ACC, Community Celebrate Grand Opening of Hays Campus

The Lehman High School Los Lobos Mariachi performs.

View a slideshow and video from the event below.

Hundreds of people from the Hays community and Austin Community College gathered on Jan. 16 to dedicate Hays Campus, the college’s 10th campus and the first community college in Hays County.

Guests toured the 90,000-square foot campus, enjoyed entertainment provided by the Lehman High School Los Lobos Mariachi and the Lehman High School and Hays High School varsity choirs, and heard remarks from special guests.

“The saying at ACC is ‘start here, get there,’ and there’s a lot of truth to that,” said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. “But it’s also nice to start here, get your education here, and not have to get on I-35 to get there.”

The new campus offers transferable academic courses as well as career training in areas such as business, computer networking and security, and child development.

College and community leaders dedicate ACC's 10th full-service campus.

“I believe the goal here at Hays Campus will be to achieve excellence,” said State Sen. Judith Zaffirini. “Excellence in terms of the programs and service offered, and excellence in terms of meeting our goals and immediately redefining them so our students will know they can always ‘start here, get there’ and ‘there’ is whatever they want it to be.”

“Each campus is a reflection of the community that it serves,” said ACC President/CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes. “What we try to do at ACC is offer the types of programs necessary to be successful in that particular community, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here in Hays.”

Hays Campus will be home to the Pathway Program, which allows students to take ACC and Texas State University courses simultaneously. Participants will complete their core curriculum at Hays Campus.

“ACC accounts for more transfers to Texas State than any other institution. We’re thrilled to have such a significant partner become an even closer neighbor,” said Dr. Gene Bourgeois, Texas State provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Hays ISD student Roxana Solis speaks about taking dual credit classes at ACC.

About 1,000 students are enrolled in classes at the campus, which opened for the first day of spring semester Jan. 13.

“We’ve had people come by every day wanting to check out the campus and find out about classes,” said Campus Manager Juanita Mendez. “This campus truly belongs to the community. You can feel that they have embraced us.”

One student who has already embraced having Hays Campus close by is Roxana Solis, a Hays ISD student who takes dual credit classes at ACC.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity that’s been given to us in Kyle and Buda with this new campus,” Solis said. “I’ve heard a lot of success stories from ACC students, and it gives me the motivation and energy to continue my education.”

For more information on Hays Campus, visit austincc.edu/hays.

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