Dear Faculty and Staff,
As the spring semester comes to a close and we prepare to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our 2020 graduates, I want to thank you for your commitment to our students and their success. Our students persisted through these difficult months because of your support, flexibility, and understanding.
Austin Community College is now planning for the upcoming summer and fall semesters.
While ACC is eager to reopen campuses, we must take a measured approach. There are still many unknowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve asked the executive leadership team to work with faculty and staff to determine how best to safely return to work and the classroom. We are applying lessons learned this spring to become even more effective and better prepared. The transition back will be gradual.
Summer Classes
Summer classes and support services will be online and campuses will remain closed to students and the public until July 6. At that time, ACC plans to slowly phase-in a small number of in-person classes. Courses that require face-to-face instruction such as in Health Sciences and Applied Technology will come first. Priority consideration will be given to students who were unable to complete these courses remotely in spring and those who are close to completion. All other classes and support services will remain online, and employees will be asked to continue to work remotely through the summer.
Fall Classes
We anticipate scaling up in-person course delivery and access to campus in fall. However, most classes and support services will continue online, and generally employees who don’t need to be on campus will continue to work remotely.
New Safety Protocols
When we do return to campus, there will be new protocols and clear guidelines for social distancing, facial coverings, managing access to campuses, and monitoring health and safety. The college created a “Return-to-Campus” committee to explore these steps. The committee, led by College Operations, is a cross-section of the college.
I realize there will be questions. My promise to you is to keep you informed. The college will share our plans for fall as decisions are made.
This has been an incredibly challenging time and through it all, you demonstrate what it means to be a Riverbat — extraordinary ingenuity, flexibility, and a passion for serving our students. I continue to be amazed by your accomplishments and commitment to our mission.
As in any crisis, we discover the power of community. We are adaptable and stronger than ever. Thank you for stepping up to the challenge.
Regards,
Richard Rhodes,
ACC President and CEO
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