The Texas Police Chiefs Association Foundation has awarded the Austin Community College District Police Department “Recognized Status” for best practices in law enforcement. ACC PD is the first community college in Texas and the 19th recognized law enforcement agency statewide to receive this recognition. “Recognized Status” indicates that the ACC Police Department meets or exceeds all of the identified best practices for Texas law enforcement in areas such as patrol and investigative operations and protection of citizen rights.

The Austin American-Statesman featured ACC Paralegal Adjunct Professor Mary Kay Sicola in a September 1 story, “Revealing a Life as Intriguing as Her Photograph.” In the report, reporter Michael Barnes traced how Sicola, who serves as a lawyer with the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, assisted terminally ill photographer Joyce Vandeveer in her last days.

Physics Professor Jim Heath, Ph.D., hosted the first in a series of astronomy talks, followed by a star observation party, September 18 at the Cypress Creek Campus. Monthly talks are scheduled through December in honor of the International Year of Astronomy, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s work on the telescope and other scientific advancements.

Board of Trustees Chair Nan McRaven recently joined the newly organized community cabinet of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

Allison Orr, ACC dance professor and founder and artistic director of Forklift Danceworks, presented “The Trash Project” September 12 at Austin Studios, 1901 East 51st St. The evening of dance was performed by the employees and machinery of Austin’s Solid Waste Service Department.