EXECUTIVE DEAN, CONTINUING EDUCATION

The process of selecting a new Executive Dean of Continuing Education (CE) has been underway over the past few months.  That process has now been completed.  We would like to recognize and thank Kirk White for his willingness to serve in the Interim Executive Dean role this past year, and for the great job he has done in that role.

Hector Aguilar, who has served for several years as the Department Chair for the college credit Electronics & Advanced Technology Department has assumed the role of Executive Dean.  Many of you have worked with Hector over the past few years, and know that he brings extensive community college workforce education experience to the position, and is sure to bring a new perspective to CE.

During this past year, it has also become clear that Continuing Education has not only grown significantly, but is increasingly called upon to be ACC’s “first responder” to regional workforce development issues.  Consequently, Kirk White’s position has been restructured as an Associate Dean, Continuing Education.  This position will not only support the Executive Dean of CE, but will also provide support to the Vice President of Instructional Programs.

Both Hector and Kirk began their new roles April 1st.  These new appointments will assist CE in its continued responsiveness to the needs of our region, and in continuing to generate revenue for the College.  Please join us in welcoming both Hector and Kirk to their new positions in CE.

OUR BODY:  THE UNIVERSE WITHIN

As a member of the Austin Community College District  you are eligible for a special $5.00 discount off the normal student ticket price through May 31, 2010.  The cost to you during this special will be only $11.00.  To redeem this offer you must print this email and bring it to the box office when you purchase your ticket, an ACC ID card will be required for proof of purchase.  This special offer is only good for 1 discounted ticket per purchase.  Facsimiles or other reproductions will not be honored.

OUR BODIES THE UNIVERSE WITHIN is a museum quality exhibition that literally and figuratively takes you under the skin and shows you the human anatomy in a way never seen before.  These are real human bodies that have been preserved by a special process called polymer impregnation.  The exhibit is revealing, educational and scientific.  For more information visit www.starkcenter.org or call 512-471-4890.  The Stark Center (located at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, gate 16) at The University of Texas at Austin.

NEW WINDOWS 7 OPERATING SYSTEM

The new Windows 7 operating system for PCs was released in October of 2009.  Since then, IT and IRT staff have been hard at work performing installations and upgrades on several test machines.  Staff have been documenting procedures for migration and support; and working to address the common issues that will arise with a wider-scale move.

With the opening of the new campus in Round Rock, Austin Community College will be making its first large-scale commitment to this new operating system.  All staff and faculty PCs for Round Rock will be running Windows 7.  Professional Development is in the process of finalizing training for new staff who will be making the switch from Windows XP or Vista.  As well, technicians have a set of procedures to follow to move data from older machines for employees transferring to the new campus.

Beginning in September of 2010, ACC will only order PCs with Windows 7 installed, and will not place orders for Windows XP or Vista after that date. Windows XP sales will be discontinued in October 2010.  We recommend that all departments examine the software they use and make sure that they are prepared for the move to a new operating system.  Most software vendors will have a strategy for their support of Windows 7.

At this time, we do not plan to make a large-scale conversion to Windows 7.  Instead, we will use ACC’s three-year replacement cycle to phase-in the new operating system between now and September 2013.  This does not, of course, preclude a department from using departmental funds to upgrade to Windows 7.

If you have questions about this change, please contact Stan Gunn, Associate Vice President of Information Technology or Richard Smith, Associate Vice President of Instructional Resources and Technology.