The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, April 1. During the meeting, trustees made a historic vote to approve the ACC Free Tuition pilot program. More information and additional highlights from the meeting are below.

Adoption of 2024-25 Tuition and Fees 

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved maintaining tuition and fee rates for the 2024-25 academic year. This marks the 11th consecutive year tuition and fees remain unchanged at ACC. The approved rates go into effect for the fall semester. In-district students at ACC will continue to pay $67 for tuition—with fees, it comes to $85 per credit hour. Read more here.

College Affordability Program

After months of discussion and planning, the ACC Board of Trustees approved a bold proposal to offer FREE tuition and general fees to high school graduates and GED® completers—starting first with the class of 2024. The ACC Free Tuition Pilot Program—also known as the College Affordability Plan—is a five-year pilot that will offer free tuition and general fees for high school seniors, including public, private, charter, and homeschoolers, and GED® completers who live in the ACC service area. Read more about the pilot program here.

Comprehensive Analysis Job Classification and Compensation Structure

Trustees approved the administration’s negotiation and execution of a contract to analyze ACC’s job classification and compensation structures for staff. The comprehensive analysis will help the college develop a plan of action and provide guidance on topics like employee job descriptions, job family and reporting structures, employment qualifications, and compensation philosophy and practices.

Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice

In an 8-to-1 vote, the board approved a new Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. The new program was developed in response to workforce demands to provide a clear transfer pathway to a baccalaureate degree. The degree was developed in partnership with primary transfer institutions to ensure that all classes will transfer and apply to a baccalaureate degree at the receiving institutions. Criminal Justice courses also will be offered as dual credit in area high schools. Read more about the program here.

Work Session Includes College Affordability Proposal and Strategic Plan

During a work session before the regular board meeting, the ACC Board of Trustees discussed several topics related to student success.

Dr. Mary Harris, Institutional Effectiveness & Grant Development Vice Chancellor, provided the board with an update on the next steps for the new Strategic Plan. The Chancellor requested the new Strategic Plan align directly with the Theory of Change. The next steps include including language related to the Theory of Change, approval from the board, implementation steering team, and a fall 2024 implementation.

The Chancellor invited leaders from the seven steering committees involved in the Free Tuition program to speak. Each provided an update on their team’s work and the program’s next steps. There are currently 125 members across seven different workgroups.

Board Approves Series of Contracts

The board unanimously approved multiple contracts. First, the board authorized college administration to execute a contract for districtwide Adobe Software Licenses. The contract provides the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite to all ACC faculty, staff, and students in certain programs.

The second allows the college to execute a contract for tree-trimming services on an as-needed basis for all campuses across the district. 

Another contract will allow the college to negotiate a contract with Sequel Data Systems for current security and network assessment. It will support ACC’s Data Center managed services and related buildout work. Over the next 12 months, the college will upgrade and modernize its data centers, including enhancing security. 

Finally, the board approved allowing the college to move forward with contracts for Indefinite Delivery and Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) for Districtwide Mechanical Maintenance. The contracts are for qualified mechanical maintenance service firms for ACC’s Building and Maintenance department’s districtwide repairs and maintenance of existing mechanical systems, like HVAC, as needed. 

View all recordings from the meeting here.

The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees approved a new degree in Criminal Justice during its regular meeting on Monday, April 1. The new degree will support seamless transfer for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. 

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree was designed to provide foundational education and knowledge for students planning to pursue a four-year degree. It was developed in partnership with primary transfer institutions to ensure all classes transfer and apply to a baccalaureate degree at the receiving institutions. According to college data, more than 70% of students in the Criminal Justice program say they intend to transfer.

The workforce demand continues to grow. In 2023, more than 2,700 criminal justice jobs were posted in the ACC service area. 

The college’s new program will include study in legal aspects of law enforcement, corrections, judiciary, and the supporting criminal justice system, plus investigating and ethical dilemmas. Students will leave ACC with a vision for the future of law enforcement, probation, and service to the community and communication skills to effectively meet the challenges and issues facing law enforcement today. Additionally, students can take six Criminal Justice courses, allowing them to return to ACC and complete the Texas Peace Officer Licensing Certificate Program.

The new degree program will be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval.

For more information, visit austincc.edu/criminaljustice.

ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart hosts monthly Virtual Employee Town Hall Meetings to stay connected with faculty and staff. The April Virtual Employee Town Hall takes place Friday, April 5, at 9 a.m. via Zoom.

This month’s conversation will allow us to discuss our next steps to bring our Theory of Change to life. Join us to learn more about the processes for: 

• Nominations to the design teams 
• Giving feedback on what works and what doesn’t
• Sharing ideas

Join the conversation HERE.

Each Town Hall Meeting is held via Zoom and features updates from the Chancellor about what’s happening across the district. The Chancellor is joined by cabinet members who can assist with answering questions.

During each meeting, participants will have an opportunity to share comments, questions, and ideas or concerns in the virtual chat box.

A recording of the conversation will be posted on the Town Hall Meetings web page. 

Donate your extra office supplies to help students in need. ACC Library Services has started a free student school supply pantry at each campus library. 

Students in search of everyday school supplies are welcome to visit the supply pantries and help themselves to supplies they need. The pantries have been popular with students and must be continuously replenished with donations.

