Students can view the fall schedule on the ACC website and register online. The Student Recruitment Office (223.7701) provides guidance for starting at ACC.

ACC offers more than 100 fields of study, many in high-demand fields. To explore all the options, visit austincc.edu/choices.

Fall in-district tuition is $67 per credit hour, making ACC the most affordable institution of higher education in the area. The college offers payment plans that allow students to spread the cost of tuition and fees over the term. Students may view tuition payment deadlines online.

ACC has an open-door admissions policy, meaning everyone who meets eligibility criteria is encouraged to enroll. Visit austincc.edu/apply to get started and view a map that guides new students through the registration process.

For more information on fall registration, visit austincc.edu/register.

A growing number of college students are accelerating their entry into the workforce by earning a certificate – a “quick career” credential making students eligible for immediate employment or increasing their marketability to employers.

Get one-on-one help from advisors at (512) 223.7704 or QuickCareers@austincc.edu.

This nationwide trend is reflected at Austin Community College, with a 51 percent increase in credit and non-credit (Continuing Education) certificate earners in the past five years (up to 1,159 in 2011-12). ACC offers more than 100 certificate programs in a variety of credit and Continuing Education areas, including:

• Information technology
• Firefighting
• Culinary arts
• Lineworker technology
• Nurse aide
• Sustainable agriculture (coming fall 2013 to Elgin Campus)

ACC set up a special phone line (512.223.7704) and email (QuickCareers@austincc.edu) answered by advisors to connect prospective students to information on quick career pathways and how to get started. Information also is available at austincc.edu/training. Fall registration for new students is under way.

Many certificate programs take less than a year to complete, and some can be finished in a few months.

“I was 30 when I went back to school, and I was ready to get into the workforce in a career that would benefit me,” says Adam Henwood, who graduated from ACC with his certificate in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technology. “The certificate program was affordable and taught me everything I needed to know. I got my job the day I graduated, and I make a great living.”

A new report from College Measures, a higher education research group, indicates that first-year earnings of Texas certificate holders are often higher than earnings of graduates with associate or bachelor’s degrees. | Read more

“Certificates are a great pathway into a career, especially for students who need to get into work quickly to support their family,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “We maintain our high standards while allowing students to focus specifically on their chosen career field. Students can always return to broaden their education and earn an associate degree, and they often do.”

ACC is the primary trainer of the local workforce.

“Austin Community College continues to expand its innovative efforts to meet the region’s dynamic workforce needs,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar. “ACC continues to build essential associate degree and transferable credit opportunities while offering certificate programs that provide an accelerated option for students to acquire the in-demand skills employers need.”

“The safety of our students and employees is critical,” says Kristine Elderkin, ACC’s emergency management coordinator. “We encourage everyone to take steps to make sure they are prepared, and Emergency Preparedness Week is a great opportunity for that.”

Emergency Preparedness Week activities include:
• Emails with safety and preparedness tips
• Building evacuation drills (locations and times not announced in advance)
• Testing of the ACC Emergency Alert system on Wednesday, June 12. This communications system rapidly provides emergency information to students, faculty, and staff, through a variety of methods including emergency message boards, email, and voice and text messages

“ACC Emergency Alert is a very important tool that ensures you don’t miss out on vital information,” says Elderkin. “But we can’t communicate with you via cellphone alerts if we don’t have your current number. Please take a few minutes to check your ACC Emergency Alert contact info before the system test on Wednesday.”

To provide or verify your cellphone information, log in to Online Services and click the ACC Emergency Alert link on the menu page. It takes up to 24 hours to receive a text message confirmation – you must respond “Y” to complete the registration.

“More than 17,500 people who signed up to receive ACC Emergency Alert text messages never sent in their confirmation,” says Elderkin. “If people don’t send in the confirmation, we can’t provide that communication in an emergency.”

Not sure you are confirmed? Text “Y” to 68453 as soon as possible.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit austincc.edu/emergency. The webpage includes safety videos, emergency procedures, ACC Emergency Alert information, and emergency notifications.

ACC staff assist a steady stream of prospective students at the new Elgin Campus.

Several hundred people turned out for a sneak peek of ACC’s new Elgin Campus at the College Fair and Elgin Chamber Expo on June 1.

