Year in Review: 2007 at Austin Community College

January calendar iconIt’s a Bellwether for College Connection. The Community Colleges Futures Assembly bestows its prestigious award for the Austin Community College District’s homegrown recruitment program, that brings enrollment services directly to area high schools free of charge. Update: The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopted College Connection and funded the program’s statewide launch.

February calendar iconConstruction finishes on Cypress Creek Campus’ new building in time to host a grand opening. The event celebrates a milestone in the three-year expansion and renovation project, which more than doubled campus capacity. The 2003 taxpayer-approved bond referendum funded the project. Update: Additional parking is set for development in spring 2008.

March calendar iconACC physics students take flight with NASA as part of the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program. They are the only community college team in the nation chosen to fly and test an experiment.

April calendar iconDia de la Familia kicks off at the Riverside Campus with fun activities for the children and college information for their parents. There were bouncy slides, free food, and giveaways. The event spotlights the important role the Hispanic community will play in meeting the state’s college enrollment goals.

May calendar iconNewly minted graduates attend 2007 commencement at the Austin Convention Center to receive their ACC degrees and certificates. Of 1,490 graduates receiving diplomas, more than 12 percent – or 188 – were awarded the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.

June calendar iconThis summer is a great time to be a kid, as ACC expands its Summer Youth Programs to entertain, educate, and develop a college-going culture at an early age. More than 100 activities stretched their choices from college skills “bridge” programs for high school seniors to kindergym classes for preschoolers.

July Calendar IconThe Board of Trustees holds the line on in-district tuition in the 2007-2008 college budget despite a shortfall resulting from Gov. Rick Perry’s veto of statewide community college funds. Trustees did approve an $8 per-credit increase in out-of-district tuition, $25 per-credit increase for out-of-state tuition, and a $2 per-credit general fee. Update: The fee increase was rescinded in November following the state’s restoration of slashed funding.

August calendar iconACC expands the number of registered nursing students to over 400 a year with the opening of the Clinical Education Center, in partnership with Seton Family of Hospitals. The move cements ACC’s role as the primary trainer of emergency responders and healthcare workers in Central Texas and helps address the area’s severe nursing shortage.

September calendar iconThe ACC Foundation awards a historic number of scholarships – a total of 204 worth more than $244,000. The record increase was due to an endowment that grew from $648,000 in FY04 to $1.2 million in FY07. Visit the Foundation website.

October calendar iconA group of Round Rock citizens surpasses its goals in efforts to pursue annexation of the entire Round Rock Independent School District into the Austin Community College District. ACCtion4Education submitted a petition with 8,000 signatures, exceeding the required 4,000 and beating an October 31 deadline to bring the issue before voters next May. Learn more about annexation. Update: The Board voted in December to accept the petition and call an election.

November calendar iconExcuse our dust … soon. Facilities planning takes the spotlight as the Board of Trustees reviews architects’ proposals for a Rio Grande Campus parking garage and the ACC-Round Rock Campus. Both projects are part of the college’s Master Plan (PDF) addressing long-term needs for instructional programs, facilities, and more.

December calendar iconPlans advance for a new campus proposed in Round Rock. An architect has been selected, and the ACC District is finalizing purchase of land east of Interstate 35 near the Round Rock Higher Education Center. The 60-acre site is the future home of ACC-Round Rock Campus, pending outcome of the 2008 annexation election. View a topographical map of the site.

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