If you’d like to contribute your personal office supplies, you can drop off any items in great condition at any campus library. Donations are accepted year-round (minus intersession) any time the library is open. Demand is highest at the beginning and end of the semester.

The most popular items are:

• Highlighters
• Pens
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Pencil cases
• Spiral and Composition notebooks
• Binders

View library hours here.

Austin Community College District (ACC) helps students take that next step to prepare for an internship or career with Career Ready Week. From April 1 through April 5, ACC’s Career Services team guides students through this weeklong series of specialized training and information sessions to help students achieve their goals.

Students can connect with industry experts and local employers at all ACC campuses throughout the week. The event includes job fairs, resume writing workshops, interview preparation sessions, and various career prep resources. 

Bonus Offerings

• Daily Prize Drawings: Students can enter in daily prize drawings to win Amazon gift cards
• New Professional Headshot: ACC’s Photographer Department will offer free photo sessions daily from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Career & Transfer Center at the Highland Campus.

Highlighted Events

ACC GROW Student Panel: Changing the Game of Student Employment | Monday, April 1 | 6 p.m.
JOIN VIA ZOOM
Hear from a group of students involved in the ACC GROW program on opportunities with the program.

Campus to Career: Building Your LinkedIn Presence | Tuesday, April 2 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ACC Riverside Campus
Swing by throughout the day to meet with Career Services experts and learn more about building your LinkedIn profile to attract employers’ attention.

Level Up Lab  | Wednesday, April 3 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ACC Highland Campus, Building 4000
Stop by the Career & Transfer Center at ACC Highland Campus to update your resume, learn about job and internship opportunities, or meet with career coaches. 

Managing Career Anxiety | Thursday, April 4 | Noon
JOIN VIA ZOOM
Taking that next step can be intimidating. Experts will be available to answer questions and support students with career anxiety.

Level Up Your Community Leadership | Friday, April 1 | 1 p.m.
JOIN VIA ZOOM
Connect with multiple student organizations, including NeuroBats, Honors Program, and more.

For a full list of events, visit austincc.edu/careerready.

About Career Services

ACC’s Career Services offers resources and support to help students assess their interests, strengths, transferable skills, and skills gaps to determine high-demand career pathways with strong futures. Career Services offers personalized support, including licensed career counselors, specialists offering 1-on-1 career coaching, and free training classes covering digital job search skills.

For more information, visit austincc.edu/careerservices.

Board of Trustees unanimously approves the decision to maintain tuition & fees for 2024-25

In a historic decision, the Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees unanimously approved maintaining tuition rates for the 2024/25 academic year. This marks the 11th consecutive year tuition and fees remain unchanged at ACC, highlighting the college’s commitment to providing affordable higher education opportunities to all students. The board approved the vote during its regular meeting on Monday, April 1.

“I don’t know how many colleges can say for they have kept tuition and fees the same for over a decade. I am proud of this board’s commitment to support all of our students  — and a big part of that is making college affordable,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, ACC board chair. “It’s our mission as Trustees to represent our community and to bring their needs to the forefront of the work we do here. Our vote today to maintain tuition at ACC for the 11th year in a row is something I’m incredibly proud of. “ 

In-district students at ACC will continue to pay $67 per credit hour for tuition—with fees, it comes to $85 per credit hour. The out-of-district fee will remain the same at $201 per credit hour. Trustees voted to lower these out-of-district fees in recent years. 

What Maintaining Rates Means for Students

With Monday’s vote, ACC’s tuition rate remains an estimated 31% lower than if it increased at the same rate of inflation. Considering an inflation rate of 2.5% — tuition would have gone from $67 per credit hour to $88 per credit hour over the past 11 years.  

How ACC Tuition Stacks Up Across the State

According to 2024-25 tuition and fee rates published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, ACC students who live in-district pay among the lowest rates in the state compared with other area institutions:

In-District Cost for One Year of College (30 Credit Hours – Including Tuition & Fees)

• Austin Community College: $2,550
• Alamo Community College: $3,412
• Texas State Technical College: $7,212
• The University of Texas: $10,858
• Texas A&M University: $11,550
• Texas State University: $12,220

Those who live within the ACC taxing district are considered in-district and receive reduced fees. These areas include the City of Austin and the Austin, Leander, Manor, Del Valle, Round Rock, Elgin, and Hays school districts. You can learn more and view the college’s service area at austincc.edu/servicearea. 

More Savings for Students

The vote comes the same day ACC’s Board of Trustees approved a pilot program to make tuition & general fees for all 2024 high school grads and GED® completers. Starting fall 2024, students who graduated from high school or earned their GED® after July 1, 2023, will receive free tuition and general fees from ACC. Read more about the groundbreaking program here. 

The approved tuition and fee rates go into effect for the fall 2024 semester. 

Registration for fall classes begins on Monday, May 13, and opens for everyone Friday, May 17. The semester begins on Monday, August 26. For more information, visit austincc.edu/fall.

 Pilot to launch this fall for the class of 2024 and continue each subsequent year for 5 years

The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees approved a bold proposal to offer FREE tuition for high school graduates and GED® completers — starting with the class of 2024. After months of discussion, Trustees approved the ACC Free Tuition pilot program — also known as the College Affordability Plan —  with 8 voting for and 1 abstaining. The vote occurred during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, April 1. 

