Speaking of SAC

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard, talk about Travis Early College High School. Through a collaboration with San Antonio College, the students are able to take college courses while in high school. When they finish, they receive not only a high school diploma but an associate degree as well. Hear from students Joaquin Marchan, Magaly Martinez, Sarah Vargas, and Felix Willis as they talk about their experience with Travis Early College High School. More information on Travis Early College High School is available here: https://www.saisd.net/o/travis

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk with Josiah Rodriguez, public administration major. Listen to his journey as a work study, full-time student, and Student Trustee on the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about the rainy start to Fiesta. Recent rain has caused some problems for Fiesta events around town. Dr. Solis talks about Fredstock and the chances of rain. Hot Mustard asks Dr. Solis about the Week of the Young Child parade and the upcoming Puffs play at the San Pedro Playhouse.Fredstock is Thursday, April 23rd on the SAC campus at Main & Dewey. The show starts at 2;00pm and is free!

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about Fiesta at San Antonio College! Dr. Ruben Rodriguez, Music business program coordinator, joins the show to talk about Fredstock. Fredstock is Thursday, April 23rd and features music from Rick Trevino, Grupo Ma$$oro, Pain Junkies, Street Lamp, and the Barrio Blasters. Fredstock is put on by students from the Music Business program. The event is part of the hands-on experience students get at San Antonio College.fredstockmusicfest.orgDr. Erik Hillskemper, Department chair of English, humanities, and speech, joins the show to talk about the Multicultural Conference. This is the 29th year that the English, humanities, and speech department has organized the Multicultural Conference. Six events are planned from Monday, April 27th, to Thursday, April 30th.alamo.edu/sac/mcc

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk with Rayshunda Dawson, president of the San Antonio College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). Rayshunda was recently chosen for SAC’s Inaugural Royal Coronation as Sovereign and will represent SAC at several upcoming Fiesta events. Listen to her journey and plans for the future.

Dr. Stella Lovato, San Antonio College Vice President for College Services, fills in for SAC President, Dr. Solis, this week. Dr. Lovato and Jennifer Johnson, Project Manager (Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam), talk about the current construction projects on campus. Several projects are set to wrap up this year.Rose Flores, Director of the Sinkin Eco Centro, also joins the program to talk about resources available to the public and how people can get involved. They have a field adjacent to the SAC Parking Garage next to San Pedro Avenue that is a farm used to grow produce, mainly vegetables. Part of their goal is to teach people how to grow their own food.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard welcome Hector Salas, new Chief of the Alamo College District Police. Chief Salas will talk about his 30 + year career in progressive law enforcement leadership. Most recently he was Deputy Chief of Police for the San Antonio Police Department, overseeing major criminal investigations, patrol, crisis response interventions, and citywide community safety strategies. He wants to make sure the police have a student-centered approach.

