Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden praised Austin Community College, the ACCelerator learning lab, and the college’s MATD 0421 math class during a recent appearance with President Barack Obama promoting the president’s free community college initiative.
In her remarks at Macomb Community College September 9, Dr. Biden, a community college professor, spoke about her visit to the ACCelerator earlier this year and ACC’s innovative approach to developmental math.
View the video of Dr. Biden’s remarks.
Dr. Jill Biden visited the ACCelerator in March.
“I’m always impressed how community colleges use new technology to increase student success,” she told the group. “When I visited Austin Community College in Texas, I saw one of the nation’s largest learning labs… and I had the opportunity to meet with students who were taking an innovative developmental math course.” She added, “One student told me she’d never considered herself a math person until taking this course. Now, she wants to become a math teacher to help other students overcome their own struggles and find success. This is what community colleges are all about. They have the flexibility to adapt and meet students’ needs.”
ACC President/CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes commended the efforts of students, faculty, and staff in earning the recognition.
“We’re seeing promising results with the ACCelerator and MATD 0421,” he said. “We’re honored that others, including Dr. Biden, are taking note as well. “Given that student success is central to our mission, it makes us enormously proud to be cited as an example for others.”
Tags: ACCelerator, Dr. Jill Biden, MATD 0421
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By E E September 15, 2015 - 4:48 pm
A little philosophy… nothing is ‘free.’ Calling college ‘free’ is misleading from any measure. Are you working for free??? I am not a all political but do like philosophy. All ‘free’ means is someone else will pay your tuition by use of force. It’s a violent means of production. In my opinion… the initiation of force, violence, or coercion cannot produce a virtuous good. Like we teach our children- don’t hit, don’t hurt, don’t steal. I am against using conscription and/or violence in the name of doing good. Economically it’s also a fail. More wealth destroyed than created. Sorry! Violence does not work. In my opinion…
By KK September 21, 2015 - 5:59 pm
I don’t see how any violence is used here??? Look, why is the nation’s concern NOT getting people in to school? Why shouldn’t we make things easier for people who want an (ever increasingly expensive) education? “Free” college sounds better than “free” war. Just my opinion.