“We have a responsibility to our students and the Central Texas taxpayers. I want to thank the board for their time, attention, and care to this decision. As a board, we believe deeply in making college a reality for everyone in Central Texas. It’s why we’ve voted every year — for the past 11 years — to keep ACC’s tuition rates steady,” says Dr. Barbara P. Mink, ACC Board of Trustees Chair. “While we all want free tuition for our students, this is a complicated matter. I’m cautiously hopeful. Ongoing due diligence will help ensure this program remains sustainable and keep us focused on the full picture. We are adamant about not only supporting access to higher education through programs like ACC Free Tuition, and also doing what we can to help meet the basic needs of students while they’re here.”

With the board’s approval now in place, ACC will pilot the new program for a period of 5 years, starting in fall 2024, providing FREE tuition to the class of 2024. It will continue for all future classes in subsequent years for the next 5 years. The pilot program would offer free tuition and general fees for high school seniors, including public, private, charter, and homeschoolers and GED completers, in the ACC service area. 

“I applaud the work of our board and their call for due diligence. They asked the important questions to ensure we focus on the program’s potential challenges, sustainability, and scalability,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “This board is deeply committed to the work it takes to close equity gaps and improve the lives of our students. Decisions like these demonstrate the commitment to every student and ACC and Central Texas community.”

Why Central Texas Needs A Free Tuition Program

Data indicate a significant shift in college-going rates in Central Texas. According to The College Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), 57% of high school graduates in 2023 didn’t enroll in postsecondary education after graduating. Potential ACC students, those who started an application but ultimately chose not to enroll, indicated that tuition costs were the overwhelming reason why they were postponing college. 

“People are experiencing a life that’s not affordable, and they can’t find a way to climb out and up. It’s not about getting students in the door. It’s about eliminating barriers so that they not only come, they persist, they graduate, and they enter our local workforce with the skills and talents our community needs,” says Lowery-Hart. “Every student’s success is something we can all celebrate. Central Texas is in unprecedented economic and population growth. Our region faces talent gaps, and an educated workforce is crucial to the future success.”

Free Tuition for Class of 2024 Pilot Program At-A-Glance

When drafting the proposal, ACC looked into 25 similar programs nationwide and developed a program that would be simple and easy to navigate with no income or GPA requirements. Highlights of ACC’s pilot launch, including eligibility details, are below:

• The five-year pilot program will begin with the class of 2024 and continue for the next five years. 
• All high school students or GED® completers who graduate after July 1, 2023, and live in the ACC service area are eligible.
• There are no GPA requirements or income restrictions. 
• Those who enroll will sign an acknowledgment letter and may enroll in any college academic or workforce credit program.
• Eligible students will have three years, starting from the first fall semester after they graduate high school, to complete their associate degree and obtain any desired academic or workforce credentials and/or certification. For example, an eligible student graduating from high school in May 2024 will receive free tuition from fall 2024 through summer 2027.
• The pilot program starts with the class of 2024 and will continue for all future classes in subsequent years for the next five years. 
• Students who complete the initial ACC Free Tuition program are eligible for an additional two years to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the college — for a total of five years of free tuition at ACC.
• Students are eligible and encouraged to apply for additional financial aid and scholarships.
• As a first-dollar program, students can still apply for financial aid and scholarships to support other college and life expenses; including child care, living expenses, food, and housing. 
• Students within the service area but not in the taxing district will still be responsible for the out-of-district fee.

Ongoing planning is underway to examine future phases of the program that would allow the college to expand ACC Free Tuition to more student populations. The college will present regular evaluations through the duration of the five-year pilot to examine metrics, including, but not limited to, enrollment rates, persistence rates, and completions. 

For more information about ACC Free Tuition, visit austincc.edu/freetuition. 

More Tuition Savings for Students

The vote comes the same day ACC’s Board of Trustees approved to maintain tuition and fees for the 11th year in a row. The 2024-25 tuition rates remain $67 per credit hour for in-district students at ACC — with the regular general fees, it comes to $85 per credit hour. The out-of-district fee will remain the same at $201 per credit hour. Read more here.

Students can apply now for fall classes. Registration for fall opens to everyone on Friday, May 17. For more information, visit austincc.edu/register.

ACC’s Student Advocacy and Care Centers invite all Riverbats and their families to join us for our Second Annual Spring Egg Hunts on Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1.

The events will have activities for the children, light snacks, and a hunt for eggs filled with toys and candy.

ACC faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend the Spring Egg Hunts. Attendees should bring their own basket or bag.

Friday, March 29
Cypress Campus | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Outside in the courtyard.

Eastview Campus | 2 – 4 p.m. 
Outside in the courtyard between buildings 2000 and 3000.

Monday, April 1
Hays Campus | 2 to 4 p.m. 
Outside patio (sign in inside).

For more information and to RSVP, visit here.

Austin Community College District (ACC), the University of Texas at Austin (UT), and the Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE) announce a new workforce development partnership that will fuel the needs of America’s semiconductor industry. 

