Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about the recent executive orders and how the district and SAC navigate them. Dr. Solis asks people to be patient as SAC works to understand and comply with federal orders. He also talks about the Texas legislature and the bills they have planned for the current session.

SAC celebrates Black History Month with a kickoff in the SAC Mall area. Several black-owned businesses and community organizations are on campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday February 5th. There will be weekly events throughout the month, including an African Loteria game, a “Where are We Now,” panel that includes a soul food tasting, and a presentation on the Underground Railroad to Mexico.

SAC is also Working on a New Strategic Plan. Every three years, SAC brings together key stakeholders; students, faculty, staff, educational partners, and District partners. They come together to discuss and anticipate the changes needed to serve the community. This is the way to identify and proactively plan to keep up with the dynamic changes in higher education. SAC is developing classes for students to take advantage of new technology and have even worked with business who will partner with Alamo Colleges to educate the next generation of workers.

More information on Black History Month events is online at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/blackhistorymonth

More information on the Bond 2025 Proposal is online at https://www.alamo.edu/cip

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, welcomes students back for the Spring 2025 semester. Dr. Solis talks with Hot Mustard about enrollment and how San Antonio College is beating the national trend. Students are showing they believe in the value of a SAC education. Students are finishing up certificates and finding jobs in careers that pay good wages. Many of those jobs are in high demand areas, such as medical and dental technicians, nursing, firefighting, law enforcement, and court reporting to name several areas.

Work continues across campus to meet the growing and changing demands of a larger student body. SAC continues the massive renovation project at eight buildings across the campus. This includes Chance Academic Center, McAllister Fine Arts Center, and Gonzalez Hall. Completion is scheduled to be finished by December 2025.

More details about the campus renovations are online at alamo.edu/sac/mtn

Dr. Francisco Solis talks with Hot Mustard about the Empowerment Center. The center helps non-traditional students such as first-generation students, student parents, and English language learners, enter college.

Dr. Helen Vera, Director of the Empowerment Center, talks about her history with the Empowerment Center and the programs offered. The center first opened in March 1981 as the Women’s Center. Its original mission to help women who needed to enter college to help them gain education and independence. Later the center’s mission expanded to help all adults who wanted to come to college after years away from school.

Michelle Tovar, SAC student, talks about her experience with the Empowerment Center. She also discusses the importance of scholarships and the opportunities she has access to because of the Empowerment Center.

The Empowerment Center offers a College Enrollment Lab, Academic Advising, Leadership Development, and Scholarship Assistance for students. The center also sponsors special observations and activities for students throughout the year. Recently, they held several events in October to observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Every year the center holds the WE Conference. for the past 22 years. The conference usually includes keynote speakers and breakaway workshops that focus on developing leadership abilities. This opportunity also offers qualifying participants scholarships to continue their education at SAC. The conference is now open to all students, not just women.

San Antonio College Empowerment Center: https://www.alamo.edu/sac/empowermentcenter

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard countdown to finals week at San Antonio College. They discuss strategies for taking finals. Good luck to all Alamo College students.

They also remind students to make sure they are up to date on their tuition plans. Students who are on payment plans approved by SAC’s Business Office should be aware of upcoming payment deadlines. Students who are late making payments will be charged a late fee. They could also be dropped from their classes.

Links:

San Antonio College Mortuary at https://sacmortuary.com/

Dr. Stella Lovato, San Antonio College Vice President for College Services, joins the program to talk with Hot Mustard about current Maintenance Tax Note renovation projects on campus. SAC is currently renovating Gonzales Hall, Chance Academic Center, McAllister Fine Arts Center, Nail Technical Center, and McCreless Hall.

Jennifer Johnson, Project Manager Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam, talks about the specific renovations in some of the buildings. SAC has had to make changes on campus that have caused some temporary inconveniences. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2026, about two years from now.

More information about the Maintenance Tax Notes is online at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/mtn

Dr. Cassandra Rincones, San Antonio College Vice President for Academic Success, joins the program to talk with Hot Mustard about 8-week courses. SAC aims to offer more 8-week courses across all disciplines. Data shows students have higher success rates in 8-week courses than 16-week courses.

Hannah Pierson, Nursing Junior, and David Putman, Computer Engineering Freshman, talk about their experience with 8-week courses and the benefits.

Students interested in 8-week courses can meet with their advisor or visit alamo.edu/sac/advising

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard recap the numbers from early voting. Over 9,500 people voted at the San Antonio College Victory Center during early voting. They talk about the importance of voting and some of the rules at the polls on this election day. SAC hosts an election watch party election night in NACH 218.

SAC celebrates First Gen week with numerous events across the campus. 45.5 percent of students at SAC are the first members of their families to attend college. On Thursday, First Generation students are invited to a networking social from 6 to 8pm. In the LSC Round area. There will be games, refreshments, and a chance to network with other students. They can also learn how to network on the web with platforms such as LinkedIn.

November is Native American Heritage Month and SAC has planned several events to observe the month. Events include a presentation on Celebrating Native Voices with retired professor Juan Tejeda on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in NAHC 218. A Native American and Indigenous Vendor Fair on Thursday, Nov. 14, on the SAC Mall. More information is online at alamo.edu/sac/nahm

SAC is also planning a big Veterans Day ceremony at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, in the Victory Center Valor Rooms. During the ceremony, SAC will officially be awarded the Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Gold Award from the Texans Veterans Commission. SAC’s Veterans Affairs Office is also planning events specifically for student veterans including handing out gift bags and hosting a continental breakfast. More information, go to alamo.edu/sac/veteransweek

SAC Continues Celebration of Rainbow Heritage Month with the Second Chance Homecoming Dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, in the Fiesta Room. The dress code is “come as yourself”. There will be dancing. Refreshments, and a Build-A-Mum station. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at the Student Pride Office at LSC 256.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about the 10th anniversary of the Scobee Education Center. The Center has engaged and inspired the community, especially students, on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through education on astronomy and space. The Scobee Education Center is made up of several different parts, including the Scobee Planetarium, Scanlan Observatory, the Challenger Center, and the Santikos Micronaut Center. The oldest part of the center is the planetarium, which opened its doors in 1961. Since then, a million visitors have visited the facility, most of them school-aged children who came during field trips. the Scobee Education Center will hold a party from 6 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. Tickets for three planetarium shows will be reduced to only $3 and will be available only online. For a link, visit https://www.alamo.edu/sac/Scobee

The SAC mortuary science program has been reaccredited by American Board of Funeral Service Education Committee on Accreditation. The reaccreditation is for seven years, the maximum accreditation term. It also comes with no stipulations on any changes. This speaks to the quality of the academic program that it received such high reaccreditation standards.

More information on the Mortuary Program is available at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/allied-health-and-kinesiology/mortuary-science/

Residents can find more information on the San Antonio College Mortuary at https://sacmortuary.com/

It’s the Last Week of Early Voting. All registered voters in Bexar County can cast their ballot at SAC’s Victory Center. Hours for voting are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1. County residents who want to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, can also use the Victory Center. Polling hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election day.