Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Center for Peace & Conflict Studies has been awarded a prestigious $10,000 grant from Interfaith America. This grant, one of only 11 Inspiring Campus Change grants given out this year, will fund a vital research project to deepen our understanding of students’ religious, secular, and spiritual identities.
Interfaith America‘s grants support higher education institutions in promoting religious diversity and pluralism. According to Interfaith America, this grant will provide “opportunities for institutions of higher education to promote religious pluralism and to create welcoming environments for people of diverse religious, secular, and spiritual identities” to help “campuses engage constructively with people of diverse religious backgrounds and divergent ideologies, and to model what it means to live and thrive in a diverse democracy.”
“The Inspiring Campus Change team at Interfaith America is excited to support the development of more comprehensive interfaith infrastructures and strategies at Austin Community College. The proposed project outlines a clear plan to strengthen the institution’s knowledge and engagement of religious diversity on campus, with the goal of developing strategies to advance religious pluralism,” says Bex Blackburn, Interfaith America program operations manager.
The project will be administered through the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies by a team including Shirin Catterson Khosropour, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center; Matty Martinez-Mandell, Coordinator of the Center; and Grant Potts, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities. The project will involve group interviews with students across multiple campuses and collecting collegewide data on students’ religious, secular, and spiritual identities. The findings will guide recommendations for enhancing inclusivity.
ACC qualified for the grant by participating in the Interfaith, Spiritual, Religious, and Secular Campus Climate Index, a national survey assessing campus inclusivity. This national index helps campuses better assess how welcoming they are to students from a variety of religious, spiritual, and secular backgrounds. It is a collaboration between researchers at Ohio State University and North Carolina State University, funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
The Center for Peace & Conflict Studies at ACC, founded over 10 years ago, focuses on peace, justice, and conflict understanding.
For more information, visit ACC’s Center for Peace & Conflict Studies webpage.
Austin Community College District (ACC) will close in observance of Independence Day on Thursday, July 4. The college reopens Friday, July 5. Employees are reminded to turn on their out-of-office replies.
Employees are also reminded that ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart announced during the June Virtual Employee Town Hall that the first week of July is No Meeting Week and that every Friday in July will be No Email Fridays. These opportunities will look different for everyone and employees are expected to use their judgment. The intention is for employees to find time to reconnect with each other, get organized, and get some things off their plates.
Registration Remains Open for StudentsRegistration for 5.5-week summer courses remains open. The short semester begins July 13. Students may view the summer course schedule online.
Fall registration remains open, and the fall course schedule may be viewed here. Classes begin Monday, August 26. For more information and to register, visit austincc.edu/fall.
Banking on campus is about to become much easier for the ACC community. As part of the partnership between ACC and University Federal Credit Union (UFCU), five new ATMs have been installed across various campuses, and even more are set to come online throughout the summer.
The newly installed ATMs are strategically located at the Eastview, two at Highland, Riverside, and Round Rock campuses. All the machines officially came online on Wednesday, June 26.
The initiative doesn’t stop here. ACC and UFCU are committed to expanding this convenience to other campuses, with additional ATM installations planned in the coming weeks. Specific dates for these installations will be announced soon, ensuring that all ACC campuses will benefit from on-site banking facilities before the summer ends.
Plans also are moving forward to expand UFCU branches on ACC campuses, with work opportunities for students.
As part of the partnership, ACC and UFCU will share monthly financial health literacy tips and information. The links below provide more information about the tips.
Good For You, Good For Your Wallet
Three Tips To Help College Graduates Establish Their Finances
“If you already know what you are passionate about, don’t hesitate any longer and start making it happen. And if you don’t know it yet, start exploring possibilities, you will never find what you like if you don’t start experiencing it.”
For Maria Gonzalez Lopez, it was time to dive into her future and embrace her interests. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from México, she started dancing professionally at 18 years old. However, this led to injuries and health concerns.
“Throughout my professional career in contemporary dance and fitness, I suffered multiple injuries that prevented me from continuing to develop, also greatly affecting my mental and emotional health. Therefore, I spent a lot of time in physical therapy where I witnessed how, with their help, I was able to regain a healthy body and a strong mind.”
