As more students seek flexible education options, San Jacinto College is strengthening its commitment to online learning. Led by Dr. Ken Tidwell, who joined the college as its first Chief Officer for Online Learning, San Jac Online is launching following an 18-month study that revealed a strong preference for online courses.
“Students no longer have to fit life into their education,” Dr. Tidwell says. “They can now fit education into their life, and that’s a game-changer.” If you need proof of how online learning has transformed higher education accessibility, take a quick peek at enrollment patterns. Over the course of the past academic year alone, 38% of students were exclusively online, 40% took at least one online class alongside campus courses, and only 22% attended exclusively in person.
They can now fit education into their life, and that’s a game-changer.
San Jac Online: Where Education Fits Your Life
The Evolution of Online Learning
To state that online learning has evolved in recent years would be an understatement. Truth is, the virtual campus at San Jacinto College –referred to as San Jac Online – reflects broader changes in higher education as a whole. While online classes were first conceived around 1999 with the widespread availability of the internet, the practice remained limited in capacity, primarily within for-profit institutions until the mid-2000s. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to online learning was yet to accelerate, and even as campuses reopened, student demand for online options remained high.
“The historical model has been to stop your life, come on campus, take all your classes here, eat in the cafeteria, be part of clubs, and don’t worry about a job,” Dr. Tidwell reflects. “That's not what online learning does, and that’s not the bulk of who online learning really serves in terms of their learning needs.”
The virtual campus at San Jacinto College aims to streamline the online learning experience by centralizing resources and support services. Dr. Tidwell emphasizes that online course quality is now just the baseline – the real differentiator of San Jac is student support. “The last thing you need to feel like as an online learner is you are stuck on an island and no one’s responding to you,” he comments.
Previously, online courses were managed independently by different departments across campuses, sometimes leading to inconsistencies in textbooks and course designs. The new structure provides students with a single point of contact for support and ensures consistency across online offerings. Even better, the college provides various support services, including financial aid assistance, advising, and library services, all accessible virtually. These services have proven so convenient that even on-campus students frequently prefer to access them online.
To ensure high-quality instruction, San Jac focuses on faculty development through targeted professional development in online teaching pedagogy. The college employs instructional designers to create effective online learning environments that promote student success. While course content remains the same as on-campus offerings, the delivery methods are uniquely tailored to the online environment.
Above all, being able to prioritize other duties while earning a degree remains a key attraction for online learners. “Flexibility is a big driver,” Dr. Tidwell explains. “When you have the ability to say, ‘I don't have to block out an hour three times a week and drive across town to sit in a classroom,’ that becomes a time multiplier for you.” This flexibility benefits not only adult learners but also traditional-age students juggling extracurricular activities, athletics, jobs, and family responsibilities.
Some of the popular programs at San Jac Online include business management, social sciences, behavioral sciences, and natural sciences – with the latter having become one of their top programs in terms of graduates over the past two years. Business programs are particularly popular among working professionals seeking advancement into supervisory or management roles. Additionally, the college launched an online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, reflecting the fact they are always adding new programs that can benefit the student body.
San Jacinto College also maintains the same tuition rates for online and on-campus courses, without additional online service fees that many other institutions have been known to sneak in. Financial aid options, including federal grants and foundation scholarships, are equally available to online students, and the San Jacinto College Foundation provides crucial support through scholarships and emergency funding to help students overcome unexpected challenges.
“San Jacinto College has decades of educational excellence,” Dr. Tidwell notes. “We take that excellence out of a building so that learning can happen anywhere and that student success can be felt everywhere.”
Meeting the evolving needs of its diverse student population is not an easy task, especially while maintaining a deeply rooted commitment to educational excellence and student success. However, with online learning firmly established as a permanent fixture in higher education, San Jac continues to enhance the offerings of its virtual campus and consistently surpass the needs of their students throughout the Houston community.
Flexibility and Multiple Other Benefits
We take that excellence out of a building so that learning can happen anywhere and that student success can be felt everywhere.
With the same quality instruction as on-campus courses, dedicated student support services, and flexible learning options, your educational goals are finally achievable. If you’re ready to explore San Jacinto College’s online programs while maintaining your current work and family commitments, visit http://sanjac.edu/online
Take the Next Step Without Putting Your Life on Hold
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