Pinemont Campus Closure FAQs

Pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), HCC plans to close the Pinemont Campus when the current lease expires in August 2019. Appropriate plans are being put in place to ensure a smooth transition for the community, students, faculty and staff.

Enrollment at the Pinemont Campus has been declining for years and there is no indication this trend will reverse. Created in a former strip center in the late 1990s, the instructional environment, physical condition and range of services at Pinemont are below state standards and below newer HCC locations, peer institutions and student expectations. 

A study of options found any incremental increase in enrollment spurred by a new building would be small compared to the capital investment. Likewise, the study did not recommend relocation because students in the area are gravitating to other HCC campuses, mainly the Northline and Acres Homes campuses, which are within a 10-minute drive of Pinemont. 

HCC is required to submit what is known as a Teach-Out Plan to SACS for approval. The intent of this plan is to ensure open communication and a smooth transition for students, faculty, and staff. Implementation of the Teach-Out Plan is to begin at the end of the spring 2019 semester.

HCC's class schedule will reflect that classes will be located at other HCC campuses when Pinemont closes. Student Services will actively assist and facilitate the process for students who choose to enroll or transfer to another HCC location or a collaborating institution. All courses taught at Pinemont are general education courses that are available on every other HCC Campus, including the nearby Northline and Acres Homes campuses. There are no specialized programs offered at Pinemont.

There will be no additional charges for students who enroll at other HCC campuses.

HCC will maintain a sufficient number of qualified faculty to meet the instructional needs of the students during the Teach-Out process. The administration, deans, program directors, and faculty are required to adhere to and remain accountable for complying with SACS during the Teach-Out process.

Download SACS Approval Letter

Administrative and operations staff will be relocated based on need. This relocation will occur in phases to ensure there is appropriate support during the Teach-Out Plan.

HCC does not maintain extensive paper files of official records at the Pinemont Campus. All official student records are kept online and maintained by HCC's district office in Midtown Houston.

The HCC Board of Trustees approved the closure of Pinemont in October 2018. The Teach-Out Plan was submitted to SACS in November 2018. Implementation is scheduled to begin in May 2019 and conclude when the current lease expires in August 2019.