Together, ACC, UT, and TIE will launch new education training programs that will leverage ACC’s advanced teaching and training facilities and UT’s faculty, research, and state-of-the-art fabrication facilities to help ensure skilled talent for a rapidly growing workforce. Semiconductors—or chips—are key electronic components critical to the global economy and national security. These chips are the brains of everything from everyday devices like flashlights and smartphones to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy, shaping the future of innovation and progress.

An estimated 115,000 new semiconductor jobs are expected to be added to the U.S. economy by 2030. A recent report from the Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics found 67,000 of those new jobs are at risk of going unfilled because of an undersized workforce and lack of training programs. Under the partnership, ACC, UT, and TIE will:

• Develop a joint Semiconductor Training Center (STC) | Featuring new facilities, students at UT, ACC, and nationally, can receive hands-on technical training combined with academic theory. It will also host programs designed to transition current workforce talent into the semiconductor industry and advance the careers of those who are in it.
• Semiconductor Curriculum & Credential Development | Leveraging faculty from both institutions along with industry experts, this initiative will build stackable skill-based microcredentials and related education activities, with plans to develop K-12 partnerships. 

“The semiconductor industry is a critical part of our local economy, and it’s growing. ACC is already recognized as one of the leading institutions in the nation for building curricula and programs that support this industry. We have the capacity to create just-in-time programs that support employers and workers, and we want to develop a model that can be scaled across the nation. ACC is proud to partner with UT-Austin to take this work to a new level,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “When we can collaborate through programs like the STC, we’re giving our students the best of both worlds — access to one of the nation’s top research universities and ACC’s advanced teaching and training facilities. Together, we can develop a model and strategy that others can replicate across the nation.”

“UT has a rich history as a leader in the semiconductor industry not only in Texas, but across the country, helping position the U.S. to compete globally with the most advanced technology and qualified workforce,” says UT President Jay Hartzell. “America needs a skilled and sustained workforce to bolster our supply chain and mitigate disruptions. Our partnership will bring together our exceptional faculty and students and top-ranked programs with Austin Community College’s nationally renowned workforce training in the heart of Austin’s well-established innovation ecosystem to achieve this.”

Texas leads the nation in semiconductor manufacturing and is tied among states with the second most semiconductor workers. In Central Texas, semiconductor workforce demand is expected to continue to rise sharply due to the growth and relocation of large companies including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Applied Materials, NXP Semiconductors, and Tokyo Electron.

The new partnership will help make Central Texas a premier hub for comprehensive workforce development that will fuel the needs of America’s semiconductor industry. The joint program will serve as a one-stop shop for industry in need of skilled labor, creating seamless and coordinated education pathways between ACC and UT to address every skill set on the semiconductor workforce continuum, ranging from equipment technician to semiconductor engineer. Both institutions will leverage and grow programs currently offered as well as jointly address the educational needs between them. 

• ACC Stackable Credentials | In fall 2023, ACC developed the Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start (STARS) curriculum as a rapid upskilling program intended to bridge incumbent workers with foundational technical skills to a manufacturing technician role. This program was developed in collaboration with the Austin Regional Manufacturing Association (ARMA) and leaders in the regional semiconductor industry – including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, Tokyo Electron, Infineon, and Applied Materials. The STARS program provides a customized blend of theoretical and hands-on training necessary for these positions, all in a condensed 4-week, full-time schedule. 
• UT Master’s Program | Starting in fall 2025, UT will offer a new Master of Science in Engineering with a major in semiconductor science and engineering. The program aims to help meet the demand for semiconductor scientists and engineers through hands-on experience in four core areas: semiconductor manufacturing, circuits and systems, heterogeneous integration, and semiconductor devices. 

“Austin Community College is a regional leader for workforce development training programs that build direct paths for students to train and get the skills needed to meet the growing needs for Central Texas’ manufacturing workforce,” says Jon Taylor, Corporate Vice President for Samsung Austin Semiconductor. “Partnerships with ACC and our peers in the industry are vital in creating a unified approach to foster opportunities to achieve and sustain economic prosperity.”

“Austin Community College is paving the way for workforce development training programs, helping to foster a new generation of local technical and engineering talent. NXP is proud to work with ACC and other companies in the region to develop these programs and nurture the talent necessary to help Austin continue to thrive as a global technology hub,” says Johnnie Cain, Front End Operations Training Program Manager for NXP Semiconductors.

As part of the ACC-UT agreement, the UT-sponsored Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE), will commit approximately $3.75 million of funding that was provided by the State of Texas through the Texas CHIPS Act to develop the STC. TIE has 84,000 square feet of clean-room space. The agreement will also leverage the facilities of industry partners. Strong workforce development is central to meeting the goals of the CHIPS for America Act. The Texas Legislature has appropriated $552 million from the Texas CHIPS Act to TIE, a public-private consortium of preeminent semiconductor systems and defense electronics companies, national labs, and academic institutions, paving the way for pursuit of federal CHIPS Act funding.  

UT also will provide opportunities for students and educators to get first-hand experience with semiconductor research and fabrication facilities, such as the Montopolis and Pickle fabrication facilities. In return, ACC will provide innovative skills-based semiconductor education and training programs and campus space to build facilities for specialized learning environments to broaden the regional training ecosystem. 

To follow our progress and learn more, visit austincc.edu/manufacturing. 