Dr. Gourjoine Wade, San Antonio College Vice President for Student Success, fills in for SAC President, Dr. Solis, this week and SAC Student Government Association President, Mia Smith, also joins the show. Hot Mustard and the group take a deep dive into Student Success. The conversation reveals what Student Success really means and how it is achieved at San Antonio College.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/about-sac/leadership/college-executive-team/vice-president-for-student-success/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about the impact of former SAC President, Dr. Robert Zeigler, and Professor Emeritus, Johnny McCain. Dr. Solis talks about SAC Scores Day, a day SAC holds each semester to see what the college is doing and where it needs to go. Dr. Solis explains the metrics being measured and how SAC can stay relevant while raising the bar going forward.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard welcome Edward Rodriguez, new director of the San Antonio College Fire Academy. Edwards’s career spans 23 years in multiple leadership and firefighting roles. The San Antonio College Fire Academy has a long-standing reputation with high graduation and employment rates since 1969. Students can also pursue an associate degree in Fire Science at SAC to advance in their firefighting career. SAC offers two associate degrees in the field, including Fire Science and Fire Service Leadership. Both degree programs are available fully online.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/first-responders-academy/fire-academy/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard discuss the Superbowl, the halftime performance, and the “Superbowl flu”. SAC is hosting Valentine’s Dance on Thursday, February 12th in the Loftin Student Center. If you and your partner met on campus, please share your story with Lisa Garcia, [email protected]. Early Voting starts on Tuesday, February 17th and San Antonio College is an early voting center. People can vote in the SAC Victory Center, Room 117.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about Black History events put on by the Black Student Alliance at SAC. They also talk about the various opportunities offered by the Office of Student Life. OSL offers volunteering, on campus activities and off campus activities. Dr. Solis talks about the importance of taking advantage of these opportunities.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard welcome Mia Smith to the show. Mia is the current San Antonio College Student Government Association President. She is in her second year at SAC and plans to graduate this may with a Criminal Justice Degree. Mia talks about her journey and how the SAC Student Government Association works with, and for students.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard welcome students back for the first day of the Spring 2026 Semester! Dr. Solis talks about SAC’s participation in the MLK march and gives updates on the current construction projects around campus. Also, the Office of Student Life is hosting Weeks of Welcome; full of events and giveaways for students!

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about Artificial Intelligence, AI, in Higher Education. The pair discuss the use of AI in the admissions process at Virginia Tech and the California Institute of Technology. San Antonio College is currently laying the groundwork for the use of AI by faculty and students. Steven Mintz, history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, was quoted in a Business Insider article saying, "When 400 students can generate identical essays in 30 seconds, the problem isn't the students. The problem is the assignment." Mintz is moving away from take-home assignments, adding "no outside of class graded assignments. Assessment will be based exclusively on activities that can be observed in person." Speaking of SAC returns in the Spring 2026 Semester! https://fortune.com/2025/12/01/why-college-ai-ban-is-a-bad-idea-gen-z-jobs-crisis/https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-didnt-break-college-it-exposed-broken-system-professor-2025-11https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ai-scoring-college-essay-new-era-admissions-128025579

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk with Christal Rodriguez, Distinguished Graduate in Math. She is the mother of three kids and takes classes online as she currently lives in Corpus Christi. She has been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honors society for community college students, and the National Society of Leadership and Success.Christal talks about choosing SAC and the Alamo Colleges because they offered free books, an important consideration for someone who has bills to pay. She took 18 hours in the Spring, 18 hours during the summer, and 12 hours this fall to get her degree.Listen to her amazing journey and plans for the future!

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about Veterans Day. San Antonio College’s Veterans Affairs Office will hold a ceremony for SAC’s student veterans. Student veterans make up about 14 percent of our student population. During the ceremony, SAC will officially receive the 2025 Veteran Education Excellence Gold Award from the Texas Veteran’s Commission. This annual award has been given since 2021, and SAC has been honored every year with the Gold Award. We will be joined by Chancelor Dr. Mike Flores and Texas State Senator José Menéndez for the event to recognize our veterans. As part of the SAC 100th anniversary, we invite the community to take part in our SAC Centennial History Harvest. Faculty members in our history program are collecting the oral histories of our former students, faculty and staff. Please share your personal stories of SAC. We would also like to get photos or copies of any SAC items that you may have. By hearing from our SAC community, we hope to gain a better understanding of just what SAC has meant to those who studied here.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about First Generation Students. This week SAC is celebrating its First-Generation Students with First-Gen week. Students have several opportunities to attend workshops centered around their success in the classroom and beyond. SAC will also host the First-Gen Fest, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, on the SAC Mall. The event will feature music, games, and food. There will also be campus resources on hand to offer help to SAC’s first-gen community.This week’s guest is Tracy Floyd, Dean for Student Success, one of the newest members of our College Executive Team. She is a first-generation student and has worked in higher education for 15 years and was recently the Director of Student Success at Northeast Lakeview College She is also a veteran of the US Army where she served as a mental health technician.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about a San Antonio College holding a Fall Commencement Ceremony for the first time. The Fall Commencement is for students who completed their degree plans over the summer or at the end of this semester. Students who are eligible to graduate in December need to complete their graduation application this week – the deadline is Friday, October 31. Graduation candidates will be able to start picking up their caps and gowns starting on Monday, November 17.SAC is hosting a Blood Drive on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. October 30, in the Nursing Building, Room 218. There’s a theme for the blood drive, its called Lucky Draw, and every donor will receive a gift card. Card values range from $10 to $150. The blood drive is sponsored by the SAC chapter of the Texas Student Nurses Association and Alpha Delta Nu, the honor society for nursing students studying for an associate degree.Shoutout to KSYM’s Patti Garcia, who works in the radio-tv-film program, she will be making her 100th lifetime donation to the blood bank. She says she is dedicating this donation to SAC’s Centennial. Last year, Patti was inducted into the San Antonio Radio Hall of Fame for her long and distinguished career on local radio.More information on the Fall Commencement Ceremony is at alamo.edu/sac/graduation

