Austin Community College Catalog
About the College

Accreditation

The Austin Community College District is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees and certificates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Austin Community College District.

The purpose of publishing the name, address and contact numbers of Austin Community College's primary accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, is to meet federal requirements. Publication of this information is to enable interested constituents (1) to learn about the accreditation status of Austin Community College District, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of Austin Community College District's decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against Austin Community College District for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. Normal inquires about Austin Community College District, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc. should be addressed directly to Austin Community College District and not to the Commission's office.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Employment at the college and access to its programs or activities shall not be limited on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability. ACC will take steps to ensure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs. All recruitment and admissions material complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA). Inquiries regarding ACC's compliance with ADAAA, or requests for accommodations for persons with disabilities can be directed to: EEO/ADAAA/Affirmative Action Coordinator, (512) 223.7572 (voice), 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd., 711 (Relay Texas) Austin, TX 78752-4390.

Updated

Vision Statement

The Austin Community College District will be recognized as the preferred gateway to higher education and training and as the catalyst for social equity, economic development, and personal enrichment.

Value Statements

These are the core values that guide the Austin Community College District's internal and external interactions with each other and our community:

  • C — Communication: ACC values open, responsible exchange of ideas.
  • A — Access: ACC values an open door to educational potential.
  • R — Responsiveness: ACC values targeted actions to address Service Area and internal needs within available resources.
  • E — Excellence: ACC values commitment to integrity and exemplary standards.
  • S — Stewardship: ACC values personal and professional ownership that generates accountability.

Mission Statement

The Austin Community College District values and respects each individual student. We promote student success and improve communities by providing affordable access, through traditional and distance learning modes, to higher education and workforce training in the eight-county service area. To fulfill its mission, the College will provide, within its available resources, the mission elements prescribed by the State of Texas: (Updated)

  • Vocational and technical programs of varying lengths leading to certificates or degrees.
  • Freshman- and sophomore-level academic courses leading to an associate degree or serving as the base of a baccalaureate degree program at a four-year institution.
  • Continuing adult education for academic, occupational, professional, and cultural enhancement.
  • Special instructional programs and tutorial service to assist underprepared students and others who wish special assistance to achieve their educational goals.
  • A continuing program of counseling and advising designed to assist students in achieving their individual educational and occupational goals.
  • A program of technology, library, media, and testing services to support instruction.
  • Contracted instruction programs and services for area employers that promote economic development.

Intended Outcomes

The Austin Community College District is committed to enhanced learning success for all students. The primary goals of the College's efforts to promote student success shall be to:

  • Reduce attrition
  • Complete developmental and adult education course progression to credit courses
  • Complete gateway courses (high enrollment areas)
  • Increase persistence (term to term/year to year)
  • Enhance student learning/completion of attempted course with a "C" or better
  • Increase degree/certificate graduates and transfer to universities
  • Increase success equity across all racial/ethnic/gender/income groups

The Austin Community College District will establish institutional effectiveness measures designed to assess the College's success in providing:

  • Balanced instructional offerings among the College's mission elements;
  • A teaching and learning environment that encourages students to be active, life-long learners;
  • Accessible and affordable post-secondary and higher education programs and services for all who qualify and have the ability to benefit;
  • Enrollments reflecting diverse and traditionally underserved populations in numbers that represent the local populations of our Service Area;
  • Job placement from career workforce programs into family-wage careers;
  • Efficiently administered programs and services that create an institution that is a good place to work, learn, and otherwise experience the higher-education process.

Institutional Effectiveness measures will be established and annually reviewed through the College's shared governance process as part of continuous quality improvement efforts. Institutional Effectiveness measures and assessment results will be reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees.

History and Governance

Austin Community College is a public institution of higher education that maintains an open admissions policy and offers freshman and sophomore university parallel courses, workforce programs in a variety of areas, continuing education, and adult education.

In 1972, residents of Austin ISD voted to create the Austin Community College District (ACC). The college opened its doors on September 17, 1973 with a mission to provide open door access to affordable, quality higher education.

ACC has a 7,000-square mile service area defined by the Texas Legislature. The service area includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Blanco, and Gillespie counties, plus a portion of Gonzales County. Within the service area, ACC's taxing district includes the city of Austin as well as the Austin, Leander, Manor, Del Valle, Round Rock, Elgin, and Hays school districts. ACC is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees elected by voters within the taxing district.

Organization

As one of only 50 community college districts in Texas, the Austin Community College District provides access to high-quality education at affordable tuition rates to a seven-county service area that includes 30 independent school districts. Educational services include academic transfer and workforce education, continuing education, and adult education.

Academic Transfer and Workforce Education
The college credit instructional areas offer more than 100 workforce degrees and certificates, plus more than 40 academic transfer degrees. ACC also offers a core curriculum of general education courses that transfer to any Texas public college or university and make up the foundation of a bachelor's degree.

Continuing Education
The Continuing Education Division provides noncredit courses to the public and businesses for lifelong learning, professional development, customized training, and personal enrichment. ACC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Ten clock hours of instruction equals 1.0 CEU. Many courses meet the mandatory CEU requirements of most professional occupations. Most Continuing Education courses are held at the Highland Business Center.

Adult Education
The Adult Education Division plays a major role in raising the education level of the community by providing free instruction to adults who are educationally disadvantaged. Classes are provided at convenient locations and times. Adult Education offers classes for basic education, GED preparation, and English as a Second Language.

Campus Facilities

Austin Community College has eight full-service campuses located in the district. While not all programs are offered at all locations, campuses have a wide variety of day and evening classes and a large array of student and educational services.