Now, Maria is working toward a degree in physical therapy through ACC’s Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program.
“I want better to understand the human body from the scientific perspective in order to continue my training as a health professional, ultimately seeking to help people live a pain-free, happy, and better quality of life.”
Getting on track to reach these dreams hit a few bumps.
“One year ago, I suffered high levels of stress due to economic problems and difficulties with my studies plan, which greatly affected my performance in school, as well as my physical and mental health. So, I decided to quit school and return to my home country. However, life had better plans for me.”
Maria connected with Dr. Nina Almasy, dean of Health Sciences, and Estrella Barerra, associate dean of Health Sciences, who took the extra time to work with her to find the best balance for her academically and personally.
“After working and talking it through, I found I could complete my degree through the PTA program in a shorter period of time and without throwing away my dreams. I adjusted my study plans and commitments, and thanks to the guidance and motivation, I earned a 3.7 GPA in the fall semester of 2023 and 3.5 in the spring of 2024 while completing all the requirements to enter the program.”
She is now waiting to hear if she will be accepted into the program. Maria wants to make sure everyone knows that this isn’t a road or burden you have to take alone.
“The road is not easy, you are strong and, most importantly, you are never alone. I choose ACC because of its excellent services, from tutoring for my classes and personalized coaching to improve my way of studying to success coaches who guide me towards my goals. I also found my community that has opened doors to new opportunities and made me feel at home from day one through the Ascender Program.”
If accepted, Maria expects to graduate in May 2026.
For more information on ACC‘s Health Sciences programs, visit austincc.edu/healthsciences.
Have questions about Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Free Tuition Pilot Program for the class of 2024? The college prepares future Riverbats for the next steps through a series of information sessions. Hosted by the ACC Welcome Center, the workshops connect students and their families with resources that can help make their college journey smooth.
Free Tuition Pilot Program Info Sessions
Tuesday, June 25 | 12 p.m.
Tuesday, July 9 | 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23 | 12 p.m.
Tuesday, August 6 | 6 p.m.
The sessions will be hosted in both English and Spanish. All sessions will be held at ACC Highland Campus (6101 Highland Campus Dr.), Building 1000, Welcome Center.
Key Information Session HighlightsThe pilot program offers free tuition and general fees for high school seniors, including public, private, charter, and homeschoolers and GED completers, in the ACC service area for the next five years.
The first dollar program means student tuition is covered so they can apply for additional financial support like Pell Grants, financial aid, and scholarships to get additional funding to help cover other college expenses like housing, child care, textbooks, and more.
For more information, visit austincc.edu/freetuition.
Being financially successful isn’t about having a huge paycheck. It’s about how you control the money you have, including the money you earn and the money you spend. ACC’s Student Money Management Office partners with University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) to offer tips, advice, and tools that can help students and employees learn about ways they can take control of their money. In this segment, UFCU supports new college grads as they make the transition from student to career with tips on how to establish their finances.
Good for You; Good for Your WalletA Message from University Federal Credit Union
Being healthy saves money. Even knowing that unhealthy choices hit your wallet as much as your quality of life, it can still be tough to resist temptation. This article breaks down how small choices can add up to big sums of money.
Most of us have some habit we know we should kick, whether that’s indulging a sweet tooth or eating out less or skipping exercise. We know we need to make healthy choices for our own sake and our family’s. But here’s some extra motivation: being healthy saves money.
Studies from a 2018 National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that people who are unhealthy earn less, save less, and accumulate less wealth over the years than healthy people. Why? Being unhealthy can affect a person’s ability to work, increase their medical costs, and shorten their life, losing time for investments to grow. Let’s look at some numbers:
Even knowing that unhealthy choices hit your wallet as much as your quality of life, it can still be tough to resist temptation. It can help to break it down and think about how much each of those small choices can cost. Let’s look at how the numbers could add up, using a person living in Texas in 2020 as an example:
If those yearly numbers don’t give you pause, remember that these numbers are based on average prices and behaviors for one person for one year. Adjust those numbers for what you typically spend for your family and multiply that out for a lifetime, and you’ll see the numbers add up. Factor in how your health can affect your income, medical and insurance costs, and savings potential, and you’ll see just how much you can save by making healthy choices.