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about the San Antonio College Library. Lee LeBlanc, Director of Library Services, joins the pair to talk about the amazing work the SAC library does. The library has added several innovations over the last several years to help students at SAC, proving it’s not a room with shelves of books anymore.Going back to the time of COVID, the library was one of the first places to add several soundproof study pods inside its space. The library also added larger pods to give groups of students a place to get together and collaborate without having to worry about bothering people close by.The library also pioneered new technologies to make it easier for students to use. It developed an app so students can locate items and check out books from their phones. It installed an Anytime Library self-serve kiosk that is outside of Moody Learning Center. Students can reserve a book, and it will be added to the kiosk where it can be picked up any time of day.Most Recently, the library added the Smart Lab. The lab features an Anatomage table open to students, faculty and staff. The table allows viewers to examine a human body in stunning detail. Students can see blood-flow animations, joint motions, and follow nerve pathways. Now students studying fields such as anatomy, physics, biology, and more can carry out experiments here at SAC.The library also set up KidSpot after they found students with children needed a place where they could study and keep their kids occupied. KidSpot has turned into a place where young learners can play or read books while their parents do their homework. It has become a haven for families.Find out more about the San Antonio College Library at alamo.edu/sac/library

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about a San Antonio College recently being awarded the Seal of Excelencia. The honor is awarded by Excelencia in Education, a national leader in supporting and promoting student success. SAC is one of only five U.S. colleges to be recertified this year. Five other colleges received the honor for this first time.Boeing made a $100,000 gift to SAC as part of the college’s Centennial anniversary celebration. The gift will benefit the John L. Santikos Micronaut Center at the Scobee Education Center. SAC has two new Deans who have recently joined the College Executive Team. Tracy A. Floyd is our new Dean for Student Success and Dr. Gilbert Castillo has been named Dean for Performance Excellence.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about National Night Out and the SAC Sundial. Dr. Keith Jamison, Chief of Public Safety for the Alamo Colleges District, joins the two to talk about the National Night out event at SAC. The community is invited to meet members of the Alamo Colleges Police Department and learn about campus resources and ask questions about safety and security on campus.Photographer, Samara Penny, talks about her experience with the SAC Sundial. The Sundial is SAC’s student online news source. Dr. Pedro Cabrera, Discipline Coordinator for the Journalism/Photography/Mass Media program, talks about journalism and what students can expect from the program.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard welcome Dr. Gourjoine Wade, Vice President for Student Success. Dr. Wade is in charge of several offices that deal with students when they first arrive at SAC until they graduate. The departments include Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Wellness, Student Life, Student Accessibility, and Success Coaching.Dr. Wade brings more than 20 years of experience advancing student access, success, and equity across diverse college communities. Dr. Wade earned his doctorate in higher education leadership and a master’s in higher education administration from Walden University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grambling State University.Learn more about Dr. Wade at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/about-sac/leadership/college-executive-team/vice-president-for-student-success/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about a recent Gallup Poll that finds the perceived importance of a college education has hit a new low. According to the poll, 35% of Americans believe that a college education is “Very Important,” 40% believe it is “Somewhat Important,” and 24% “Not Too Important.” In 2013, 70% of Americans felt that a college education was “Very Important.”SAC’s student population has consistently grown for the past five years, since the end of the pandemic. Students find value in earning an associate degree or a certificate. Local employers are also seeking employees with additional education. They are working with SAC to train and educate employees as their fields face dramatic changes.GALLUP Article:https://news.gallup.com/poll/695003/perceived-importance-college-hits-new-low.aspx

