
- Wharton County Junior College
San Jacinto College has previously partnered with Houston Endowment, including a $1.5 million grant to support the launch of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education to help address a teacher shortage.
“This grant strengthens our capacity to design pathways that get students to the finish line—whether that means a credential that leads directly to a good job or a seamless transfer to a university,” Hellyer said.
