For a third straight year, community voters selected Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Nursing Program as the best program in Central Texas in the 2020 Best of the Best awards, hosted by the Austin American-Statesman.  

“We are so proud of the work and quality of our nursing program. This award shows just how valuable our faculty, students, and program are to the community,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “It’s so important, especially right now, to provide excellent training in healthcare for Central Texas. We remain committed to meeting critical workforce needs.”

ACC provides the community a full nursing career pathway. Students can start with an entry-level certificate to become a certified nurse aid and continue on to earn an advanced certificate in vocational nursing or associate degree in professional nursing to become a registered nurse (RN). The college also offers a pathway toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing through the RN-to-BSN program.  

ACC Nursing ranked No. 1 in the Statesman’s community poll, ahead of Texas State University and the University of Texas-Austin. The full report is available online.

“Our students are educated here and stay here, serving our community. It is important we recognize the dedication and commitment of our faculty, who continue to go above and beyond to make this program the best of the best,” says Patricia Recek, ACC Health Sciences dean. “It is an honor to win this award for three years in a row. It is our mission to provide affordable and accessible options for a healthcare career. We have a big need in Central Texas, and we remain committed to filling that need.”

ACC is the primary source for registered nurses in Central Texas, with pass rates for students taking national licensure exams at more than 93 percent in 2019. 

The college remains committed to ensuring students stay on track. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), ACC’s nursing programs coordinated additional virtual/remote meetings, including simulations, to provide students the clinical experience they need. The college works through a centralized scheduling system with the Healthcare Workforce Alliance of Central Texas to identify safe, in-person clinical opportunities. ACC also created and adopted two virtual, interactive simulations.                   

For more information, visit the Nursing Program webpage.