Centers
The college, in partnership with area independent school districts, offers evening courses at some high schools, which are referred to as centers. Courses offered are usually general lecture courses in the core curriculum. Support services vary depending on the size of the center and, in some cases, may be provided through a designated ACC campus. Additional information about ACC Center locations may be obtained through the Director of ACC Centers or austincc.edu/centers.

Parking
Parking at many Austin Community College locations is limited. Students enrolled for classes at the Rio Grande Campus are encouraged to utilize Capitol Metro for transportation needs. Route maps are available at www.capmetro.org.

Parking is by permit only. Faculty, staff. and students may obtain their parking permits at any ACC Cashier's Office. Copies of the ACC Parking Policy and forms can be obtained at austincc.edu/police/services/permits.

Adult Education, Business Services, and Continuing Education students may call 223.7723 for applicable policies.

Parking for those with Disabilities
Vehicles parked in spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities must display the state designation on the license plate or the official state designation card on the dashboard or the rear-view mirror and a current ACC parking permit. In order to receive the state designation, students with disabilities must contact the local tax assessor/collector's office. For assistance with parking for the disabled, contact a campus Office for Students with Disabilities.

Housing
Austin Community College neither operates residence halls nor maintains lists of available or approved housing. Housing is available in the City of Austin. Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements.

Community and School Partnerships

P-16 Initiatives
The P-16 Initiatives Department coordinates activities with area school districts to ensure that public school students are prepared for college-level courses. English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Science are aligned to provide seamless transitions from pre-kindergarten through college completion.

College Connection
austincc.edu/isd
The College Connection Program establishes a partnership with participating high schools to provide hands-on support to help each high school senior complete the college enrollment process. College Connection participants receive an acceptance letter to ACC at their high school graduation ceremony.

College and Career Preparatory Programs (CCPP)
College and Career Preparatory Programs (CCPP) is a partnership with Austin ISD and Lockhart ISD that provides management of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Responsibilities include assisting with guidance and counseling efforts and oversight of program management, curriculum, instruction, professional development, college and career activities, finance, resources, data and staffing.

Youth Programs
austincc.edu/youth
The Austin Community College District supports area schools and communities in fostering a culture in which the pursuit of higher education is the expectation. ACC Youth Programs provide challenging and engaging educational activities to elementary and middle school students as well as resources for parents to enhance their child's academic success. Of particular interest are traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations. Call 223.5210 for more information.

Community Outreach
Community Outreach collaborates with churches and local organizations to increase enrollment of diverse student populations. Call 223.5186 for information about how ACC can visit your group to encourage students to go to college.

Student Recruitment
austincc.edu/sro
Student Recruitment assists prospective students in their transition to college. ACC recruiters are knowledgeable about the admissions, financial aid, assessment, and advising processes at the college and welcomes questions from future students. If you need general or program-specific information or help getting started with your application, contact the Recruitment Office or email outreach@austincc.edu. In addition to responding to requests for information, Student Recruitment visits high schools, participates in college fairs and parent nights, arranges campus tours, coordinates open house visits and advises ACC's Adult Education/GED students.

Men of Distinction
austincc.edu/mod
In support of the ACC Vision, Value Statement, and Mission of the College and of the Closing the Gap Initiative, the Men of Distinction program provides a variety of opportunities for participants to connect with ACC staff and resources. The overall purpose of the program is to improve African American male retention, graduation, and transfer rates which currently lag behind other ethnic groups. Call 223.5665 for information.

ACC Foundation

austincc.edu/foundatn
The Austin Community College Foundation was established in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to support ACC through financial assistance. It is led by a volunteer board of business and community leaders whose dedication to education allows for the growth of college initiatives. The foundation has raised more than $4.7 million to support programs and scholarships.

Student Right to Know

In compliance with Public Law 101-542 as amended by Public Law 102-26, the Jeanne Clery Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA), ACC has posted links to the following at austincc.edu/current/needtoknow/righttoknow.php.

  • Drug and Alcohol Policy
  • Financial Aid Availability
  • Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Voter Registration
  • Bacterial Meningitis state law requirement
  • Gainful Employment and Job Placement information
  • Services for students with disabilities

Title I of the Act, known as the "Student Right-to-Know Act," requires the college to disclose institution-wide graduation rates of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time students entering the institution. ACC's four-year average Student Right to Know Completion or Graduation Rate is 3%. The four-year average Student Right to Know Transfer-out Rate is 39%.

Title II of the Act, known as the "Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990," requires the college to disclose certain information on campus crime statistics and campus security policies. Visit the ACC District Police Department site at austincc.edu/police/crimereports.php for information and statistics.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

The following statement concerning student records maintained by the Austin Community College District is published in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The release of information to the public without the consent of the student will be limited to that designated as directory information. Directory information includes name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in activities, dates of attendance, degrees, certificates and awards, name of the previous educational institution attended, student classification and enrollment status. Any student objecting to the release of all or any portion of such information must notify Admissions and Records in writing within the first 12 class days of the semester. The restriction will remain in effect until revoked in writing by the student.

About the Catalog

This catalog has been prepared from existing policies and information obtained from the appropriate Austin Community College officials. The catalog is informational in purpose and does not constitute a contract between the Austin Community College District and any person or entity. The content is current as of the date of publication but is subject to modification at any time to accommodate changes in educational plans or resources. For curriculum changes and updates, refer to the catalog online at austincc.edu/catalog.

Not all courses listed in this catalog are offered each semester. The college reserves the right to select the courses to be offered during any session. Each semester the college posts an online schedule listing those courses to be offered. Information is made available to students as early as possible prior to the beginning of each semester.