Visitors did more than admire the spectacular view from the third-floor library windows; a steady stream of new and prospective students from Elgin, Bastrop, Manor, and beyond kept recruiters and Student Services staff busy providing admissions and registration assistance.

“Bringing ACC here is going to create a better quality of life for my kids, for my family, and for everyone in the community,” says Elgin resident Jason Tatum, who is considering taking classes at the new campus. “This campus means the world to this community. We’re going to become a community everybody wants to come to now.”

In addition to touring the facility, visitors completed ACC applications in the college’s Mobile Go Center, met with Student Services staff, and visited with ACC representatives from programs ranging from accounting to welding technology. About 40 Elgin-area businesses and agencies also participated in the event.

“Our instructional faculty and support staff gave the community a broad introduction to all that ACC offers, not just in Elgin but across the district,” says Kathleen Christensen, vice president of student services. “I think this campus will bring the community together, and it will be home to many students in the future.”

Visitors viewed demonstrations and spoke with ACC department representatives.

Future students ranged from high schoolers interested in Early College Start to senior citizens wanting to take advantage of waived tuition fees. Recent high school graduates stopped by a Student Life reception in their honor where they could win prizes and share their suggestions and wishes for the new campus.

“This event marks a great day for Elgin and all our surrounding communities,” says David Glass, chairman of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve received a great outpouring of support from our community. We’re already seeing additional retailers and homes being developed in the area, all because ACC will be located in our community.”

The college fair and business expo was a one-day opening for the campus. Continuing admissions and registration assistance is available at the ACC Elgin Center during the completion of construction.

The campus officially opens Aug. 26 for the first day of classes. For more information, visit austincc.edu/elgin.

View photos from the day below.

Students gather at the Frank Erwin Center before the spring commencement ceremony.

For the past three years, Laura Driver took classes at Austin Community College and worked two jobs, while also being a single mother to 4-year-old Isaac. On the night she earned her diploma, Driver knew it was all worth it.

“ACC helped me get one step closer to reaching my goal of teaching children,” says Driver, who earned her associate degree in teaching education. “My son has had such a huge impact on my life.  Everything I do is for him and to give him a better life.”

Driver was one of hundreds of students who crossed the stage at the Frank Erwin Center during ACC’s spring commencement ceremony on May 9.

This spring, more than 1,300 students applied for graduation. The number of graduates has increased significantly in recent years, with more than 2,600 students graduating in 2011-12 – up almost 63 percent over five years ago.

“As a college president, graduation is one of my favorite times,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “To see the pride on these students’ faces, to see the joy of their friends and family – it’s a great feeling, and we’re so proud of all that our students have accomplished.”

Hundreds of students took part in the commencement ceremony.

Commencement speaker Andres Alcantar, chairman and commissioner representing the public of the Texas Workforce Commission, told graduates that the skills they gained at ACC can be used throughout their careers. He added that now is a great time to be searching for a job in Central Texas, where ACC has helped the commission fill the needs of the workforce.

“The American dream requires hard work and dedication, and it requires a commitment to excellence,” Alcantar said in his speech. “But that’s the beauty of America – it rewards accomplishments, and it rewards commitment.”

Driver’s commitment to earning her degree has paid off, as she is now enrolled at Texas State University. She plans to complete her bachelor’s degree next year. She advises other ACC students “to not give up. Always remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Check out photo’s from the ceremony on Flickr or view this slideshow:

Classes begin at Elgin Campus in fall 2013.

Attendees can meet with admissions staff as well as representatives from academic, extracurricular, and support programs. The college fair also offers early registration for those who complete the admissions process and plan to take classes at Elgin Campus when it opens this fall.

A variety of career training programs available at ACC will be showcased, including:

• Agricultural Entrepreneurship (new and unique to Elgin Campus)
• Computer Information Technology
• Health Sciences
• Hospitality, Meeting & Event Planning, and Travel & Tourism
• Applied Technology
• Visual Communication

“The college fair is a great opportunity to check out ACC,” says Betsy Erwin, the campus manager and an Elgin resident. “A community college gives all residents an opportunity to improve their lives. You can train for a new career, take transferable classes, or add to your resume. It’s a big asset to Elgin as well as the surrounding areas.”

