Registration Guide Puts Focus on Student Success Resources

Student Services Support and Success Systems, together with Public Information and College Marketing, unveils a new, improved Registration and Student Success Guide for the fall semester.

This new periodical replaces the traditional course schedule with a publication that better addresses the needs of first-time and continuing college students. It includes important registration and tuition information from the previous publication plus additional information designed to help students navigate ACC.

New features include:
• A detailed map of the registration process
• Robust schedule planning tools and information
• Guides on how to read course descriptions and the online schedule
• Features on successful students
• Tips on how to be a successful student
• An academic department directory

How does the new guide differ from the old course schedule?

The Registration and Student Success Guide is a full-color, easy-to-read, informational, magazine-style publication geared toward addressing Student Success Initiative goals. It is designed to reduce the confusion often experienced by first-time college students while improving their registration experience and arming them with valuable information to improve their first-year experience.

Why was this guide developed?

Improvements to the online course schedule have made printed course listings obsolete. Rather than do away with the printed schedule, Student Services opted to convert the schedule into a guide that supports the goals of the Student Success Initiative. This guide illustrates every step in the process to become a college credit student and provides valuable information to help students make better, informed decisions about their education.

May I suggest changes?

Absolutely! The first edition is the result of extensive research, testing, and conversations with faculty, staff, and students, and the entire shared governance processes. The most important research is yet to come—your feedback and that of students. A formal survey will be available on the new faculty/staff webpage this summer. Let us know what you think.

Where can I find the course listings?

Updated course listings are available at austincc.edu/schedule. The online schedule is updated regularly during each registration session.

Why can’t we have a printed schedule?

Changes in the registration calendar resulted in printed schedules arriving on campus with out-of-date and inaccurate information, which proved to be a serious disservice to our students. As a result, there has been a steady decline in the use of the printed schedule.

Should we expect to see enrollment drop as a result?

Other Texas colleges that have eliminated or begun phasing out printed schedules have not experienced enrollment decreases.

Will there be changes to other registration information?

Yes. Public Information and College Marketing is working with Student Services to align admissions and registration information throughout the ACC website, the ACC 101 information portal, and the Registration and Success Guide. This information also will align with the ACC catalog and Student Life’s Riverbat Planner and Handbook. The goal is for students to receive clear and consistent information, regardless of what campus they visit.

Where can I get a copy of the guide?

Look for the Fall 2011 Registration and Student Success Guide in June, or download a PDF version, divided into three sections: Registration Guide | Features | Etc. To request additional print copies when they arrive, please submit a publication supply request form.

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