Entries filed under the ‘ACC Homepage Announcements’ Category
Four members of ACC’s Board of Trustees traveled to San Francisco in October to attend the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 40th Annual College Leadership Congress. ACC Board Chairperson Nan McRaven, Vice Chair Allen Kaplan, and Trustees Tim Mahoney and John-Michael Cortez were among more than 1,500 community college leaders who gathered for the conference.
ACC Board Vice Chair Allen Kaplan (left) at the ACCT conference, with his fellow officers of the CCATT (from left, Molly Beth Malcolm, Kitty Boyle, and Roberto Zárate).
ACC’s trustees attended workshops on topics including student success, effective board governance, and conducting evaluations of college presidents and institutions. Kaplan and other officers of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT) conducted a session to help leaders of colleges in other states form similar organizations. Kaplan is the CCATT chair-elect as well as the Texas coordinator for ACCT.
Kaplan reports that many other institutions commended ACC’s inclusion in a Time magazine article, “Can Community Colleges Save the U.S. Economy?” (July 20, 2009 issue).
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a community college graduate, opened the conference on October 8, calling community colleges “institutions of hope.” Other keynote speakers included Martha Kanter, Undersecretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education.
Posted on 11/06/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
The City of Austin has recognized ACC’s Arts & Humanities Division for its work in bringing together a number of art education groups to further the “CreateAustin” cultural master plan.
Beginning last fall, the college’s Arts & Humanities Division hosted a series of Community Arts Summits to discuss how to promote arts education in Austin, a key portion of the master plan.
ACC's Community Arts Award
“ACC’s Arts & Humanities Division has been absolutely integral in pushing community discussion related to the ‘CreateAustin’ cultural master plan recommendation” for art education, said Vincent Kitch, Cultural Arts program manager for the City of Austin.
The city’s Cultural Arts Division recently presented ACC with the Community Arts Award.
“We are delighted to play a role in advancing arts education in Austin,” says Lyman Grant, dean of ACC’s Arts & Humanities Division. “The arts are a source of inspiration and imagination, and they often evoke new ways of looking at our world. Those are qualities that enrich a community.”
The city also recognized ACC’s community arts efforts with a proclamation presented at the Arts & Humanities Division’s Carnival ah! in April 2009. Carnival ah! is an outdoor festival with live music, dance, drama, performance art, and a nighttime
outdoor film screening. The next Carnival ah! is scheduled for April 16-24, 2010.
Posted on 11/05/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
Accent, ACC’s student newspaper, won 25 awards at a national and state-level conference held at the Austin Convention Center October 28 – November 1. The event, which brought together the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers national convention and the Texas Community College Journalism Association conference, drew thousands of students from across the country.
Accent writers and editors competed in live journalism contests and received the results of competitions which required submissions before the conference.
TheAccent.org was named a finalist for the online division of the National Pacemaker award, the highest national honor for journalistic excellence bestowed by the Associated Collegiate Press. Accent also placed second in the national Best of Show contest for non-weekly publications.
Accent either placed or received honorable mentions in 23 statewide categories, competing against students from 13 other Texas community colleges. The Texas Community College Journalism Association awarded Accent third place in the Overall General Excellence competition. Accent editor-in-chief Sarah Neve won first place for news writing, while Jana Lelek won second place for Accent’s layout and design. The TCCJA also recognized Accent staff in a variety of other areas, including contests for photography, cartooning, headline writing, and editorial writing.
“I am very proud of the Accent staff for their excellent showing,” said Matthew Connolly, ACC’s student publications adviser. “These awards are judged by professionals, so it’s nice to know that students in our program are learning skills that will prepare them to work at professional publications.”
Click here to see a complete list of Accent’s honors.
Posted on 11/02/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
The ACC Drama Department’s production of “Under the Gaslight” opened Friday, October 30, at the Rio Grande Campus Mainstage Theater. Performances are held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 8.
Performance Schedule:
- Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m.
- Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 8 at 2 p.m.
Augustin Daly’s “Under the Gaslight: A Totally Original and Picturesque Drama of Life and Love in These Times” is set in 1867 New York. A young woman is jilted by her lover when he discovers that she was adopted into a family of high society and actually comes from humble beginnings. She runs away and comes under the control of the play’s villain, which sets off a dramatic sequence of events.
The production features a cast of 24, nine locations, and live music. Images are available upon request.
Rio Grande’s Mainstage Theater is located at 1212 Rio Grande Street, on the second floor of the main building. Admission: suggested donation of $6.
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About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu):
ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 40,000 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.”
Posted on 10/29/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom, Official ACC Press Releases | No Comments »
The Student Life Office is sponsoring its annual community service activity, “Project: Build a Park,” from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, November 7, at the Barton Creek Greenbelt East, 3755-B Capital of Texas Hwy. See map.
Project: Build a Park draws up to 400 participants each year to clear brush and debris to improve public parkland. The partnership between ACC Student Life and the Austin Parks Foundation is celebrating its eight year.
“We look forward to this every year. It’s more than a service project. For staff and students it’s a fun way to get out and spend time with family and friends while giving back to the community,” Student Life Director Cheryl Richard said.
Students, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to sign up for either morning or afternoon shifts that last four hours. Participants should wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and closed-toe shoes.
Prizes, including an iPod Nano, gift cards, and over 200 passes to the Twilight saga: New Moon premiere, will be awarded throughout the day.
Register online here.
For more information, contact Jessica Burkemper at (512) 223.9173
Posted on 10/29/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
The Capital Metro Board of Directors has unanimously approved a bus pass pilot program for ACC students, faculty, and staff. The initiative, called “Green Pass,” is intended to help students get to class, ease parking congestion, and reduce ACC’s carbon footprint while gathering important ridership data.
