Founded in 1925 as the University Junior College, San Antonio College is the oldest two-year college in the state never operated as a private institution. Under control of the University of Texas for the first year, the college held afternoon and evening classes at the old Main Avenue High School. Control of the college was transferred in 1926 to the San Antonio Independent School District, and the name was changed to San Antonio Junior College. Operations were relocated to a downtown location at the German-English school on South Alamo Street.

With passage of state legislation authorizing the creation of junior college districts, administrators embarked on an active campaign to create the San Antonio Union Junior College District. Approved in 1945, the District assumed control of the San Antonio Junior College and St. Philip's Junior College, originally a private Episcopal Institution, the following year. Two years later, "Junior" was dropped from the names of the colleges, and attention focused on finding a permanent facility. In January of 1951, San Antonio College moved to its present site on San Pedro Avenue across from San Pedro Park. Enrollment was under 500 students. In the mid-1960's the College expanded its mission to include vocational, technical and adult education.

In 1978, the District's name was changed to the San Antonio Community College District, and in 1982 it was renamed the Alamo Community College District. Today, San Antonio College is one of the largest single-campus community colleges in the country and the largest single-campus college in the State of Texas, enrolling over 22,000 students.

The college offers an inviting campus with a renovated student center and new mall area that features brick sidewalks, a water fountain, and dozens of tables and chairs for students to congregate all surrounded by a new, greener landscape.

THE HISTORY OF SAC  videotape  

San Antonio College is a public community college which provides for and supports the educational and lifelong learning needs of a multicultural community. As a leader in education, San Antonio College is committed to excellence in helping students reach their full potential by developing their academic competencies, critical thinking skills, communication proficiency, civic responsibility, and global awareness. San Antonio College fulfills its mission by offering the following:

Transfer education designed to provide students with the first two years of the bachelor's degree.

General education courses in the liberal arts and sciences to support all college degree programs.

Career preparation provided through a wide range of programs to prepare students for immediate employment.

Developmental studies for students needing to bring their basic skills to a level appropriate for college work.

Continuing education to offer a variety of training, licensure, and professional programs.

Strategic Enrollment Management that includes a uniform strategy to identify, attract, enroll, and retain students who reflect the population of our service area.

Academic support services that include a comprehensive learning resource center and basic skills activities that complement instruction.

Student support services to provide assessment, advising, counseling, tutoring, financial assistance, and social and cultural activities for all students, including those with special needs.

Promotion of cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through instructional and social activities that contribute to cultural awareness and interaction.

Involvement of business, industry, and professional groups in planning and revising educational programs to meet workforce needs.

An environment conducive to learning through an attractive physical campus and wellness oriented programs and services.

Continuous assessment of programs and services and the utilization of results for improvement.

Operation of the College within available fiscal resources to provide accountability to taxpayers of the District.

No person shall, on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age or color be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by or conducted by San Antonio College. Further, these principles shall apply to admission of students and to all aspects of the employment of personnel, staff, and faculty.

San Antonio College will be nationally recognized for student success and best practices.