{"id":53440,"date":"2026-10-08T13:09:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T18:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=53440"},"modified":"2026-10-08T13:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T18:09:54","slug":"acc-opens-new-automotive-technology-facility-at-round-rock-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/10\/08\/acc-opens-new-automotive-technology-facility-at-round-rock-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"ACC Opens New Automotive Technology Facility at Round Rock Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people stands together in a garage-like setting, smiling and posing for a photo. They are gathered around a large purple ribbon, which is about to be cut with oversized scissors by a woman in a white hat and a navy blazer. The group includes men and women of various ages, dressed in formal and casual attire. In the background, there are vehicles and equipment typical of an automotive or aviation workshop. The atmosphere is celebratory, indicating a special event or opening.\" class=\"wp-image-53442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2026\/10\/RS34597_20261008-RRS-Ribbon-Cutting-ca-114_scr.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin Community College District (ACC) celebrated the completion of its new Automotive Technology facility at the Round Rock Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 8.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funded through ACC\u2019s 2022 General Obligation Bond, the new 36,500-square-foot facility more than doubles the space previously dedicated to Automotive Technology at the campus. The expanded space gives students access to modern labs and hands-on learning environments designed to prepare them for an evolving automotive industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToday is about more than square footage and buildings, as important as they may be. It\u2019s about the lives that will be changed because of what happens in that square footage. This new building allows us to expand our automotive program, directly aligned with industry partners who are paying family-sustaining wages. We\u2019re meeting a demand that\u2019s already there, more quickly and effectively,\u201d said ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell-Lowery Hart. \u201cIn Central Texas, these automotive jobs can provide a family-sustaining wage that doesn\u2019t just meet the needs of our students and their families today. It can change generations of economic reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project adds:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>36,500 square feet of Automotive Technology training space to Round Rock Campus<\/li>\n<li>Dedicated space for ACC\u2019s partnership with Toyota through the T-TEN program<\/li>\n<li>Modern automotive labs and hands-on learning spaces<\/li>\n<li>Space designed to support the evolving needs of the automotive industry, including potential future Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) training<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo see this campus progress, I love this. We\u2019ve always said in Round Rock, we want to be able to live, work, and play. Well, now you can live, work, and play and get your education right here,\u201d said Craig Morgan, Round Rock Mayor. \u201cWhat ACC is doing will help when companies bring their businesses here, so we can fill those jobs and those roles. ACC does such a wonderful job. It\u2019s been my honor to kind of just watch the growth and expansion of our educational services up in Round Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The facility also expands opportunities for students to gain practical experience using industry-relevant equipment and technology while working toward credentials that can lead to in-demand automotive careers. ACC\u2019s T-TEN program was recently recognized by Toyota as the nation&#8217;s top-performing T-TEN school for student success, highlighting outcomes including graduation, retention, and industry certifications.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re bridging the gap between classroom learning and what employers need. Students need access to the same technology and equipment they\u2019ll encounter in the workplace, and these new facilities give them that opportunity,\u201d said Michael Shoebroek, Automotive Department Chair. \u201cOur success isn\u2019t measured by the size of the facility, but by the students who leave here with the skills, confidence, and experience to build a career.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, these projects will expand ACC\u2019s capacity to provide hands-on training in high-demand fields and help meet the workforce needs of Central Texas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe shops and labs portions of the class are the best part. Actually being able to translate what we learn in the classroom to the cars themselves really helps with the learning process,\u201d said Grady Gonzales, ACC T-TEN student. \u201cIt creates a real-world scenario that helps prepare you for the future in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s all part of a larger expansion of Applied Technology education at the Round Rock Campus, which includes Semiconductor Training; Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology; and Welding Technology expansions that are expected to open in 2027.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information about ACC\u2019s 2022 General Obligation Bond projects, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/austincc.edu\/bond\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">austincc.edu\/bond<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-flickr wp-block-embed-flickr\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/accdistrict\/albums\/72177720336036297\" title=\"Round Rock Automotive Technology Ribbon Cutting by Austin Community College, on Flickr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img src='https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55577175246_262070cd4b.jpg' width='800' height='600' alt='RRC Auto Tech Ribbon Cutting'><\/a><script async src='https:\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js' charset='utf-8'><\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Austin Community College District (ACC) celebrated the completion of its new Automotive Technology facility at the Round Rock Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, October 8. Funded through ACC\u2019s 2022 General Obligation Bond, the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/10\/08\/acc-opens-new-automotive-technology-facility-at-round-rock-campus\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3930,"featured_media":53442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,12,13,15,19],"tags":[4016,1615,1237,424],"class_list":["post-53440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-announcements","category-business-and-community","category-current-students","category-facstaff-news","category-students-and-alumni","tag-applied-technology","tag-automotive-technology","tag-ribbon-cutting","tag-round-rock-campus"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53440"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53444,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53440\/revisions\/53444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}