ACC Student Life offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a dynamic, fun environment with the Riverbat Leadership Challenge. The challenge is offered as part of Student Life’s spring Leadership Development Workshops. 

This year’s event is Friday, April 5, from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Rio Grande Campus.

Participants will compete in interactive challenges, conquer real-world scenarios, and network with peers to become spirited, well-rounded leaders.

Staff and faculty can encourage students to sign up to participate here. 

Among the many perks Austin Community College District staff and faculty enjoy are hundreds of learning tools that are absolutely free. Whether your interest is wellness and self-care or professional development, here are some upcoming synchronous classes available through our partnership with Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider Deer Oaks. 

Links to register for these and other free webinars are at the end of this article.

Professional Development Opportunities

FOR ALL STAFF:
Giving and Receiving Feedback
In-person at Highland Business Center, Room 201.0 (Board Room)
Friday, April 5 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Emotional Intelligence at Work
Online
Friday, May 10 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

FOR SUPERVISORS:
Successful Approaches to Difficult Employee Conversations
Online
Monday, April 29 | 1 – 2 p.m.

Creating an Environment that Encourages Employee Growth & Development 
Online
Friday, May 17 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

Register HERE for these and other upcoming professional development opportunities.

Wellness Opportunities

Virtual Group Chat Sessions
What’s on your mind? Join other ACC employees for a casual conversation led by an outside licensed professional. Come to talk or just to listen! 
Online
Friday, April 12 – 1 p.m. | Register HERE
Friday, May 31 – 1 p.m. | Register HERE

How to Change Your Perspective to Better Cope with Stress 
Online
Tuesday, April 2 – 1 p.m. | Register HERE

Calming the Anxious Mind 
Online
Wednesday, April 24 – 1 p.m. | Register HERE

Visit the Wellness website for full descriptions of these and other webinars.

Looking for even more free learning opportunities? Browse the LinkedIn Learning catalog!

Each year, the Austin Community College District (ACC) Chancellor and Board of Trustees honor outstanding ACC faculty and staff who have been selected for the Leadership & Teaching Excellence Awards. ACC congratulates the 2024 award recipients!

Back Row: Louisa Spaventa, Jessica Hejny, Daniel Dewberry, Frank Curry, Theodore Krause, Dr. Steven Sodders. Middle Row: Travis Jackson, Dr. Wendy Elle, Tracie German, Dr. LaKisha Barrett, Dr. Daira Wilson, Tenea Harvey, Matthew Evins. Front Row: Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, Jennifer Garcia, Geneva Monroe, Melissa Vetter, Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez, William Coode. Not Pictured: Joseph Martinez, Vincent Foster, Dr. Sadaf Sajjad

The Leadership Awards

ACC celebrates outstanding staff who demonstrate strong leadership and have gone above and beyond the duties listed in their job description for the ACC community.

• Administrator of the Year: Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)
• Classified Employee of the Year: Jennifer Garcia, Administrative Assistant III, Campus Manager, Rio Grande Campus
• Faculty Leader of the Year: Dr. Wendy Elle, Professor, English and Department Chair, Composition and Literary Studies, Liberal Arts Humanities & Communications Division
• Professional-Technical Employee of the Year: Matthew Evins, Director, Academic Technology, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)

Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Awards

• Tracie German, North Regional Director, Campus Operations
• Jessica Hejny, Associate Professor, Sonography Department
• Travis Jackson, Executive Assistant, Chancellor’s Office
• Geneva Monroe, Regional Coordinator, Student Life

Teaching Excellence Awards

The ACC Teaching Excellence Awards honor one full-time and one adjunct faculty member who promote special learning opportunities, student interaction, depth/breadth of knowledge in a subject area, and innovation.

• Louisa Spaventa, Adjunct Faculty, Composition & Literary Studies
• Melissa Vetter, Professor, Dental Hygiene

DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty honors nursing faculty who inspire their students to remember that nursing is more than tasks and technology.

• Tenea Harvey, Professor, Professional Nursing

eFaculty of the Year Award

This award recognizes an outstanding ACC faculty member who has creatively utilized appropriate internet-based technologies to teach online and/or hybrid courses at ACC.

• Dr. Daira Wilson, Professor, Professional Nursing

NISOD Excellence Awards

The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) has emphasized the importance of teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education.

• Dr. LaKisha Barrett, Professor, Biology
• William Coode, Adjunct Faculty, History
• Frank Curry, Professor, Photography
• Daniel Dewberry, Adjunct Faculty, Professor, Management
• Matthew Evins, Director, Academic Technology, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)
• Vincent Foster, Adjunct Faculty, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
• Jennifer Garcia, Administrative Assistant III, Campus Manager, Rio Grande Campus
• Tenea Harvey, Professor, Professional Nursing
• Theodore Krause, Professor, Architectural & Engineering CAD
• Joseph Martinez, Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics
• Dr. Sadaf Sajjad, Provost Allyship Fellow, Psychology
• Dr. Steven Sodders, Professor, Music
• Dr. Daira Wilson, Professor, Professional Nursing

The Piper Professor Nominee Award

The Piper Professor Nominee Award is a statewide award that recognizes outstanding full-time faculty in the teaching profession. 

