c6

C-6. COLLEGE-COMMUNITY LINKAGES

Value Statements:

ACC embraces its responsibility to serve, to the extent possible, its multiple external constituenties.
Developing and sustaining external partnerships which align well with the mission of the institution help to advance public understanding and support of ACC.

It is important that the College create and maintain strong community linkages at many levels. Accordingly:

A. Communication Linkages:

[1] Staff-community linkages: The President shall ensure that the College maintains a system to receive external information and advice on how the College can best serve its community, especially from sectors that directly deal with the College’s entrants or graduates. This system shall be structured so as to promote productive College-community interaction. The President shall also ensure that the College has appropriate representation in relevant community organizations and events.

[2] Board-community linkages: In addition to the activities individual Trustees choose to undertake as elected officials, the Board shall have an organized program of interaction with the community. The Vice-Chair of the Board shall coordinate this program, aligning it with a priority list adopted annually by the Board. The College shall provide electronic dissemination of Board-meeting proceedings, including cable television, whenever feasible.

[3] Citizen communications: Citizens may address the Board according to procedures published by the Board Chair, which shall be uniformly applied so as to provide fair access to all citizens.

B. Operational Linkages:

The College shall respond to community needs by creating appropriate partnerships or contractor-client relationships with community organizations. Negotiation of such agreements is the responsibility of the President, subject to Board approval if they are multi-year agreements or involve expenditures in excess of the approval limits established in policy G-2, Purchasing. Proposals for partnership agreements should include an economic analysis, and should ensure that each party bears an appropriate share of the costs.

C. Reports to the Board:

The President shall report annually to the Board on the nature and extent of linkage activities, on the financial terms and operational results of community partnerships, and on any plans or recommendations for changes in this area.

The Austin Community College Board of Trustees adopted this policy on June 1, 1998 and amended it on May 1, 2000, March 4, 2003, and July 7, 2008.

Comments, suggestions? Policy Home Page Board of Trustees Home Page