ACC Course Eases the Transition to College; Applications for Spring Due Jan. 3

As the Austin Community College District’s Transitions program enters its second year, the course is proving to be a valuable resource for adults seeking extra support as they prepare to begin college. 

Transitions helps high school graduates and GED earners develop and reinforce skills in reading, writing, and math, so they can successfully complete freshman-level college courses. The free program also includes career counseling and guides students through the ACC admissions and financial aid processes.

ACC student Robert Rizo recommends the Transitions course, saying it helped him conquer his fear of returning to the classroom after 20 years.

“It assured me that I could do it and got me over the hump of being afraid to go to college,” he explains, adding that the math instruction was particularly helpful.

“The math was really awesome. It got me up to speed,” Rizo says.

Funded through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Transitions program pays for Texas Higher Education Assessment exam fees and textbooks. Students who complete the program receive a $100 stipend; those who go on to complete an ACC credit course with a grade of C or better receive a $250 stipend and become eligible for a $1,000 ACC scholarship.

Charlene Gill, ACC Transitions coordinator, says the course provides a foundation for students and helps them meet college-readiness standards as defined by the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Among students who completed the program this year, 85 percent became TSI-complete in at least one of the three targeted disciplines and more than 40 percent became TSI-complete in all three areas.

“Transitions gives students the confidence they need to keep going, and that is a huge asset,” Gill says.

The next 10-week Transitions course begins January 24. The class will meet Monday through Thursday from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. at Eastview Campus (3401 Webberville Rd.). Students must be U.S. citizens 18 and older with a GED or high school diploma. Current and former developmental education students are encouraged to apply. Applicants must participate in a brief interview prior to enrolling and maintain a 75 percent attendance rate for the course.

To sign up, visit austincc.edu/transitions or contact Charlene Gill at [email protected] or 223.5122. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 3.

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