Fall 2016 FacStaff Change Guide: New processes for guided pathways and more

AOS_teaser_Fac-Staff_banner_0516ORIG

ACC’s guided pathways redesign is underway.

From now throughout the fall, several college processes and practices will change. Many relate to the guided pathways implementation. All are designed to better support students from the time they consider coming to ACC through their graduation or transfer.

Take note of the following important changes. Updates will be posted on the Faculty and Staff webpage (subscribe to receive FacStaff announcements via email.) Updates and information specific to the guided pathways transition also will be posted on the Guided Pathways webpage on the Office of the Provost website.

ACC areas of study

ACC programs are now clustered under 10 areas of study. These areas were determined from input from the Futures Institute, deans, and program chairs. They reflect federal and state program taxonomies. View a list of areas of study and programs.

Condensed enrollment steps

Beginning June 1, enrollment for new ACC students comprises four primary steps:

  1. “First Step” online presentation.
  2.  Apply
  3. Attend an Area of Study Information Session.
  4. Register for classes.

See additional details about the following onboarding and advising changes at ACC introduces new application, advising processes to support guided pathways.

‘First Step’ pre-application presentation and revised application

ACC applicants will view an online module before they complete the online application. The presentation is open-access; an ID will not be required. The module covers enrollment steps, financial aid, ACC’s areas of study, and student rights and responsibilities.

After viewing the First Step presentation (an accessible text version will be available), prospective students complete a streamlined application. After hitting “submit,” they receive a message about attending an Area of Study Information Session and completing enrollment steps.

Area of Study Information Sessions

At Area of Study Information Sessions launching June 6, students will learn about the academic areas, programs of study, jobs and careers related to their area, transfer opportunities, campus resources, online registration system, and more.

ACC is requiring first-time-in-college students with fewer than 12 credits to attend an information session. Students returning to college may attend a session or meet one-on-one with an advisor.

Advising and counseling

Advisors are assigned to three of the 10 areas of study. Advising will be on an appointment basis rather than the current first-come, first-served drop-in process. See a list of advisors by area of study and by campus region.

Counselors will be assigned to students needing additional support. They’ll provide crisis and career counseling and assist with programming for drug and alcohol prevention, suicide prevention, healthy relationships, etc.

Learn more at ACC introduces new application, advising processes to support guided pathways.

Campus regions

ACC campuses are grouped into the following regions:

  • North: Northridge, Round Rock, Cypress Creek, and Elgin
  • Central: Highland, Eastview, and Rio Grande
  • South: Pinnacle, Hays, Riverside, and South Austin

New registration periods

Beginning with fall registration (May 16), all current and former students ― regardless of the number of credits they have ― can register during the first two weeks of the registration period. New, current, and former students may register when open registration begins. The schedule allows new students to register sooner before classes start. See registration dates.

Ellucian CRM Recruit implementation

ACC is implementing Ellucian’s CRM Recruit constituent relationship management (CRM) software. This application will help the college provide prospective students with information specific to their situation and goals.

Redesigned website

ACC is modifying the college website to reflect the defined pathways. New webpages will feature the 10 areas of study, the programs within them, and award options. After the pathways webpages launch June 1, planning for a full website redesign will begin.

Registration and degree planning systems

ACC launched Student Planning, its new registration system, on March 21. It will run in parallel with WebAdvisor until June 20 (tentative). After that date, WebAdvisor will no longer be available for student registration. Learn about Student Planning and view a brief tutorial.

Students and advisors can still use the Degree Map application for degree planning.

‘MyACC’ portal

ACC is implementing a portal system called “MyACC” to replace Online Services. Implementation is scheduled to be complete by end of year.

New programs and program changes

  • Auto Body Repair & Refinishing is now Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology (ABRT)
  • Speech is now Communication Studies (SPEE)
  • Physical Fitness Technology is now Personal Fitness Trainer (PHFT)
  • Photography is now Professional Photography (PHOT)

New programs:

  • Integrated Reading Writing (INRW); co-chairs – Dolores Segura and Laura Ore (see below)
  • Logistics & Supply Chain Management (LSCM); chair – William Louden
  • Interdisciplinary Studies (INDS); chair – Lisa Perez-Nichols

Expanded integrated reading/writing options

The college has merged its developmental reading and writing programs and is offering more integrated reading and writing courses. Integrated courses are intended to help students progress to credit courses faster and align with recommendations by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The integrated program will continue to offer developmental reading and writing courses paired with college-level courses.

Block scheduling

Beginning in fall a number of programs will offer block scheduling to give students the predictability of having all of their classes at a certain time, such as morning, evening, or weekends. State law passed last year requires community colleges to establish block scheduling for at least five degree or certificate programs. ACC programs offering block scheduling are:

  • Criminal Justice – Texas Peace Officer Level I certificate
  • Fire Protection Technology – Firefighter Level I certificate
  • Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology — Level I certificate
  • Welding Technology – Structural Welding Level I certificate; Welding Inspection Level I certificate
  • Pharmacy Technician – Level I certificate
  • Accounting Technician – Associate of Applied Science degree
  • Computer and Information Sciences – User and Computer Support Level I certificate
  • Automotive Technology – Level I certificate (spring 2017)

Student success course

All degree plans beginning in fall include a required success course (EDUC 1300) for students with fewer than 12 transferable college credits. Almost 240 sections are scheduled for fall. The college plans to develop a contextualized version of the course for each of the 10 areas of study.

Early College High Schools

An Early College High School for Round Rock ISD students launches at ACC’s Round Rock Campus this fall, bringing the number of ECHS programs to eight. The Round Rock ECHS will be the first to be located solely on an ACC campus. The program will begin with ninth graders in seven temporary buildings located south of Building 3000 and southeast of Building 1000. The ECHS will increase to 10 temporary buildings in year two.

Registration guide & Destination: ACC enrollment map

Due to enrollment and technology changes, the registration guide and Destination: ACC enrollment map will be phased out this summer. Important dates and deadlines will continue to be published on the ACC website. Take a survey to help determine future print needs.

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