Back to school: Resources you need to succeed in 2023-2024
August is here, and so is the mad dash for scissors, No. 2 pencils, and spiral notebooks.
If you’re a new or returning San Jacinto College student, you can skip the school supply scramble. The College has other resources for you to succeed in 2023-2024.
Meals and winter gear
If you’re taking at least three credit hours, you may use the San Jac Marketplace, a convenience-style store. Receive up to 30 pounds of groceries per week, no matter what your income/need level.
You can also get 16 café meals per month if you are a full-time student and eight meals per month if you are part-time.
“If you don’t have the ability to purchase these things at home, that could hinder your experience at San Jac,” said Brandon Ward, student engagement and support director. “We don’t want you in the classroom worrying about things you don’t have at home.”
The Marketplace is open Monday through Thursday, with hours varying among campuses. Find the Marketplace at …
- Central Campus (second floor of student center)
- South Campus (first floor of student center)
- North Campus (second floor of student center)
Also nearby is the Coat Closet, where you can pick up coats, gloves, and hats in winter. To learn more about the Marketplace, café meals, and Coat Closet, contact sanjacsea@sjcd.edu.
After-hours advising
Busy during the day? Get help on weeknights and weekends through virtual advising.
“We offer virtual services during late-night hours to be more accessible for you,” said Adriana Elizondo, advising, career, and transfer director. “For academic planning, you should still go to your assigned program advisor. But these virtual advisors can handle quick questions about registration, account holds, and degree plans.”
Virtual advisors can help Monday through Thursday, 2-11 p.m., and Sunday, 5-10 p.m.:
- Visit the live virtual lobby (www.whos-next.com/sanjac/actvirtual/).
- Sign yourself in.
- A virtual advisor will contact you when you’re next in line.
Also check out the live chat option in your SOS account.
Free counseling
Is it stress or something more? If you’re facing a challenging season, when should you get help? According to San Jac mental health services director Robert Murray, look for changes in your sleep and eating habits. Are you always feeling anxious or pressured?
“It depends on you as an individual,” Murray said. “When you’re too stressed, you won’t function as you once did. Come to student support services or schedule an appointment on the College website. We will listen in a non-judgmental way and help you problem-solve.”
As a San Jac student, you have access to free short-term counseling with the College’s licensed mental health counselors:
- Meet with a counselor by visiting the advising, career, and transfer office in each campus welcome center.
- Schedule a virtual appointment: appointments.sanjac.edu (click Student Support Services > In-Person or Virtual > Mental Health Counseling).
- Or call 281-998-6350: ext. 1014 (Central Campus), ext. 2317 (North Campus), or ext. 3444 (South Campus).
Technology service desks
San Jac’s information technology services staff have set up on-campus service desks to help with …
- San Jac network issues, including Wi-Fi connection
- Password resets
- Student loaner laptop pick-up and drop-off
- Multi-factor authentication enrollment/use
- Support with College-issued devices
- Other minor technology-related questions
Tech service desks are available at Central Campus (C1.129), North Campus (N8.112), and South Campus (S12.118). Learn more by contacting tech support at 281-998-6137.
100% Online programs
San Jac Online offers 60 fully online associate degrees and certificates in business, industry, education, health science, public safety, human/consumer services, and STEM.
This means you can earn a workforce-ready credential on your schedule with plenty of time left for family and more. The entire process from registration to graduation is available online, and you have a network of online and on-campus resources to help you reach the finish line.
Learn more at sanjac.edu/programs/online.
Resources at your fingertips
If you’re on campus, look for “San Jac on the Go.” Almost weekly, student engagement and support staff set up tables in high-traffic buildings, sharing resources and answering questions to improve your college experience.
“If you take advantage of the resources here, you’ll do better as a student, and your academic experience will be better,” Ward said. “We’re here to help you.”
