The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, October 6. Highlights include a web redesign project contract, out-of-district tuition, a report from the ACC District Police Department, and a work session focused on student enrollment. 

Below are highlights from the meeting.

Fall 2025 Enrollment Update

The Board of Trustees received an update on fall 2025 enrollment during its work session. Enrollment has reached a thirteen-year peak and is approaching historical highs. The official fall enrollment stands at 43,891 students. This number will continue to increase, with 8-week enrollment still underway. During the semester, 48% of students were enrolled in distance education, followed by 13% of students taking courses at the Highland Campus and 9% at the Round Rock Campus.

From fall 2023 to fall 2025, approximately 47% of the overall enrollment growth came from Free Tuition Pilot Program students. The Free Tuition program now serves more than 10,000 students. Fall-to-fall persistence rates for these students are also improving — up to 65% (3,225 students) in fall 2024 compared with 61% (2,016 students) in fall 2022. These gains mirror trends seen across the broader student population.

Enrollment increased among all racial and ethnic groups, with Hispanic student enrollment rising 28%, marking the largest growth. Enrollment among students over age 25 grew by 18% in the past two years, while students age 24 and under increased by 26%, driven largely by the Free Tuition initiative.

In alignment with ACC’s Theory of Change, there was a 42% in the number of students enrolled full-time from fall 2023 to fall 2025. Completions also increased, with 11,547 awards in Academic Year (AY) 2025 compared with 9,092 in AY 2023. Of those completions, 9,267 were House Bill 8-funded.

Since launching the Affordability Scholarship in summer 2024, 6,539 students have benefited from the program, and 2,456 of those recipients have earned an associate degree.

Digital Design Firm Services for ACC Website Redesign

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the College administration to move forward with executing a contract with RDW Group Inc. to lead the redesign of ACC’s public-facing website. The project aims to create a more intuitive, accessible, and visually engaging online experience for students, faculty, staff, and the community.

The College conducted a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process that attracted 25 submissions from digital design firms nationwide. After a thorough evaluation process—including reviews, presentations, and interviews—13 firms were deemed fully compliant, and RDW Group Inc. was selected as the top-ranked firm. The project is estimated to cost approximately $593,000.

ACCPD Officers’ Commendations, Innovative Training, Awards, and Promotions Report

The Austin Community College District Police Department (ACCDPD) presented its annual report to the Board of Trustees. It covered data and insights from October 2024 through September 2025. During the reporting period, department staffing ranged from 88 to 102 employees.

• Officers completed more than 30 professional development courses, including Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, Red Dot Optics, and De-escalation Instructor Training.
• Training emphasized campus safety, crisis intervention, firearms proficiency, and active shooter preparedness.
• The department strengthened partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies through joint training sessions and exercises.
• Officers continued community engagement efforts through safety presentations, campus outreach events, and student resource programs designed to foster trust and collaboration.
• The department will be increasing its mental health training for all officers, and starting early next year, the entire department will be trained on how to interact with people experiencing homelessness. 
• The department announced that it will be increasing its mental health training for all officers. Starting early next year, all officers will be trained on how to interact with people experiencing homelessness.

Over the past year, 16 officers received commendations and certifications, and five officers earned promotions to higher ranks. The department also welcomed 10 new hires, including a new Chief of Police, and recognized several retirements and transitions. 

A full recording of the Board meeting will be posted on the Board webpage at austincc.edu/board.

Tags: Board Meeting, enrollment, Police, tuition, website