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about cellphones in the classroom. NEISD and Alamo Heights ISD recently announced they are going to allow students to use their cellphones in between classes and during lunch. Both districts consider those times not part of “school days”.SAC observes Patriot Day on Thursday, September 11th on the SAC Mall. The First Responders Academy will hold a memorial service at 9 a.m. to remember the first responders that gave their lives during the September 11th tragedy.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about the recent swearing-in ceremony with the Student Government Association. The SAC SGA is holding a Blood Drive on Tuesday September 9, 2025 in the Loftin Student Center.Weeks of Welcome is still going on in the SAC mall area and in Loftin. Students can make the most of their time on campus by joining one of the many clubs at the Student Organization showcase.The First Responders Academy will hold a Patriot Day memorial service Thursday, Sept. 11, at 9 a.m. in the SAC Mall. The ceremony will be a remembrance of the first responders who gave their lives during the 9-11 tragedy.

Speaking of SAC is back on KSYM, with Dr. Francisco Solis, the 14th President of San Antonio College. Dr. Solis and Hot Mustard talk about the SAC Centennial and the Founder’s Day Celebration on Saturday, September 20th.SAC also welcomed the new Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Gourjoine Wade. Previously, he served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas Lutheran University. He’s no stranger to campus. He recently served as an adjunct professor. Tim Pair was recently named SAC’s new Director of Advising. Before coming to SAC, Tim served for 30 years in both the US Army and Navy.The SAC Library unveiled their new Anatomage Table, allowing students to virtually examine the human body with stunning detail using advanced medical imaging.

Last episode of the Spring 2025 Semester! Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about the past year. SAC earned the prestigious Carnegie Leadership for Public Purpose Classification while achieving record breaking enrollment. While many schools across the nation have seen a drop in enrollment. SAC and the Alamo Colleges are bucking the trend as more students are enrolling in campuses. Dr. Solis talks about the recent election. Bexar County voters approved a $987 million bond proposal from the Alamo Colleges District. The bond will pay to acquire, improve, construct, equip, and renovate facilities across the District. The bond will allocate funds to expand SAC’s nursing program to open a learning facility by the medical center. More information on the bond is online at alamo.edu/bond-proposal This episode wraps up Speaking of SAC for the school year. We hope you have a great summer and consider taking summer school this year. Speaking of SAC resumes in August.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about the Alamo Colleges District winning the 2024 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. It is the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence. This is the second time the Alamo Colleges District has received this award since 2018. We were first honored back in 2018. The Alamo Colleges District is the only educational institution to earn the back-to-back.The SAC speech team took home several awards at the Phi Ro Pi National Speech Tournament in Virginia. Individual students won gold, silver, and bronze awards while the speech team won a gold award for Individual Events School Sweepstakes and a silver award for Overall School Sweepstakes. SAC took only three students to the tournament and they competed against 52 colleges from across the country.Congratulations also goes to Phi Theta Kappa International Honors Society chapter. This month they were honored with the Distinguished Chapter International Hallmark Award. That is the highest distinction a chapter can receive from the international honors organization. PTK is the honors society for two-year colleges. SAC’s chapter also earned a Top College Chapter award and a College Project Regional Award. The organization is more than 100 years old and has more than 1,200 chapters worldwide. SAC’s chapter was started back in 1932.Fredstock is this Thursday! Fredstock features a variety of sounds including rock, cumbia and fusion from Los #3 Dinners, The Wizard, Powdered Wig Machine, Jason Kane & the Jive, and El Dusty & the Homies. The headliner for the festival is Grupo Metal featuring Chris Perez.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about managing schoolwork while enjoying Fiesta. San Antonio College is hosting two longstanding official Fiesta Events: the Multicultural Conference and Fredstock. Both taking place next week! Dr. Erik Hillskemper, Department chair of English, speech, humanities, and education, talks about the 28th Annual Multicultural Conference. This year the theme is “More than Meets the Eye” and we have organized five events starting on Monday, April 28. The conference includes a documentary screening, storytelling, an art show and more.alamo.edu/sac/mccDr. Ruben Rodriguez, Music business program coordinator, talks about Fredstock. This is the 16th year that Fredstock has been organized as a free concert and festival by students in the music business program. This year Fredstock has moved to a new day and location. The festival is Thursday, May 1, in the Fletcher Administration Building parking lot at 2:30 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m.Fredstock will feature a variety of sounds including rock, cumbia and fusion from Los #3 Dinners, The Wizard, Powdered Wig Machine, Jason Kane & the Jive, and El Dusty & the Homies. The headliner for the festival is Grupo Metal featuring Chris Perez.Fredstock also features local vendors and food trucks! This festival is free and open to the public.fredstockmusicfest.org

