2013 Year in Review

It was an eventful 2013 for the Austin Community College District. Following are some of the highlights that contributed to a year of milestones and new beginnings.

Celebrating Graduates

ACC ranks among the country's top associate degree producers.

More than 1,300 students graduated from ACC in May. That number has increased steadily during the past five years and is up more than 60 percent over five years ago.

Moreover, ACC ranks among the top associate degree and certificate producers in the country, according to an analysis by Community College Week.

Promoting Student Success

State higher education leaders joined college officials to kick off the New Mathways Project in September. Led by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, New Mathways is a class sequence designed to help developmental math students transition faster to credit classes.

Achieving the Dream in August named ACC a 2013 Leader College. Leader Colleges support other member institutions and share best practices. The organization, a national initiative to promote student success at community colleges, commended ACC’s Faculty Coach program for using data to affect change at the classroom level.

ACC continues to expand services and programs for military and veteran students. The Walmart Foundation awarded ACC almost $100,000 for career training for veterans. A separate U.S. Labor Department grant is allowing the college to transform computer programmer training to competency-based learning, with a focus on student veterans.

The college entered an agreement with Aarhus Business College in Denmark in November to expand international learning opportunities for students and faculty. ACC faculty traveled to Denmark earlier to lead workshops addressing adult education and distance learning, and Aarhus students spent four weeks at ACC this fall.

ACC unveiled its redesigned website in November. A clean design and enhanced navigational structure will make it easier for students to find information and complete tasks. Essential information about financial aid, support services, and key dates also can be accessed from the new homepage.

The ACC Jazz Choir performs at the 40th Anniversary event.

Special Events

About 2,500 students, alumni, employees, and friends gathered at ACC Highland on Sept. 17 to commemorate the college’s 40th anniversary. Â “It’s a Family Affair: Celebrating 40 Years of ACC” celebrated those who have come to ACC to advance their education or career, as well as the faculty and staff who have helped students reach their goals.

ACC demonstrated its capabilities in preparing students for emerging science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers at “We Bought a Mall: Reshaping Education and Revitalizing a Community.” Among the special guests was acting U.S. Labor Secretary Seth D. Harris, who noted the need to train workers for well-paying STEM jobs, many of which do not require a bachelor’s degree.

Expanding Capacity

ACC opened its Elgin Campus in August. In addition to offering core curriculum courses, the 65,000-square-foot campus is home to ACC’s Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Veterinary Technician programs.

The college broke ground in March on the first phase of renovations that will transform the former Highland Mall into a state-of-the-art learning environment that can accommodate up to 6,200 students. In addition to the 600-seat computerized math center, ACC Highland will include instructional areas, a library, and a student union.

Hook ’em! …Eat ’em Up!… Riverbats!

ACC formed co-enrollment agreements with UT Austin and Texas State University.

Beginning fall 2014 the Pathway Program will allow students to take courses at ACC and Texas State simultaneously. Participants who complete the core curriculum at ACC are guaranteed admission for most Texas State majors if they maintain GPA requirements.

The ACC-UT Path to Admission through Co-Enrollment (PACE) program began with this fall’s freshman class. Participating students take most of their courses at ACC and one course each semester at UT-Austin until they complete the core curriculum. Students can then continue their education at UT-Austin without applying for admission.

ACC and UT-Austin also entered a reverse transfer agreement that will automatically apply former ACC students’ UT credits toward an associate degree – even if the students transfer before their ACC graduation. ACC expects to award hundreds of associate degrees to deserving alumni.

Students Lend a Hand

Students collect donations for West, Texas.

ACC Circle K International students joined their counterparts from other universities to raise funds and collect donations for the community of West after it was devastated by a fertilizer plant explosion in April. The students assembled care packages for residents and first responders and collected more than $1,000.

The early October heat didn’t bother a group of ACC students and employees who performed a home makeover at the East Austin residence of Richard Overton, 107, believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran.

CPA Exam Scores Add Up to Success

In January, ACC reported that its students had the highest pass rate in Texas on the CPA exam for the period between October and December 2012. Students passed more than 80 percent of sections tested. The rankings are based on Texas colleges and universities with at least five candidates testing. ACC was the only community college to make the list.

Reaffirmation of Accreditation

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in June announced that it had reaffirmed ACC’s accreditation. Every 10 years SACSCOC reviews member institutions to ensure they are maintaining the necessary standards for accreditation. Accreditation gives students access to federal financial aid, makes it easier for them to transfer credits to other institutions, and confirms the quality of ACC’s faculty and support services.

Bond Vote Considered for 2014

ACC’s Board of Trustees expressed its intent to call a general obligation bond election in November 2014. Proceeds would be used for capital improvements, including renovations to ACC Highland and other projects to update aging campuses and address capacity issues.

Balanced Budget

ACC trustees adopted a $278 million budget for 2013-14, an increase of about 2 percent over the 2012-13 budget. The balanced budget will allow the college to continue progress on student success and degree completion initiatives while funding operations for two new campuses.

Golfers line up on behalf of ACC's Student Emergency Fund.

Friends Tee Up to Support Students

More than 100 ACC supporters gathered at the Riverside Golf Course in October for the eighth annual Golf Scramble. The event raised $25,000 for the Student Emergency Fund. SpawGlass sponsored the tournament for the fifth year.

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