Updated 8/18/2011

Public Information and College Marketing has compiled the following alphabetized list of changes for 2011-2012. Click on the AY12 Changes Reference Guide or read about them in the text below. Unless otherwise noted, the changes are effective fall 2011.

Accident insurance

Students pay an annual $3 fee for accident insurance. This insurance pays up to $10,000 (before other insurance) per claim for a student accident on an ACC Campus or off campus at a class or college-sponsored event.

Admissions/Registration Process with relocated steps (ACC 101 ACCeID)

Destination: ACC takes prospective students through the entire admissions/registration process. Print and web components have been aligned. ACCeID, which previously followed the advising session, is now moved to the beginning of the process.

College readiness standards

ACC has initiated college readiness standards in English that exceed TSI requirements. Math standards already exceeded TSI. Because of this, the communication emphasis is on college readiness rather than TSI. All students must show evidence of college readiness, including those individuals who are exempt from TSI requirements.

COMPASS fees by section

Instead of a flat rate of $29 for any or all of the three areas, each skill area can be taken separately for a $10 per skill fee. All three together will still be $29. Fee waivers are available but must be verified by the Financial Aid Office.

Developmental Education advising requirements

All students in Developmental Education courses now register with advisors and counselors until they have completed the dev ed sequence. Previously, single D students were exempted.

Early College High School

Partnership between AISD and ACC establishes ECHS at Reagan and LBJ high schools. Combines high school and college so students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree, or up to two years of college credit tuition-free, taught by faculty who are certified to teach both high school and college courses.

Early College Start Tuition

After 12 courses, ECS students will pay full tuition. The $40 fee will be replaced with a $75 fee for ECS students, effective spring 2012.

Education Plan requirement

SS&SS is making it clear that student education plans are not optional. Previous instances of the use of Datatel notes rather than an Education Plan are no longer allowed. Students may access their Ed Plans at any time, through Online Services.

Financial Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

GPA: Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Completion Rate: Students must complete 67% of all hours attempted at ACC. Maximum Time Frame: The maximum time frame is 150% of the published length of the academic program or certificate (to include all transfer credit hours). At end of fall 2011, continuing students on FA warning status who are not meeting the 2.0 overall GPA or 67% completion rate will be suspended. New students who do not meet the SAP standards the first semester will have one semester of warning status to meet the standards.

FrontDoor Project

Student Life is building campus teams to provide welcome activities during the first week of classes.

Gainful employment information

ACC must collect and publish data to demonstrate “gainful employment” for workforce certificate programs. This info must be made available wherever programs are promoted. Info includes total cost of the program, on-time completion rates, job placement rates, and amount of financial aid debt. Financial aid awards for certificate programs whose courses do not lead to an associate degree will be significantly reduced and prorated and disbursed over the length of the program.

Meningitis immunization requirement (spring 2012)

Students enrolling in ACC starting in spring 2012 must show proof of meningitis immunization before they can register. Exempted are students over 30, current students who do not leave the college for a semester or more. Shots must be administered at least 10 days before the start of the teaching session and no longer than 5 years ago.

Online registration only; telephone registration deactivation (spring 2012)

Telephone registration will be discontinued starting with spring registration. The move better protects personal information and gives students access to all the benefits of online registration, such as secure payment options and course waitlisting.

Online/free transcript request

Transcripts are free to students starting this fall, and they now have the ability to order transcripts online.

Registration & Success Guide & Riverbat Planner/Handbook

The Registration & Success Guide, ACC Catalog, and Riverbat Planner/Handbook have been revamped to support the Student Success Initiative. The content of the three publications has been integrated to help the student: 1) Successfully complete the admissions/registration process and get started in class (Reg Guide); 2) Engage in the college and build their understanding of a successful student (Riverbat Planner/Handbook); and 3) know their rights and responsibilities and educational goals (catalog). Content from the previous handbook, which is no longer printed, has been distributed in these three publications, and a web page called “Need to Know” is a quick-reference compilation of the policies and procedures, academic guidelines, health and safety, and emergency instructions.

Schedule changes (add/drops)

Schedule change periods are now two days, rather than three. Limited to currently registered students only.

Student Handbook discontinued

The Student Handbook is no longer published. The info from the Handbook has been included in the Planner, Catalog, and Reg Guide. (see above)

Six-Drop Rule programming

ACC has programmed counters to calculate the number of post-12th day course drops.

Tuition and fees

Tuition increases in summer, fall, and spring (planned), with new course fees replacing lab fees. This is a new cost to courses where the classroom/lab hours exceed the credit hours allotted for the course.

Waitlisting expansion

ACC introduced a waitlist pilot in summer for a few courses. Developmental Math came onboard in fall. The program expands in spring to all Social and Behavioral Science areas except for history. The decision on whether to waitlist is made by the instructional department on a case-by-case basis. Paired courses have created unique waitlist challenges.

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