The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, November 2, to hear college updates, discuss the financial report, and learn about two new grants for student success via teleconference due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Below are highlights of the meeting.
ACC announces two new grants to increase student success
Trustees learned about two national Department of Education (ED) grants awarded to ACC. The grants support the college's work toward closing equity gaps and increasing student success. The first is a $1.3 million TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) grant to increase persistence, academic standing, timely graduation, and transfer rates. The second is a $2.68 million Distance Education in Focus: Improving Course Design and Strengthening Student Support (InFocus) grant to increase student persistence, retention, and success for Hispanic and other low-income students. Both will run five years. Click here for more information.
FY 21 Financial Report updated
The Board heard the current financial report at ACC.
“We are off to a good start and our financial reports are continuing to track well for FY21,” says Neil Vickers, ACC executive vice president of finance and administration. “We are committed to being good stewards of our taxpayers' dollars.”
Vickers continues to say credit and contact enrollments for fall 2020 are up, keeping tuition and fees positive, property tax dollars remain steady, and community colleges statewide currently remain exempt from state budget cuts. He reported that the college’s budget is on track and projecting a positive $2.7 million in net revenues over expenses. ACC’s Finance and Administration department will now start looking into the FY22 budget.
Trustees approve Electronic Access Control Systems, Software, and Video Surveillance Equipment
Trustees unanimously approved a $2.5 million contract to replace, implement, and integrate electronic access control systems and video surveillance cameras at all campuses. The updates will improve security at ACC including preventing unauthorized personnel from physically accessing facilities protecting college resources and stored data, increasing the protection of faculty, staff, and students, and protecting ACC assets from damage and harm.
Chancellor's Report
ACC Chancellor Dr. Richard Rhodes informed the board that spring 2021 enrollment is off to a promising start. More than 13,370 current students registered in the first week of enrollment. Students reported increased needs for access to technology, services, and a quiet place to study. ACC reopened spaces on select campuses in October to meet these needs. More than 180 students signed up for appointments in the first week.
Dr. Rhodes announced ACC’s Nursing Program was named Best of the Best for a third straight year, according to an online poll of community voters by Austin American-Statesman. He says it is a testament to the caliber of graduates and professors involved in the program. Read more information here.
Finally, Dr. Rhodes recognized the Board of Trustees for being awarded the prestigious 2020 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Board of Trustees Excellence Award. The distinction celebrates community college Boards of Trustees for their leadership and outstanding commitment to student success. Only four boards nationwide were selected for this honor. Approximately 92 percent of PTK members at ACC graduate and move on to very successful careers. Click here for more information.