Column: Students empowered in uncertain times

This week marks the beginning of a new academic year at Palo Alto College and across the Alamo Colleges District. As many of our employees and students will continue working and learning remotely this Fall, our dedicated faculty and staff remain committed to keeping students first and helping them fulfill their academic goals and achieve success.

Although the past six months have brought unprecedented challenges for us all, over 10,000 individuals from our community have enrolled at Palo Alto College to pursue their education. This is a testament to the resilience of every one of these individuals, as they have chosen to pursue their goals even in uncertain times. They have taken an action toward creating a better future for themselves, their families, and our entire community.

As we continue to navigate the evolving concerns related to COVID-19, the school year will look a bit different, but Palo Alto College continues its commitment to empowering students for leadership and success while providing a safe learning environment. We appreciate the support of our entire community doing their part to ensure a successful return to campus by following the guidelines laid out in our return to campus plan, which can be found at ooohang.com/pac/rtc.

For 35 years, Palo Alto College has served over 150,000 students from our community and developed great leaders across various professions. As we begin a new school year, I have no doubt that students enrolled in college this semester are destined for greatness, and they will contribute to the legacy of excellence at Palo Alto College.

This column by Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College, was originally published in the San Antonio Express-News' Southside Reporter and mysanantonio.com.