Skyline College opens new student services building: Facility includes counseling, workforce development, financial aid and future innovation hub

The students who attend Skyline College come from different backgrounds, have different needs, and are reaching toward different goals, college President Nathan Carter said. The new facility is a testament to that diversity. 

“The building that we have behind me, right here and all of you, it represents something important about Skyline College that I don’t want lost on this important day, and that is that our students, they’re not one thing,” he said. “They’re not one thing at all. They’re not one story. And they don’t have all the same tasks. They need different things.” 

Skyline College, in the San Mateo County Community College District, prides itself on being a resource that prepares students for their next steps, from high schoolers participating in the Middle College program to adults gaining skills for their next career step, Carter said. 

He highlighted the upcoming innovation hub, which will offer artificial intelligence and virtual reality learning experiences, as a particular testament to that priority. 

“We’re creating the kind of space that is focused on innovation and not just the future of work, but really the present of work,” Carter said. “When we think about it, this building behind me is a shining example of what it means to show a commitment to economic mobility, upward economic mobility.” 

The facility build, which received $71 million in total investment, was funded through a mix of state, bond and local district funding, Richard Storti, San Mateo Community College District executive vice chancellor, said. He lauded the team’s work to make the building come to fruition throughout a variety of unforeseen challenges. 

“We navigated construction cost escalations, supply chain disruptions and unforeseen site conditions, while also managing the impact of pandemic, including labor constraints, evolving health and safety protocols and extended timelines,” he said. 

As a student, navigating the bureaucracy of college services can feel daunting and confusing at times, Student Government President William Oo said. Being able to come into one place and access the bevy of resources one will need to have a successful college experience can make or break whether a student moves forward, he said. 

“These moments matter. They shape whether a student persists, feels supported or even believes they belong here,” he said. “Now, everything is in one place. That means when a student walks in, they are not alone, trying to figure things out. They have access to people, resources and support, all in one place, and that changes the experience and makes college feel more manageable, more supportive and more possible.”