• Dr. Sadaf Sajjad, Provost Allyship Fellow, Psychology

The League Excellence Awards

In recognition of the long tradition of excellence in community college teaching and leadership, the League Excellence Awards (formerly Roueche Award) celebrate outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff.

• Dr. Wendy Elle, Professor, English and Department Chair, Composition and Literary Studies, Liberal Arts Humanities & Communications Division — Faculty Leader of the Year
• Tracie German, North Regional Director, Campus Operations – Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
• Jessica Hejny, Associate Professor, Sonography Department – Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
• Travis Jackson, Executive Assistant, Chancellor’s Office – Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
• Geneva Monroe, Regional Coordinator, Student Life – Chancellor’s Leadership Excellence Award
• Louisa Spaventa, Adjunct Faculty, Composition & Literary Studies – Teaching Excellence Award
• Melissa Vetter, Professor, Dental Hygiene – Teaching Excellence Award
• Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez, Associate Vice Chancellor, Teaching & Learning Excellence Division – Administrator of the Year

Learn more by visiting our 2024 Awards Celebration webpage. Congratulate the awardees by visiting our dedicated Padlet to offer words of encouragement and support!

For questions, contact the Faculty Development team at facdev@austincc.edu.

More than 480 ACC employees registered to attend Spring Development Day 2024. The 2024 theme was “The Power of Love: Inspiring Change and Innovation,” which explored how love, empathy, and compassion could be powerful catalysts for positive change and innovation in both personal and professional contexts.

The event was held Friday, January 12, and featured a day full of synchronous online workshops and a hybrid (online/in-person) keynote address. 

The workshops offered attendees the opportunity to improve their creativity and wellness; develop new technical talents, teaching techniques, and interpersonal skills; and network and collaborate. Workshop topics included purpose and belonging, emotional intelligence, artificial intelligence, course design, and more. 

ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart delivered the keynote address in person at the ACC Highland Campus, and watch parties were held at the ACC Round Rock and ACC Hays campuses. Three hundred people attended the keynote online and over 80 attended in person at one of the three campuses.

If you could not attend Spring Development Day 2024 or would like to rewatch the workshops or keynote, recordings are now available on the Spring Development Day webpage.

Two ACC students recently had the opportunity to work with NASA. They share their experiences and how they have taken their passions out of this world.

Juan Manuel Monsivais-Peña

Imagine working side-by-side with NASA engineers to dissect challenges and develop solutions.

Austin Community College District (ACC) student Juan Manuel Monsivais-Peña doesn’t have to imagine — he just lived the experience. 

Thousands of students across the nation applied for the special NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program, and Juan was one of a select few hand-picked for the journey.  

He worked with teams at NASA on a series of missions to develop possible solutions for current challenges faced by NASA.

“I was surprised that I was given an offer to join. I didn’t think I would qualify when I found the opportunity, but I submitted my application. When I was told I was selected, I realized that, regardless of doubting my skills and myself, pushing myself is the way to go.”

NCAS gives community college STEM students an authentic NASA experience and encourages them to finish an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university to pursue a NASA-related field. Juan plans to complete his General Studies degree in spring 2024, followed by finishing his second degree in Biology by the end of the year.

“After this experience and being at Ames Research Center, I decided to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin and would like to pursue Astrobiology.”

Juan completed all three NCAS missions, which helped him build on all the skills he was learning. 

“Every step of the way taught you something you could apply to the next mission. Mission 1 taught us how to research and condense our information. Mission 2, we were assigned into teams and worked only for a week with no prior introductions, straight into teamwork and research. In Mission 3, we worked with an assigned team for two weeks online to do research for a drone proposal. We then went onsite at Ames Research Center.”

The experience provided Juan with the training and opportunity to see where he wanted to go and pursue his career.

“I hope to intern and even get a job working with NASA. This opportunity shows people how NASA works. You get to learn about the experiences and the journey. I feel that we put NASA workers in this place — they are above people because they’re so smart, and in reality, they are down-to-earth people.”

Ronald Ngamby

Thinking about pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Accounting, your first thought might be working in a standard office setting. For ACC student Ronald Ngamby, he was surprised to find that he could apply to NASA as a Business major. 

Ronald is back from completing his third mission with the special NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program. He began at ACC in August 2021 and plans to transfer to either the University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M at College Station. Read more about his story below.

Written by Ronald Ngamby, ACC Business Administration and Accounting Student

GETTING STARTED: MISSION 1
I applied to the NASA program because I was looking for internships first. I realized the internships I was looking at would force me to move to Houston, and I couldn’t do that. When I saw NCAS Mission 1 Discover was a virtual program, I said, “Why not?” and went for it. 

My mindset was you always have a chance when you apply, but when you never try to apply, you have zero chance to make it. When I found out I was selected, I was ecstatic. I was surprised because when you think of NASA, you think only of STEM-related fields, but that’s not true. NASA has jobs for almost every major. 

The five-week program started in the summer of 2023. We learned and researched NASA’s mission goals and multiple directorates. We would submit papers answering specific questions about these directorates and explaining what we learned. At the end of the program, we created a final infographic, putting together all the knowledge we gained from Mission 1. In Mission 1, there are around 300 students, but on Mission 2, there are around 180 students. In my experience, doing your work on time, answering all the questions properly, and finishing each assignment will allow you to continue to Mission 2.