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about events around campus. Hot Mustard gives an update on the KSYM Pledge Drive, KSYM managed to raise over $25,000 that goes toward licensing and equipment costs.The SAC Mortuary begins holding monthly dinners with the funeral director. The Dinner with the Funeral Director series provides the opportunity for the funeral director, Jennifer Floyd, to talk about the benefits of pre-need planning. More and more people are pre-planning their funerals to save loved ones from the stress of doing it during such an emotional time. The first dinner in April filled up in days. Look for information on the May dinner to come soon.SAC will hold First Generation Fest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, in the SAC Mall. The party celebrates our first-generation students and their accomplishment being the first in their family to attend college. Traditionally, SAC has been the school many first-generation students have attended on their higher education journey.The Scobee Education Center will be holding the 2nd Annual Fiesta de la Tierra from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Santikos Micronaut Center. During the 90-minute mission, parents and children will be immersed in a simulated rocket launch to the International Space Station. Tickets are $65 for one adult and one child in 1st through 3rd grades. An additional 1st through 3rd grade child or another adult may be added for a $20 ticket. Space is limited for the mission, so make a reservation now. More information is at 210-486-0100.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about San Antonio’s Election. The SAC Student Government Association hosts a forum for District 1 candidates. In May SAC will hold a forum for the Mayoral runoff election. The May election will also include a bond proposal from the Alamo Colleges District. The Board of Trustees has proposed a $987 million bond to acquire, improve, construct, equip, and renovate facilities across the District.The SAC Drama program hosts Wendy for the next two weeks in the McCreless Theater. The play is a new interpretation of the classic story of Peter Pan. For ticket information and more, visit alamo.edu/sac/peter-wendy

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about William R. Sinkin Eco Centro. Named after William R. Sinkin, a long-time San Antonio community leader, who was a champion for many causes, including renewable energy. Eco Centro is a community and environmental sustainability center at San Antonio College that provides information and resources to positively address environmental and social challenges.Rose Flores, Director of the Sinkin Eco Centro, talks about resources available to the public and how people can get involved.Cory Foshee, SAC’s Environmental Club, invites students to join the club and talks about her interest in sustainability and the environment.More information and upcoming events are online at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/ecocentro

