ACC staff assist a steady stream of prospective students at the new Elgin Campus.

Several hundred people turned out for a sneak peek of ACC’s new Elgin Campus at the College Fair and Elgin Chamber Expo on June 1.

Visitors did more than admire the spectacular view from the third-floor library windows; a steady stream of new and prospective students from Elgin, Bastrop, Manor, and beyond kept recruiters and Student Services staff busy providing admissions and registration assistance.

“Bringing ACC here is going to create a better quality of life for my kids, for my family, and for everyone in the community,” says Elgin resident Jason Tatum, who is considering taking classes at the new campus. “This campus means the world to this community. We’re going to become a community everybody wants to come to now.”

In addition to touring the facility, visitors completed ACC applications in the college’s Mobile Go Center, met with Student Services staff, and visited with ACC representatives from programs ranging from accounting to welding technology. About 40 Elgin-area businesses and agencies also participated in the event.

“Our instructional faculty and support staff gave the community a broad introduction to all that ACC offers, not just in Elgin but across the district,” says Kathleen Christensen, vice president of student services. “I think this campus will bring the community together, and it will be home to many students in the future.”

Visitors viewed demonstrations and spoke with ACC department representatives.

Future students ranged from high schoolers interested in Early College Start to senior citizens wanting to take advantage of waived tuition fees. Recent high school graduates stopped by a Student Life reception in their honor where they could win prizes and share their suggestions and wishes for the new campus.

“This event marks a great day for Elgin and all our surrounding communities,” says David Glass, chairman of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve received a great outpouring of support from our community. We’re already seeing additional retailers and homes being developed in the area, all because ACC will be located in our community.”

The college fair and business expo was a one-day opening for the campus. Continuing admissions and registration assistance is available at the ACC Elgin Center during the completion of construction.

The campus officially opens Aug. 26 for the first day of classes. For more information, visit austincc.edu/elgin.

View photos from the day below.