MOVING FORWARD: MISSION 2
There are two sets of Mission 2, but instead of five weeks like Mission 1, it’s one week in the fall. My Mission 2 was to Explore, where we were put in a team of 10 and assigned to a specific role. In this mission, you simulate a job and work with a team to create a presentation for NASA panelists. The challenge we were given was to land a rover on the moon and explain its purpose and what we would achieve. For my specific role, I was a Floor Specialist operationalist. In simple terms, I’m supposed to map out the coordinates of the moon where we will land, our travel plan, and what we are doing on the moon’s surface. 

Yes, you’re probably wondering how the heck I did that in a week. Trust me, NASA gives you lots of valuable resources and has professionals in each job you’re assigned. You go to meetings every day so you can understand what’s going on. It seems like a lot, but it will be alright if you work with your team and ensure you have fun.

The NASA panelists will also have questions and critiques once you finish Mission 2. To be accepted into Mission 3: Innovate, you must combine the individual scores of your Mission 1 and Mission 2. 

THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY: MISSION 3
Mission 3 is a three-week program. The first two weeks are virtual and hosted online. The third week is an opportunity to meet in person at a NASA research center. 

For me, I was flown to the AMES Research Center in San Jose, California. Before you can make it there, you must work in a team of 10 to face a given challenge. Our specific challenge revolved around the NASA Advance Air Mobility program (AAM), specifically Consumer Enterprise and goods and services.

The goal was to identify a problem and propose a potential solution. During the two weeks online, we worked to create a final proposal that we would then present to NASA panelists in person. Once you get to the in-person portion, you get to tour the NASA research center, learn more about what they do at that specific center, and even talk to amazing people at NASA. 

We also visited the University of California, Berkeley, which was an incredible experience. It’s a great networking opportunity, learning experience, and a fun time. This also helps you with presenting skills and the pressure of speaking to people you may not be comfortable speaking to. You will learn more about yourself taking on these missions and learn to work with a team.

Don’t worry about what major you’re studying or if you think you’re not up to the challenge. Anyone can do this, especially if you come into it with an open mind and ready to learn. You will surprise yourself with your capabilities, and I know that all ACC students can tackle this challenge or any other opportunities that ACC or the world provides. Just believe in yourself, because I’m just a business major who was able to go to space. 

Austin Community College District (ACC) Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations & Public Affairs, Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm, will retire in August 2024 after more than 12 years of service to the college and the Central Texas community. 

Since joining ACC in September 2012, Dr. Malcolm has led the development and growth of the college’s government and community relations programs, as well as the college’s safety and operations initiatives.

“It has been my honor to serve ACC and our community for the past 12 years. This journey has been an immensely fulfilling chapter of my life,” says Dr. Malcolm. “Education is in my DNA. I started my career as an educator — teaching and counseling young students in the public schools. I was elected to the Texarkana College Board of Trustees in 2006, which launched my career in higher education and passion for building partnerships that bring us together for a common cause. ACC became a home for that very mission, and for more than a decade, I have devoted my time and energy to serving this college, our students, employees, and the community at large.”

“It’s difficult to imagine an ACC without the touch of Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm. She is someone who brings that rare combination of wisdom, integrity, and compassion into everything she does. I’m proud and honored to call her my colleague and my friend,” says Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, ACC Chancellor. “When you think of the many incredible achievements of this college over the past decade, Molly Beth has been there — an instrumental figure in our good work. She is someone who truly embodies our mission to serve, and the programs, initiatives, and progress she made will resonate long into the years to come.”

We sat down with Dr. Malcolm to discuss some of the brightest highlights of her time with ACC and her plans for retirement. 

1. What did you enjoy most about your time at ACC?
   I enjoyed watching ACC transform and grow to meet the needs of our community over the past 12 years. We have collectively had so many wonderful accomplishments that we can all be proud of. Most important has been seeing students excited to be Riverbats, growing and thriving to meet the needs of a changing world. And I love telling people, “This isn’t your grandmother’s community college! We are very cutting edge. The universities have nothing on us!

2. How do you feel about the accomplishments ACC achieved during your tenure? Describe three moments or achievements you’re most proud of.
   1.) I had the privilege of leading the ACC legislative effort to pass legislation allowing Texas community colleges to offer up to three bachelor’s degrees in areas of workforce need in 2017 and then growing that to 5 bachelor’s degrees in 2021. This expansion of our mission puts an affordable bachelor’s degree within the reach of more people and serves to help meet critical workforce needs.
   
   2.) I am honored to have worked on the development of Highland as an 81-acre mixed-use development project with impervious cover turned into three signature green spaces and trails amounting to close to six acres. We have honored the history of the original land owners, St. John Baptist Association, and what they built. Jacob Fontaine Plaza, named for the first moderator, guides you into the campus. A history wall in the paseo shares the important history of the St. John Orphan Home and Industrial Institute. St. John Orphan Home was the first African American orphanage in the state and the industrial institute offered vocational training. The history wall leads to St. John Encampment Commons, named for the association and the summer encampments that brought St. John parishioners from all over Central Texas for tent revivals and vocational classes. Within St. John Encampment Commons, there is a beautiful pavilion named for the University Federal Credit Union for their $5,000,000 donation to scholarships. This is the largest single donation ever given to ACC. There is also a Texas historical marker reminding us of the area’s history. Highland Campus is a national and international showcase for innovative learning environments. We have created a mixed-use development where people work, live, play, AND learn! Today we have visitors from all over the world looking at these signature spaces.
   
