The Palomino Center is described as a "one stop" center by Limited English Assistance Program (LEAP) coordinator Lydia Hannawi. There are seven different organizations now housed in the Palomino Center, including the Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC), the Returning Adult Center, the Transfer Center, Continuing Education - General Education Diploma classes, LEAP, the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) and Assessment Center, and the Palo Alto Special Services (PASS) offices.

SLAC is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Business major Lupe Hernandez said, "The new building is the best thing they could have done!" She enjoys utilizing the space and all of the new equipment that came with the change.

Gerardo Mechler, SLAC coordinator, is always willing to lend a helping hand. To keep the operations running, there are seven Math tutors, a Math specialist, three English tutors, an English specialist, two Accounting tutors, and a network lab technician. Tutoring services are offered for Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus I, II & III, Statistics, English Composition, Spanish, Accounting and Chemistry, all at no cost to Palo Alto College students. Identification is not required, but you must know your social security number to sign in.

The Returning Adult Center is a well-rounded program for re-entering students. The program provides academic advisement, enrollment assistance, personal counseling and referrals to campus and community resources, such as childcare. The Returning Adult Center is located in Room 121 in the Palomino Center, and their office is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Evening hours are available by appointment. Patty B. Parma, counselor and coordinator, has five on her staff who all participate in pave the way for re-entering college students.

A variety of information can be found on different colleges in the Transfer Center, and University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Admissions Counselor Steve Williams is available full time. Coordinator and Counselor Mary Apolinar is also available full time for academic counseling. You can register by phone in the Transfer Center and five computers have also been added for online registration.

Charley Garcia, an Education Support Specialist, said, "I enjoy the new space, but we seem to be out of the student's eye. Come on down everyone! We're a real worker-friendly, student-friendly place. We pride ourselves in serving the Palo Alto students." The Transfer Center is opened from Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Continuing Education now has two new computer lab rooms and three new classrooms with all-new furniture. Continuing Education courses are non-credit classes provided on and off campus for anyone who wants to improve their mind.

Jessie Dominguez, Continuing Education Specialist, said, "We serve as a stepping stone." Most students are brushing up on skills for their current jobs, while others are seeking a way to get a better job. Computer Software, CPR certification, ESL and Forklift Operations are just some of the classes being offered. Classes are affordable and transcripts are not needed. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 noon; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Limited English Assistance Program (LEAP) is a program that helps students with limited English. These students are offered tutoring, help with books and help completing the admission and financial aid process. Within LEAP, there are nine tutors who help with Math, Reading, English and Speech. There is one coordinator, one education skills specialist, one student services assistant and one work-study student. Claudia Aguilar, the student services assistant, said, "We have lots more space, and the students are happy." New equipment is on order for LEAP to help improve the look of the new and improved Palomino Center. It is opened Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Testing for the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP), placement tests, special accommodation testing, credit by exam, correspondence exams, and Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) exams are all available in the TASP and Assessment Center, which is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

The Palo Alto Special Services (PASS) Center serves students with disabilities. The PASS Center is made up of one coordinator, an interim coordinator, one secretary, a full-time sign language interpreter, two office workers, a special testing accommodations scheduler, someone who arranges for readers and scribes, nine reader/scribes and approximately 50 volunteer note takers. About 300 PAC students need and benefit from the PASS Centers' 11 support services.

"For the first time since the PASS Center was estsablished, the coordinator now has an office with a door. Now all confidential disabiltiy meetings and counseling can be done in private," said Sign Language Interpreter Renae Quick. "One of the desires of the PASS Center is for the Palo Alto Community to see the similarities among people rather than the differences." To make the Palomino Center accessible for all PAC students, a ramp and automatic entry doors were added to the back entrances. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

The Palo Alto Community will benefit from this "one stop center" for years to come. For more information, drop in and visit the different centers. The Palomino Center is located in the former Learning Resource Center, adjacent to the north parking lot.