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about SAC’s Strategic Plan. Every three years, SAC brings together our key stakeholders to identify and anticipate the changes needed to guide the college in the future. SAC hosts a visioning session just for students from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 in VAC 120 with another online session for faculty at 1p.m. Friday, March 28.SAC begins offering a Level 1 certificate to be certified as a life coach beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. It will be a one-year program with classes taught in 8-week terms. Unlike therapists, life coaches focus on the present and the future. They offer guidance, motivation, and strategies for success.The 2nd Annual SAC Symposium will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, in Victory Center room 202. The event aims to inform students what services are available and how to access them. This session is for all students as well as faculty and staff.SAC’s history program, with help from current students, faculty, and staff, are working on a project to record personal histories of people who were part of SAC; former students, faculty or staff members. This is for the Centennial History Project, which is part of SAC’s upcoming anniversary, which will be formally observed starting in the fall of 2025. They are inviting everyone to come to a History Harvest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the SAC Library.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about SAC’s Veterans Affairs Program. SAC has about 2,200 students who are either veterans or military connected, making up about 13% of SAC's student population. SAC’s Veterans Affairs Office has been recognized for four years in a row with the Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Gold Award. This is the highest rank given by the Texas Veterans Commission’s Veterans Education Program.Tim Pair, Director of Student Success for Veterans Affairs, talks about the services offered at SAC’s Veterans Affairs Program. Valerie Coronado and Michael Robideaux share their views as SAC veteran students.The SAC Veteran Affairs program offers Academic Advising, VA benefits certification, Tuition assistance, Tutoring, and Disability claims representation.More information is online at alamo.edu/sac/va

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about Fredstock. Fredstock is moving closer to the middle of the SAC campus on Thursday, May 1, 2025. Fredstock is a music festival put on by students of the Music Business program at San Antonio College.Dr. Solis talks about the planning process for SAC’s Centennial celebration. He also gives a brief history of SAC and how it started at Main High School with night classes. Main High School was located where Fox Tech is located today. The 100 Years celebration is coming up in September!Hot Mustard and Dr. Solis talk about A.I. and the future.More information on Fredstock is online at https://fredstockmusicfest.org/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College Interim President, talks with Hot Mustard about the transfer fair. Students can stop by and meet with representatives from local and area universities and start planning for their next academic choice. Colleges love our SAC students. They find our students are ready to succeed on their campus. We have heard from college presidents that SAC students do better at their schools than students who started on their campus. Congratulations to the SAC drama program for winning several awards from BroadwayWorld San Antonio, a website that covers the local theater scene. The awards were given for the drama program’s production of the musical Cabaret, which occurred last spring. The awards included:· Best Direction Of A Musical· Best Ensemble· Best Lighting Design Of A Play Or Musical· Best Music Direction & Orchestra Performance· Best Performer In A Musical· Best Musical The drama program is getting ready for its next production, titled Peter/Wendy, a retelling of the story of Peter Pan. The play will be staged starting April 4 through April 13.

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/ScobeeThe 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.

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about enrollment. SAC reaches a milestone enrolling more than 20,000 students for the fall 2024 semester. After a fall off for enrollment due to the pandemic, SAC’s numbers reached a record total. Employers and transfer schools know that we are offering a great education and look for our students. SAC offers a new way for students to get to graduation, enrolling in eight-week terms. Instead of a student taking four to five courses during a 16-week semester to receive 12 to 15 hours, the student takes two to three courses for eight weeks, and then another two to three courses for another eight weeks. They then end the 16-week semester by completing at least 12 hours. Research has shown that students have a better completion rate when they are enrolled in an eight-week course. Students interested in the eight-week model can talk to an advisor to take advantage of the program. Early Voting has begun. All registered voters in Bexar County can cast their ballot at SAC’s Victory Center over the next two weeks. The President’s Office has begun its annual Holiday Card Competition for SAC students. All students are invited to create a digital card that will be sent from SAC at the end of the semester. The student who designs the winning entry will receive a $500 scholarship. The deadline to submit a digital card is Friday, Nov. 8. More information and guidelines at https://www.alamo.edu/sac/news-events/events/holiday-card-competition/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard start the program talking about a recent study on cell phone usage in the classroom. The study, published in Frontiers in Education, found college students that get short phone breaks in class get higher scores on tests and use their phones less during lectures. The study suggests that one minute breaks are the perfect amount of time. San Antonio College Observes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Every year, our Empowerment Center sponsors several events to remember the victims of domestic violence and to stop the silence that keeps the community from addressing the issue. Events and exhibits are available here: https://www.alamo.edu/sac/news-events/events/domestic-violence-awareness-month/ Alamo Colleges is a partner with Ready to Work, an educational and job placement program to help San Antonians improve their quality of life. This one-of-a-kind program provides guidance and resources to education. The goal of the Ready to Work program is to get people into a career they will love. For more information, call 210-486-9675 or visit alamo.edu/readytowork