Want to learn more?If you know a student who could use more guidance, connect them with ACC’s Student Money Management team. Our teams can help them access special finance tools and workshops.
Employees who want support are encouraged to contact UFCU. You can visit one of the local branches to chat with a Personal Financial Representative.
Hundreds turned out to celebrate Juneteenth on Tuesday, June 18, at Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Eastview Campus.
Hosted by the ACC’s African American Cultural Center in partnership with other college offices and programs, the communitywide Juneteenth celebration included live performances, games, dancing, a dunk tank, giveaways, community tables, local artists, and more.
This annual event marks the announcement of the emancipation of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Watch the celebration highlights below.
For more information, visit the college’s Juneteenth website at austincc.edu/juneteenth.
Austin Community College District (ACC) hosts a healing conversation in response to the tragedy that struck our Round Rock community during its Juneteenth celebration, resulting in the loss of two lives.
2024 Juneteenth Tragedy Healing Conversation: A Space For Students, Staff & Faculty to Process
Date: Monday, June 24
Time: 12-1:30 p.m.
Location: ACC Round Rock Campus, Multipurpose Room 8202
If you can’t attend in person, a Zoom meeting will also be available.
The conversation will be a space for dialogue, support, and healing. It is hosted by ACC’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Center in partnership with the offices of Belonging & Purpose, Student Life, Community Engagement, and the ACC Mental Health Counseling team.
The event is open to students, faculty, and staff. Lunch will be provided.
For more information, visit austincc.edu/trht.
Additionally, students can contact counselors who are available to listen and support them. For employees, free and confidential counselors are available virtually through our Employee Assistance Program.
To help students navigate their academic journey more effectively, ACC’s Academic Guidance and Financial Aid teams have collaborated to host Academic Rescue: Guide to GPA, Financial Aid, & Student Support. This virtual workshop, held each semester, provides students with the tools and knowledge they need to reach their educational goals.
Academic Rescue: Guide to GPA, Financial Aid, & Student Support Workshop
Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The workshop teaches students how to track their academic progress and how it can affect things like financial aid, transfer, and completion. Whether they aim to complete a degree or transfer to another institution, having a clear, actionable plan is vital. Our experts will help students outline steps and strategies to reach their objectives.
For students who may be at risk of facing academic and financial obstacles due to their GPA, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), or Completion Rate, the Academic Rescue workshop is tailored to support them in getting back on track.
If you know someone who could benefit from this, encourage them to RSVP at austincc.edu/academicrescue.
“I accepted that I needed to go to a university straight out of high school—at the time, I didn’t really realize that other postsecondary options were available.”
Austin Community College District (ACC) Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart was interviewed by Roadtrip Nation—a nonprofit education media company—during the 2024 SXSW EDU Conference in March.
Dr. Lowery-Hart sat down with Roadtrip Nation students to talk about their “roads” in life, including their career journeys and insights they have learned along the way. The video is meant to help young people learn from others who have been there and provide insights to future generations.
Check out the full video at roadtripnation.com/leader/russell-lowery-hart.
At ACC, safety is everyone’s responsibility. The Campus Assessment Response Evaluation and Support (CARES) team has developed a Student Emergency Response card to assist faculty and staff in responding to student emergencies.
The card is a quick reference guide and provides easy access to the CARES referral form. Below are some top tips.
How to Respond to a Student Emergency:
ACC’s CARES program promotes the health and safety of ACC students and our entire college community. The CARES team encourages prevention and early intervention when it comes to concerning behavior.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to pick up a Student Emergency Response card at the Campus Manager’s Office on any ACC campus.
Learn more about the CARES program here.
The Office of Staff Professional Development and Evaluations will begin accepting applications for the Supervisor Certificate Program (SCP) on Monday, June 17.
The Supervisor Certificate Program aims to train non-faculty ACC employees with supervisory potential but less than one year of supervisory experience. Through the program, participants will gain insight into their personal leadership style, learn and apply necessary leadership and management philosophies and principles, and gather general supervisory skills and information specific to ACC.
Upon completing the program, the employee receives credit for one year of supervisory experience toward ACC-posted supervisory positions.
Learn more about SCP in one of these virtual info sessions:
Applicants must have their supervisor’s approval to participate in the program.
