Accreditation
Austin Community College District is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award the associate degree. The College is recognized and sanctioned by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges and the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Several of the nursing and allied health programs are subject to national accreditation agency requirements.
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 Amendments Act (ADAAA). Inquiries regarding ACC’s compliance with ADAAA, or requests for accommodations for persons with disabilities can be directed to:
5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, TX 78752-4390
(512) 223.7572 (voice)
711 (Relay Texas)
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.
Mission of the College
The ACC District promotes student success and improves communities by providing affordable access to higher education and workforce training in its 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:
- 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 instructional programs and services for area employers that promote economic development.
Intended Outcomes
The ACC District, on an on-going and annual basis, will evaluate its effectiveness in nurturing a teaching and learning environment that achieves its vision and mission. The Austin Community College District will establish effectiveness outcomes designed to achieve:
- Balanced instructional offerings among the mission elements expected of the college.
- 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; - Student performance that meets or exceeds established goals based on State and/or national benchmarks in the following areas:
- Transfer to universities;
- Job placement from career workforce programs into family-wage careers;
- College retention and program completion of students, including developmental students;
- Basic skills acquisition including GED achievement;
- Literacy-level increases including ESL students; and
- Successful transition from developmental to college-level courses;
- 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 serves the capital area of Texas. The college 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.
The Austin Community College District is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees elected by voters of the Austin, Del Valle, Leander, and Manor Independent School Districts and those who pay City of Austin taxes. The college’s major revenue sources are appropriations from the State Legislature, local property taxes, and student tuition and fees.
The Austin Community College District was established by the voters of the Austin Independent School District on December 9, 1972, and opened for classes in September 1973.
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 and 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.
- Cypress Creek Campus: 1555 Cypress Creek Rd.,
Cedar Park, TX 78613; (512) 223-2000 - Eastview Campus: 3401 Webberville Rd.,
Austin, TX 78702; (512) 223.5100 - Northridge Campus: 11928 Stonehollow Dr.,
Austin, TX 78758; (512) 223.4000 - Pinnacle Campus: 7748 Highway 290 W.,
Austin, TX 78736; (512) 223.8001 - Rio Grande Campus: 1212 Rio Grande,
Austin, TX 78701; (512) 223.3000 - Riverside Campus: 1020 Grove Blvd.,
Austin, TX 78741; (512) 223.6000 - Round Rock Campus: 4400 College Park Drive,
Round Rock, TX 78665
Fall 2010 Scheduled Opening - South Austin Campus: 1820 W. Stassney Lane,
Austin, TX 78745; (512) 223.9100
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 Early College Start/College Connection and ACC Centers or from the ACC Course Schedule.
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. Parking permits for faculty, staff and students are $10 per academic year. Students may obtain their parking permits at any ACC Cashier’s Office. Copies of the ACC Parking Policy and forms can be obtained at www.austincc.edu/police/services/permits.
Adult Education, Business Services, and Continuing Education students may call 223.7723 for applicable policies.
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
College Connection
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.
Youth Programs
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
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. To request a campus tour, visit austincc.edu/sro or call 223.7716. To request a recruiter to attend a college fair or career day, contact SRO through its website or by calling 223.7701.
ACC Foundation
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 the Department of Education’s Student Right-to-Know Act, ACC, along with all other colleges and universities receiving Federal Title IV funds, are required to report various points of information to students, employees and prospective students. ACC has posted links to the following information at www.austincc.edu/police/right_to_know.htm
- Campus crime statistics
- Safety tips from the ACC Police Department
- Financial assistance available and eligibility
- About ACC
- Graduation and transfer rates
- Cost of attendance
- Current academic programs
- Services for students with disabilities
- Drug and alcohol policy
- Requirements and procedures for withdrawing from the institution
- Title IV Refund Policy
- Name of agency accrediting the institution
- Important Information About Bacterial Meningitis
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 within the first 12 class days of the semester. The restriction will remain in effect until revoked 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 www.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 produces both a printed and an online schedule listing those courses to be offered. Schedules are made available to students as early as possible prior to the beginning of each semester.
Most ACC students take courses to enhance skills or to transfer to four-year institutions. ACC’s four-year average Student Right to Know Completion or Graduation Rate is 3%. The 4-year average Student Right to Know Transfer-out Rate is 39%.