Austin, TX— On Monday, December 3, the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees took action on two issues that pave the way for ACC to expand facilities, programs, and services in Round Rock.

The ACC board approved the certification of 4,500 Round Rock voter petitions submitted by ACCtion 4 Education, the citizens’ committee pursuing annexation of the balance of the Round Rock Independent School District into the ACC tax district (1/3 of RRISD is already in the ACC tax district). ACCtion 4 Education collected more than 8,000 signatures, far exceeding the required 3,950 (5 percent of local voters) needed to place the annexation issue on the May 10, 2008 ballot.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, ACC trustees selected the Austin-based architecture firm of Graeber, Simmons & Cowan to design the proposed Round Rock campus. Founded in 1978, GS&C is one of the most recognized design firms in Central Texas, associated with a wide rage of projects including advanced technology, education, and healthcare facilities.

ACC’s Master Plan calls for expanding instructional capacity, services, and programs to meet regional demand in Round Rock, one of the fastest growing communities in ACC’s eight-county service area. If annexation is approved by voters, ACC will build a comprehensive new campus in Round Rock that will offer health career programs that include nursing; arts & sciences degrees/certificates; university transfer core curriculum; continuing & adult education; student services; day, evening, and weekend classes; as well as a library and science and computer labs.

The next step— ACC will hold forums in Round Rock to get community input before March 3 when the Board of Trustees is slated to officially call for an annexation election on May 10, 2008.

Round Rock Annexation Facts:

• The citizens committee ACCtion 4 Education is leading the push for annexation
• 1/3 of Round Rock Independent School District (the section within Austin) is already in-district
• More Round Rock high school graduates enroll at ACC than any other college
• Tuition: In-district students pay $39 per semester hour vs. $118 out-of-district
• Election is May 10, 2008
• If annexation is approved
o ACC will build its largest campus in Round Rock for approximately 10,000 students that will offer expanded programs and services including:
 Health careers programs including nursing
 Arts & sciences degrees/certificates
 University transfer core curriculum
 Continuing education/adult education that gets student “college-ready”
 Student services (advising, counseling, events)
 Day, evening, weekend classes
 Library
 Science/computer labs
o Round Rock residents will receive in-district benefits (such as low tuition) effective immediately, in time for the summer 2008 semester.
o Property Taxes (.0958 per $100) will be applied in 2009
• ACC funding = 43% property taxes + 26% state appropriations + 28% tuition & fees + 3% other