The college will launch Green Pass for the spring 2010 semester. Beginning January 5, ACC will issue Capital Metro passes to students, faculty, and staff, who can use bus service (and rail service, when it comes online) at no cost to them. In an agreement reached with Capital Metro, the college will be charged a discounted rate per ride. The pilot program will assess the need for potential new routes and enable ACC to gauge interest in free use of mass transit.
The Capital Metro board gave Green Pass the green light on Wednesday, October 28. ACC’s Board of Trustees approved the pilot program in early October.
“We are so pleased to move forward with the Green Pass program,” says Andy Kim, the college’s director of environmental stewardship. “We appreciate the unanimous support of Capital Metro’s Board of Directors as well as the enthusiastic support of ACC students and employees.”
The cost of the pilot program will be covered by funds from the parking fee increase that went into effect this fall as well as a new sustainability fee of $1 per credit hour (which begins spring 2010). The average student will pay $8 a semester.
“This new ridership program will benefit not only the students, but the environment as well, and ACC students are always trying to find new and innovative ways to improve life using green practices,” says Joshua Bacak, president of the college’s Student Government Association.
Green Pass is just one example of ACC’s commitment to minimizing its impact on the environment. For information on all of the college’s sustainability initiatives, visit austincc.edu/sustainability.
Posted on 10/28/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | 6 Comments »
In an affirmation of the Austin Community College District’s financial strength, Standard & Poor’s has raised the college’s bond rating from A to AA-. That is an increase of two rating levels.
“This is a testament to the college’s financial strength, at a time when much of the nation’s economy is in a recession,” says Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO. “We are responsibly managing the funds entrusted to us by district taxpayers and students.”
Standard & Poor’s says the upgrade reflects ACC’s consistently strong financial operations, increasing enrollment, and a tax base that has grown due to the college’s recent annexation of Round Rock into the district.
The AA- rating makes ACC eligible for lower interest rates on the college’s bond issues. Standard & Poor’s also gave the AA- rating and stable outlook to the college’s 2009 revenue and refunding bonds, worth nearly $40 million. Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, those bonds will be used to help the college “land bank” – the process of seeking land purchase opportunities in areas where the college may grow.
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About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu):
ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 40,000 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.”
Posted on 10/26/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom, Official ACC Press Releases | No Comments »
Do you drive a green car? Now is a good time to find out! Beginning November 1, ACC will launch its Green Car Preferred Parking program. If you drive clean, you could be eligible to park in a limited number of new preferred parking spaces. Five parking spots at each campus will be designated for fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles. A current parking permit and Green Car sticker are required.
Here’s how it works. Go to ACC’s sustainability website and follow three simple steps.
- Check out the list to determine whether your vehicle is a Green Car. There are multiple types of cars that are considered “green,” from inexpensive compacts to high-tech hybrids.
- Fill out an application. Take the application and your vehicle registration or vehicle insurance policy to your campus cashier’s office to pick up a Green Car sticker. Stickers are free, but you must have a current ACC parking permit as well.
- Find preferred Green Car parking spots on the campus maps located on the Green Car information page. Spots are marked with Green Car signs. Remember, a sticker does not guarantee parking.
Please do not park in a Green Car space without a sticker or you will be subject to a $25 fine.
ACC wants to remind everyone to consider alternative forms of transportation such as walking, bicycling, taking the bus, or carpooling. It cuts down on parking problems and helps reduce our carbon footprint. The college is dedicated to adopting more sustainable practices that reduce our impact on the environment. Green Car Preferred Parking is just one initiative. These efforts are guided by ACC’s Board of Trustees Policy C-9, Sustainable Practices. Visit the new Sustainable ACC website to learn more.
Posted on 10/22/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | 2 Comments »
The Austin Community College District’s Pinnacle Campus in Oak Hill will re-open as planned on Thursday, October 22, following repairs to the campus electrical system.
A small fire contained to an electrical box in a 9th floor mechanical room on October 14 resulted in damage to electrical equipment, and replacement parts had to be custom-made, installed, and monitored prior to re-opening the campus.
Pinnacle classes and offices will resume their normal schedule Thursday morning. Students with any questions are encouraged to contact their instructors and visit their course Blackboard websites.
Posted on 10/21/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
The Austin Community College Mobile Go Center is stopping at H-E-B stores in surrounding communities to deliver college information and admissions services directly to residents. The ACC-H-E-B tour starts Thursday, October 22, at the H-E-B Plus in Kyle, 5401 South FM 1626. Stops also are planned in San Marcos, Bastrop, Lockhart, and Elgin.
Residents are invited to visit the Mobile Go between 3 and 7 p.m. to learn about the college’s programs or enroll in time for spring classes.
ACC representatives staffing the Mobile Go Center also can share information on registration and financial aid (including installment payment plans).
ACC offers a variety of free and low-cost classes and programs, including the Early College Start Program for high school students, university transfer courses, GED, English as a Second Language, and more than 180 accredited career programs. Whether you’re a high school student preparing for college or you’re ready to train for a new career, ACC can help you achieve your goals.
For more information on becoming an ACC student, visit austincc.edu/sro or call (512) 223.7701.
Click here to see Mobile Go flier.
ACC’s Mobile Go Center can be found at H-E-B stores across the area:
- Thursday, November 19, 2009
San Marcos, 641 East Hopkins St.
3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, December 10, 2009
Bastrop, 104 Hasler Blvd.
3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, January 21, 2010
Elgin, 1080 US 290
3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lockhart, 403 S. Colorado
3 – 6 p.m.
- Thursday, March 25, 2010
San Marcos, 200 W. Hopkins St.
3 – 6 p.m.
Posted on 10/20/2009 in ACC Homepage Announcements, ACC Newsroom | No Comments »
