The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, June 3. During the meeting, trustees discussed the 2024-25 budget, general obligation bond projects at ACC Eastview Campus, and completion scholarship options for current students at ACC.

More information and additional highlights from the meeting are below.

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Study

ACC Finance & Administration Executive Vice Chancellor Neil Vickers presented an update on the 2024-25 college budget. The proposed $534 million budget includes increases in faculty salaries to increase the percentage of full-time faculty members, new initiatives like the Free Tuition Pilot Program for the high school class of 2024, proposed election services for three Board of Trustees seats and Lockhart annexation, raising the minimum wage to $23/hour, and a proposed 4.5% raise for ACC employees. A formal vote on the budget is expected later this summer. 

Increased Financial Support for Current Students 

The board heard updates from the college’s new Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Basic Needs Systems, Cara Crowley, and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr. Shasta Buchanan, regarding additional financial support to help current students complete. The college presented a two-pronged approach. First, adding $500,000 to the Student Emergency Fund. Second, to allot $1.5 million toward completion scholarships. The one-time scholarship would pay for six credit hours for students who have already earned 45 or more credit hours at ACC. The board requested a formal proposal to learn more. 

Letter of Intent for Lease Space Within the Territory of Lockhart ISD

The board authorized the Chancellor to enter into a letter of intent to lease space within the Lockhart ISD territory. In May, the board approved a service plan for a possible annexation election in November. The plan includes a phased approach for establishing a physical presence in the community which includes developing and occupying a workforce and general education space close to Lockhart High School. The letter of intent will be “nonbinding.” The administration must bring the board final lease documents based on the November election results. 

Acceptance of Major Gift and Naming Opportunity 

Trustees accepted a major gift to support student scholarships. Dr. Jerry and Vicky Bawcom will donate $10,000 per year over the next five years, totaling $50,000, to create the Bawcom Family Endowed Scholarship for students enrolled in the Education Instruction programs at ACC. The scholarship was created in 2022. In exchange, the Round Rock Campus, Building 2000, Room 2311, will be named the Bawcom Family Classroom for the next 10 years. 

Eastview Campus Dental Expansion, Building 8000

The board approved for the college administration to negotiate and execute a contract for the Construction Manager at Risk for the ACC Eastview Campus dental expansion project. The contract is part of the 2022 General Obligation (GO) Bond. The estimated $5 million project would expand the dental hygiene space.

Read more here. 

Board Approves Series of Contracts

The board approved a series of contracts for the college to negotiate and execute. First is a contract for districtwide photo documentation services. After hearing proposals from several firms, the college is looking to work with Austin Construction Documentation, LLC, dba Multivista, to document construction photographic and video documentation for the projects in the 2022 GO Bond.

Second, the board approved adding a permanent canopy at the Elgin Campus, Building 2000, for the Veterinary Technician program. The college will work with QA Construction Services, Inc. to provide shaded coverage for the animals in the care of the department. 

Finally, the college will contract with Aztec Promotional Group LP for products and apparel. It will provide low-cost promotional products, T-shirts, apparel, conference displays, and other signage upon request by ACC departments.

Tags: 2022 GO Bond, 2025 Budget, Board Meeting, Board Recap, compensation, Financial Support, Lockhart Annexation, scholarship