The application link will go live on the Supervisor Certificate Program webpage at 10 a.m. June 17. Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 26.
Pride Month is celebrated annually in June. Throughout the month, Austin Community College District (ACC) interviews faculty, staff, and students who self-identify as LGBTQIA+, or an ally, to learn what the month means to them and how they celebrate it.
To view LGBTQIA+ events the college is hosting or participating in throughout the month and other resources, visit ACC’s Cultural Mosaic Pride Month webpage.
Chelsea BiggerstaffChelsea Biggerstaff (she/her) is the Interim Manager for Faculty Development and has worked at ACC for 8 years.
Why do you think it’s important for ACC to celebrate Pride Month?
Queer people are everywhere and have been monumental in our country’s fight for justice and freedom. It’s important to recognize and celebrate the queer people who have made a difference in our country, in Texas, and at ACC. I am here, queer, and proud! We’re not going anywhere!
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is a celebration of love. It’s a time to honor and remember those who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights and those who continue to advocate for equity. This month stands out as my favorite time of year because it highlights the spirit of the community, which knows how to celebrate inclusively and welcomes everyone with open arms.
How do you celebrate Pride Month?
I own a small handmade ceramics business called uh oh by Chelsea. My tagline is “spreading queer joy through handmade ceramics.” Usually, I am out at events like Frida Friday’s Drag Brunch & Market, Future Front’s Pride Picnic, or The Little Gay Shop’s Pride Market. In addition, my fiancé and I host BINGO nights at Captain Quackenbush. You can come play and celebrate PRIDE with us on June 14.
How do you support the LGBTQIA+ community?
I volunteer as a curator for Future Front Texas, a culture space and exhibition series—with women and LGBTQ+ creatives at the front. We host markets, film festivals, pool parties, and conferences for queer- and women-owned businesses. I also support queer-owned businesses as much as possible.
Last year, I co-facilitated ACC’s first LGBTQ+ Faculty Affinity Group. This year, I helped curate this Pride Cultural Mosaic with great PRIDE events happening at ACC and around Austin.
Any LGBTQIA+ resources you’d like to share (ex: books, artists, websites)?
This year I read “Last Night at the Telegraph Club,” a coming-of-age young adult novel centering on the experience of Lily Hu, a teenager in 1950s San Francisco, as she comes to terms with her sexuality while also dealing with the prevalent societal racism toward Chinese Americans.
Any advice you’d like to share with our LGBTQIA+ students?
Listen to your inner voice and follow your dreams. Make sure to surround yourself with people who make you feel supported and valued.
More interviews coming soon.
To participate or nominate a colleague for ACC’s Pride Month interview series, email victoria.garza@austincc.edu or fill out this form.
External auditing firm McConnell Jones has completed its first internal audit at the college, focused on ACC’s Security, Safety, and Operations departments. The initial report is now available on the Internal Audit web page.
“What we found in this initial audit is that a lot of the frustrations we have shouldn’t have been personal. When you see the root cause, it explains why we have some of the personal conflicts. It is because the college was never set up for the kind of effectiveness that we now need to embrace, and I think what the auditors affirmed are things that we’ve talked about throughout the process,” ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart told employees at the June Virtual Employee Town Hall meeting. “We are one of the biggest colleges in the country that is still functioning on processes and policies that were created when we were a small school.”
The report presents areas that need improvement regarding processes, structures, and efficiencies. Some of the main takeaways include:
As a result of the findings, the Security, Safety, and Operations departments will undergo a reorganization that will allow the college to move forward more efficiently and collaboratively.
At the July Employee Town Hall meeting, Russell will share a plan that realigns elements of operations and safety throughout the college. He will first share it with the employees who are directly impacted.
“We’re going to realign for effectiveness and efficiency. No one is losing their job. We’re trying to flatten the organization,” he said.
To help reduce administrative overhead, some of the options Russell shared include:
This summer, Phase 2 of the internal review will begin. It will include a review of ACC’s Purchasing and Accounts Payable areas.
Ultimately, all college operations will be audited. Later this year, the college will develop a multiyear audit plan that will prioritize all operations in terms of timing. Findings from all audits and information about the process and plan will be posted on the Internal Audit web page.