Campus ConnectionN E W S L E T T E R T O T H E N E I G H B O R S O F L O N E S T A R C O L L E G E - N O R T H H A R R I S • F A L L 2 0 1 1

A message from the president

With the start of the fall 2011 semester nearly here, I’d like to update you, as friends and neighbors of Lone Star College-North Harris, about some of our recent accomplishments, and the events and services of the college that might be of interest to you.

The numerous renovations and new construction projects that began more than a year ago at LSC-North Harris are nearing completion or, as in the case of our new Student Services Building, are now complete. If you have been on campus recently, you may have noticed the recent installation of new landscaping and updated signage as these projects come to a close.

It seems the additional space for our students will be opening just in time. Registration for our upcoming fall session is well ahead of last year’s pace. We anticipate an enrollment increase of approximately 20 percent that will bring us to 18,000 students including 15,000 at the Thorne campus! Lone Star College System will approach the 90,000 mark for student headcount (credit and workforce) for the fall. LSCS is the second largest community college in the State of Texas and one of the largest in the country. Of course, our ability to serve students as a first-class community college relies heavily on the support of the surrounding community. We will continue to work with you to ensure we are fulfilling expectations and contributing to the growth and improvement of the area.

We are ever thankful to our community for its continued support.

Steve Head

C O N T E N T

College and community

One of the main goals at LSC-North Harris is to maintain a positive, successful relationship with the surrounding community. For the benefit of both students and our neighbors, we place an emphasis on creating a campus with an inviting look and feel. As part of our construction projects, we have made landscaping and planting of new trees a priority. We are also sensitive to traffic, safety and security issues on and around our campus. Lighting has been added and upgraded throughout the campus, and the Lone Star College Police Department patrols the campus at all times.

As always, any comments and suggestions you might have are welcomed. Feel free to call the LSC-North Harris public relations office at 281.618.5442.

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Construction update

Since the passage of the 2008 Bond referendum, LSC-North Harris has undertaken more than 320,000 square feet of new construction and renovation projects. During this time, we have appreciated your patience regarding any noise, parking limitations or changes to campus thoroughfares that might have impacted you. These projects are now nearly complete and we can now offer an even better campus experience to our students and the community.

For example, the new Student Services Building, which opened in June, offers a single destination for our students’ admission and registration needs. The new facility is home to our recruitment, advising, financial aid and testing offices and much more. It is designed to make the entire process of enrolling and succeeding in college comfortable for our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend.

Other projects scheduled for completion by the fall include the additions to the Fine Arts and Applied Technology buildings. The Health Professions Building, located in the Houston Northwest Medical Center Complex, is now the new home for our medical assisting and nursing programs as well as a host of medical career and technology training. The new 85,000 square foot LSC-Victory Center located near the Acres Homes and Inwood Forest communities is also open for classes starting this fall semester.

The additional classroom and administration space, along with technology and infrastructure improvements, have solidified our status as one of the top community college campuses in the country. It has also improved our ability to offer the programs and

training needed by area businesses, and provide both academic and leisure learning opportunities to the community.

LSC-North Harris and centers are now smoke-free

Starting in July, Lone Star College-North Harris, Greenspoint Center and Victory Center were designated smoke-free environments. At LSC-North Harris, we have removed the designated smoking areas from within the campus. It has also been barred from all of the parking lots nearest to the college’s buildings. Smoking at LSC-North Harris is now only allowed in the campus’s outermost parking lots separated from campus by Hurricane Lane. These include lots C, D, E, F, J, and M.

At LSC-Greenspoint Center and LSC-Victory Center, smoking has been completely banned, including in

all parking lots. At these locations, the smoking ban will be enforced on all college property.

The same is true at the new Health Professions Building.

The decision to create smoke-free environments at our campuses, are accompanied by our continued efforts to maintain an attractive, well-landscaped campus that contributes to both the aesthetic and the overall value of the community.

P A G E 2 L o n e S t a r . e d u / N o r t h H a r r i s

Campus ConnectionN E W S L E T T E R T O T H E N E I G H B O R S O F L O N E S T A R C O L L E G E - N O R T H H A R R I S

LSC-Victory Center

Student Services Building

Resources you can use

We encourage the community to take advantage of the wonderful programs and events that are available to them from LSC-North Harris. From our Health and Wellness center to the Academy for Lifelong Learning, there are countless opportunities here for all ages and all interests. We have also included a calendar of upcoming events on the back page of this newsletter.

Health and Wellness Center – The LSC-North Harris Health and Wellness Center is available to the community as well as

faculty, staff and students. A $100 individual, or $150 family membership fee per year,

provides access to open aerobics classes, weight and cardio rooms, a gymnasium and locker rooms. For more information about a community membership or the

facility hours, contact 281.618.5659.

