St. Philip's College (United States) facts for kids
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Former names
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St. Philip’s Normal and Industrial School St. Philip’s Junior College |
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| Type | Public historically black community college |
| Established | March 1, 1898 |
| President | Adena Williams Loston |
| Students | 11,655 |
| Location |
,
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United States
29°24′58″N 98°27′14″W / 29.416°N 98.454°W |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Affiliations | Alamo Colleges District |
| Mascot | Philip D. Tiger |
| Website | www.alamo.edu/spc |
St. Philip's College is a public community college in San Antonio, Texas. It is a special type of school known as a historically black college, which means it was originally founded to provide education for African American students.
The college is part of a group of schools called the Alamo Colleges District. It offers classes in more than 70 different subjects to over 11,000 students. St. Philip's is located on the East Side of San Antonio, an area with a rich African American history.
Contents
The Story of St. Philip's College
From a Sewing Class to a College
The story of St. Philip's College began on March 1, 1898. A man named James Steptoe Johnston, who was a bishop in the Episcopal Church, wanted to help educate the daughters of formerly enslaved people. The school started as a small weekend sewing class for just six Black girls.
A few years later, in 1902, a remarkable woman named Artemisia Bowden became the school's leader. She worked at St. Philip's for 52 years! Under her guidance, the small school grew into a high school and then into a junior college.
Becoming a Public College
In 1942, St. Philip's College made a big change. It stopped being a private school and joined with the San Antonio Independent School District and San Antonio College. This partnership created what is now known as the Alamo Colleges District.
The college continues to grow. In 2023, it was approved to offer its first-ever bachelor's degree, which is a four-year degree. Students can now study for a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity.
Where Students Learn
St. Philip's College has two main locations, called campuses.
- The Main Campus is on the east side of San Antonio. It has modern buildings like a theater and a health sciences center.
- The Southwest Campus is on the other side of the city. This campus is a center for technical training, like welding and fixing cars.
Classes are also held in other places, such as at local high schools and military bases.
Growing and Improving
The college has added many new buildings over the years. In 2018, it opened the Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach and Transition Center to help military veterans. It also updated its student center.
In 2022, the college opened four new buildings all on the same day! These buildings are for programs in cooking, hospitality, health, and wellness.
What You Can Study
St. Philip's College has an open admission policy. This means that anyone who has graduated from high school or has a GED certificate can apply to be a student.
The college's classes are organized into three main groups:
- Arts and Sciences: This includes subjects like history, English, and science.
- Applied Science and Technology: This area focuses on hands-on skills for jobs in technology and trades.
- Health Professions: This is for students who want to work in healthcare, such as nursing.
Students can earn different types of two-year degrees, called associate degrees. These degrees can help them start a career or transfer to a four-year university to continue their education.