   3.) I worked on the development of several initiatives that have helped make ACC a unique national model for excellence including the bioscience and fashion incubators and the development of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center. ACC was the first community college and the first Texas institution to receive a grant for developing this wonderful center. Being a part of the development of the Army Software Factory, the only active Army military installation located on a college campus in the nation, and building a Veteran’s Resource Center and a Military Family Center are also projects I am very proud of. 

3. Is there a piece of wisdom from your working life you often think about? Tell us about it.
   There are two that I would share. I often tell people, “Don’t worry about being the named person in charge. Just be the person in charge.” Be willing to do the work to make things happen. There is great joy in seeing success. Another one I keep top of mind when things seem tough begins with a quote from Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, “ Vengeance rarely brings the catharsis we hope for.” And then I add to that, “Don’t let people get you down. It’s not about doing what’s easy. It’s about doing what’s right and that isn’t always popular!”

4. Tell us what’s next for you — what does retirement life look like?
   We will be moving back to our hometown of Texarkana next door to our daughter and family into a house we bought two years ago and are now in the process of remodeling. We will be spending more time watching the 16- and 10-year-old grandsons play sports, take part in theater, and other activities they enjoy. I am also looking forward to traveling more with my husband, Bruce, and just enjoying the simple things of life in our golden years. 

5. What are your hopes for the future of ACC?
   I am very excited to see ACC grow under Russell’s leadership. The foundation was laid under Dr. Rhodes’ leadership and I believe ACC will go to the next level under Russell’s leadership. ACC has the potential to be the number one community college in the nation, and I am proud to have played a small role in helping position the college for future success.

Dr. Malcolm’s last day as executive vice chancellor of Operations & Public Affairs of Austin Community College District will be August 31, 2024. 

The recently announced Austin Infrastructure Academy takes a significant step forward with the establishment of a physical presence at Austin Community College District (ACC). 

On Friday, March 22, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson hosted a press conference at the college’s Riverside Campus to announce the new development. View photos from the event here.

“ACC is a gem in our community and adds so much to Central Texas. They have a proven history of building the training programs our employers are looking for and the educational pathways that lead to family-supporting careers — not just jobs. I am confident that through our work together, in the coming months of engagement will result in a best-in-class Infrastructure Academy that truly creates opportunities and changes lives right here in Austin, Texas,” says Mayor Watson.

“ACC is the number one workforce trainer in our region. It’s our purpose and mission to create the educational and training programs that can lead Central Texans into well-paying, promising careers. We’re proud to join the city and the entire coalition of partners to support the Austin Infrastructure Academy,“ says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “We’re starting first at our Riverside Campus where we have the facilities we need to upskill and train students immediately in programs like welding, construction, heavy-machinery operation, electric fleet maintenance, and HVAC. But this is just the beginning. Our vision is to create a permanent home base for the Academy at our land in Southeast Travis County.”

Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Austin Councilmembers José Velásquez and Leslie Pool, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) representative Jeremy Hendricks, and vice president/Austin metro executive for consulting firm AECOM, Karen Campbell, joined the press event.

“I am excited about the partnerships that have gotten us to today and even more excited about the work ahead. The Academy will be a significant step forward in the emerging public-private network that integrates recruitment, training, and student support. Ultimately, it will help local students access mobility and construction careers,” says Mayor Watson. 

The Austin Infrastructure Academy integrates seamlessly into ACC’s campus plans. In 2022, ACC voters approved a General Obligation bond that included the construction of a skilled trades campus at the college’s Southeast Travis County land — located near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. 

About the Academy

The Austin City Council voted in early March 2024 to launch the Infrastructure Academy. It’s part of a $25 billion investment in mobility infrastructure which includes Project Connect, a planned airport expansion, IH-35 reconstruction, and other infrastructure projects. 

The Academy will be a training hub that will contribute to an already robust network of community-based and union-based training programs. 

Planning for the Academy will be a collaborative process that will continue over the coming months. Programs created and offered through the Academy will be designed to support real-time needs identified by both job creators and job seekers. It will include both education and training as well as support services to help guide students from training to job placement. 

Why It’s Needed

In 2023, Workforce Solutions Capital Area developed a comprehensive needs analysis that determined the local talent pipeline would need to train and upskill an additional 4,000 workers each year beyond what we currently are producing to meet the needs of the mobility projects. 

“Our region continues to be one of the fastest-growing in the country,” says Judge Brown. “Many workers, job seekers, and employers across Texas are looking to (our region) as an example, not only as a jobs creator but also as a model for how a community can come together to upskill workers, assist employers, and support working families.” 

The Austin Infrastructure Academy stems from a yearlong public-private collaboration led by Mayor Watson and Judge Brown. The Mobility & Infrastructure Partnership brought together representatives from public project sponsors, job creators, workforce training providers, and local trade unions to ensure local residents have the means to create careers and financial security for their families.