Academy for Lifelong Learning - The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is a membership community providing classes and activities for seniors aged 50 and older. Membership costs are $20 per academic calendar year. Activities and courses available to ALL members include day-trips and tours, arts and crafts, and a book club. For more information call 281.765.7947.

YMCA Child Care Center at LSC-North Harris – Finding quality, convenient and affordable child care can seem like an impossible task. Fortunately, the YMCA at LSC-North Harris offers child care to area residents. The program includes an all-day pre-school for children ages 18 to 35 months, and

another for ages three to four. Both pre-schools run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Partial-day pre-school and after-school programs are available. For more information, call 281.765.7730.

Upcoming Fine Arts Events – LSC-North Harris is also home to a variety of fine arts performances and events. The fall and spring semesters are typically filled with student concerts, art exhibits and theatrical productions, as well as lecture series and workshops. We invite all of our neighbors to join us for any of these events, most of which are free to attend. For complimentary tickets to our paid events, please call 281.618.7173. A complete listing of upcoming events is available online at LoneStar.edu/arts-nharris or by calling 281.765.7812.

Campus Safety One of my personal priorities as college president is to ensure the personal safety of students, employees and community visitors. The Lone Star College System has its own state licensed police department and also utilizes security officers for safety, visibility and police activities.

Community members are welcome on campus, but I have asked that the officers monitor who is on campus as they see fit. Sometimes we cannot readily determine who belongs on campus and who does not. In my role as president, and as a parent, I am very sensitive to safety issues and want to make sure we have a safe and comfortable environment.

So, if you are visiting and an officer asks about your purpose, please do not take it personally and know that they are doing what they have been asked to do. Of course, I expect them to be courteous and use common sense in their jobs.

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DIRECT CONTACTLone Star College-North Harris

2700 W.W. Thorne Drive Houston, Texas 77073Main – 281.618.5400

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UPCOMING ACAdeMy fOr LIfeLONG LeArNING CLASSeS Call 281.765.7947 for more information. Tai Chi for Ar thr i t is 9 /2–12/16 , F r i . , 11 :00 to 11 :50 a .m.

Older Women’s Legacy (OWL’s) Wr i t ing Ci rc le 9 /7–11/16 , Wed. , 10 :00 am to Noon or 12 :30 to 2 :30 p .m.

Library Tour, LSC-North Harr is 9 /6 , Tues . , 11 :00 a .m. to Noon

Absolute Beginning Computers (ABCs) 9 /12–9/21 , Mon. and Wed. , 2 :00 to 4 :30 p .m.

Ret i rement P lanning for Pre-Ret i rees 9 /19–9/26 , Mon. , 1 :00 to 3 :00 p .m.

Medicare-Making the Right Choice 9 /20 , Tues . , 1 :30 p .m. to 3 :30 p .m.

Day Tr ip-Houston Tea Tour 9 /22 , Thurs . , 9 :00 a .m. to 3 p .m.

CPR/AED for Adul ts 9/23 , F r i . , 9 :00 a .m. to Noon

Fight Back Against Ident i ty Thef t 9/28 , Wed. , 3 :00 to 4 :00 p .m.

UPCOMING fINe ArTS eVeNTS Call 281.765.7812 for more information.

Post Hoc: Works by Robert Rue, Glassel l School 9/8–9/29 , F ine Ar ts Ga l le ry, Recept ion on 9 /8 a t 1 :00 p .m.

Vis ions 2011: Facul ty and Staf f ar t exhib i t 9 /13–10/6 , L ib ra ry Ga l le ry, Recept ion on 9 /13 a t 1 :00 p .m.

Perspect ives 2011: Ful l - t ime Facul ty ar t exhib i t 10 /4–10/27 , F ine Ar ts Ga l le ry, Recept ion on 10 /4 a t 1 :00 p .m.

Student Drawing Exhib i t ion: Student ar t exhib i t 10 /13–11/3 , L ib ra ry Ga l le ry, Recept ion on 10 /13 a t 1 :00 p .m.

Theatr ica l Product ion: Treasure Is land by Robert Louis Stevenson 10/19–10/23 , Per fo rming Ar ts Theat re , 8 :00 p .m. (2 :00 p .m. on 10 /23) , $10 Genera l Admiss ion

Fal l Potpourr i Symphonic Band and Choir Concer t 10/26 , Per fo rming Ar ts Theat re , 7 :00 p .m.

Hal loween Spectacular : Jazz Band, Pop Singers , and Stee l Band 10 /31 , Per fo rming Ar ts Theat re , 7 :00 p .m.

2700 W.W. Thorne DriveHouston, Texas 77073-3499

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