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about the various programs for students interested in medical careers. This episode features SAC students Analisa Vasquez, Dental Assisting; Marilyn Garay, Medical Assisting; and Hailey Manka representing the Nursing Program. The students share their why they chose SAC and the importance of helping people.Dental Assisting provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to care for dental patients by assisting with a variety of treatment procedures. The program also prepares them to meet all state and national requirements for a career in dental assisting.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/allied-health-and-kinesiology/dental-assisting/Medical Assisting gives hands-on training and experience in both patient care and administrative duties. Students prepare to test for the certifications needed to work as a medical assistant.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/allied-health-and-kinesiology/medical-assisting/San Antonio College offers several paths in the Nursing Program. The General Nursing two-year program allows students to become a registered nurse with no prior medical experience or training. The Nursing Career Mobility LVN to RN program builds on existing skills and knowledge as an LVN or military medic in preparation for a high-demand, well-paying career as an RN. Students can also take advantage of the BSN Nursing Bridge, a program that allows registered nurses (RNs) to complete a Bachelor of Nursing degree in one year or less while continuing to work, preparing them for higher-level nursing roles.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/nursing-education/nursing/https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/nursing-education/career-mobility-lvn-to-rn-aasmilitary-to-rn-aas/https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/nursing-education/bsn/

This week Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, and Hot Mustard talk about the First Responders Academy and its programs. This episode features SAC students Marnevil Wilkerson, law enforcement cadet; Emmanuel Solis, fire academy cadet; and Michael Autrey representing the EMS Program. The students share their experiences with the programs and discuss future plans after completion.The Law Enforcement Academy is designed to prepare the individual for a career in law enforcement and correctional science. Also, in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Program an AAS degree is available to achieve an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) Degree for career advancement.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/first-responders-academy/law-enforcement/The SAC Regional Fire Academy is a 16-week program that prepares you to earn the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certification. This certification is a requirement to become a firefighter in Texas, along with the successful completion of a recognized emergency medical course, which is also available at SAC.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/first-responders-academy/fire-academy/The EMS program is a pathway to a variety of careers in medicine, including nurses, physicians, physician assistants, dispatchers, instructors or emergency medical equipment sales.https://www.alamo.edu/sac/academics/program-index/first-responders-academy/emergency-medical-technician--paramedic/

Dr. Francisco Solis, San Antonio College President, talks with Hot Mustard about a get-out-the-vote rally held on Monday, September 23rd. Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris's husband, was joined by Mayor Ron Nirenberg, U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, and his twin brother, former Mayor Julian Castro. Dr. Solis emphasizes the importance of voting and getting students involved. Hot Mustard asks Dr. Solis about his opinion on smart phones in the classroom. California Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed a law on Monday requiring schools to limit or ban the use of smartphones. Over a dozen other states have passed similar rules this year. The Career Services Office and the First Responders Academy is holding a Protective & Emergency Services Hiring Fair on Saturday, September 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First Responders Academy. More than 30 agencies have signed up from across the state.Mi Gente Heritage Month continues with the Antojitos Festival on Wednesday, September 25th in the SAC Mall Area and a Santita’s Sweet 16 Party from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, September 26th, in the Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room.