The 91,000-square-foot, three-story campus building can accommodate up to 2,000 students.

The Austin Community College District will celebrate the grand opening of Hays Campus on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (1200 Kohlers Crossing in Kyle). Hays Campus is ACC’s 10th campus and the first community college in Hays County.

“We are excited to open the doors of our new Hays Campus,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “This campus will provide Hays residents the opportunity to earn a degree or advance their careers close to home. We’re so glad to be part of this community.”

The event is open to the public. It will feature campus tours, musical performances from local high school students, refreshments, and remarks from special guests, including U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, state Rep. Jason Isaac, and Texas State University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Gene Bourgeois.

Hays Campus opened Jan. 13 for the first day of spring classes. The campus offers a wide variety of transferable academic courses as well as career training in areas such as business, computer networking and security, and child development.

“Hays residents who couldn’t go to college because of the cost of commuting to Austin now have an opportunity to take classes nearby,” says Rita Walker, a Kyle resident studying social work at ACC. “With this campus, I’ll have more time to spend with my children and get involved in student organizations.”

For more information, visit austincc.edu/hays.