The college fair will be held in conjunction with the Greater Elgin Chamber of Commerce’s business expo. The expo features exhibitors, live entertainment, demonstrations, and door prizes. Both events are free and open to the public.

The ACC Elgin Campus is located at 1501 W. U.S. Hwy. 290. Parking for the event is at the campus, with overflow parking and shuttle service from Neidig Elementary School (13700 County Line Rd.).

Please note the campus remains closed to visitors except during the college fair. The campus officially opens Monday, Aug. 26.

Students can view the fall schedule on the ACC website and register online according to their registration eligibility date. ACC has a registration helpline to provide additional assistance; students can call (512) 223.4636.

Fall in-district tuition is $67 per credit hour, making ACC the most affordable institution of higher education in the area. The college offers payment plans that allow students to spread the cost of tuition and fees over the term. Students may view tuition payment deadlines online.

Registration for the fall semester will open to new students on June 10.

Additional registration resources can be found at austincc.edu/register.

ACC graduate Avy Gonzalez, center, with his family. From left: Marco, Janet, Avy, and Alex Gonzalez.

Avy Gonzalez believes in leading by example. So when his children were in seventh and ninth grades, with their college years quickly approaching, Gonzalez enrolled at Austin Community College.

“As a parent, I am constantly looking to better myself for my children,” Gonzalez says. “I have always told my boys that I never expected them to do anything I haven’t done myself, so I decided to go to college and set the example.”

Gonzalez is among the hundreds of ACC students who will be honored at the college’s spring commencement. The graduation ceremony is set for Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center (1701 Red River St.).

This spring, more than 1,300 ACC students applied for graduation. The number of graduates has increased significantly in recent years, with more than 2,600 students graduating in 2011-12 – up almost 63 percent over five years ago.

“As a college president, graduation is one of my favorite times,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. “To see the pride on these students’ faces, to see the joy of their friends and family – it’s a great feeling, and we’re so proud of all that our students have accomplished.”

Gonzalez, recipient of the Presidential Student Achievement Award, accomplished many things during his time at ACC, including co-chairing the ACC Mascot Search Committee and founding the Center for Student Political Studies. Gonzalez also earned El Centro’s Raymond Díaz Scholarship for Cuban-Americans. He’ll accept his associate degree in government at this spring’s ACC commencement ceremony and a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University this summer. His greatest achievement, however, is the impact his education has had on his family.

“ACC was a way for me to show my family how much I love them and how much they inspire me,” Gonzalez says. “I am grateful to ACC for allowing me to achieve our family’s goals.”

Gonzalez’s oldest son, Marco, is now majoring in science education at ACC, while youngest son Alex has already taken two years of Early College Start classes and will continue his college education at ACC this summer.

And it’s not just the next generation: Avy’s wife, Janet, will graduate from ACC this summer with a degree in Spanish. She will continue her studies at Texas State University in the fall. Avy will also continue his education at Texas State University, in the school’s graduate program for political science.

“Avy has been such an inspiration to us. He helped us see how a good education can fulfill all our aspirations and dreams,” Janet says. “Most of all, he taught me it’s never too late to change your life or your outcome.”

Graduates and guests are invited to a post-ceremony reception at the Erwin Center. For more details on the graduation ceremony, visit austincc.edu/graduation.

Students are joined by R.B., ACC's Riverbat mascot, to collect donations.

Residents of West, Texas, are getting support from Austin Community College’s chapter of Circle K International (CKI). The ACC student service club teamed with CKI chapters from the University of Texas at Austin and other universities to raise funds and collect donations for the community, devastated by the explosion of a fertilizer plant on April 17.

The students set up tables at the entrances of the Walmart Supercenter in the Southpark Meadows shopping center in south Austin on April 21. With the help of the community, the CKI representatives collected:

• 21 cases of water
• 14 boxes of diapers and other baby supplies
• 9 bags of clothes
• 5 packs of sports drinks and other beverages
• 4 boxes of canned food and other non-perishable food items
• 1 box of pet food and supplies
• 1 box of personal care items
• 1 box of first-aid supplies
• 1 bag of toys

Canned goods were among the items collected by students.

In addition, the donation drive collected more than $1,000 for the West Explosion Victims Fund in care of Pointwest Bank in West.

“CKI is all about community service and inspiring others to give back, so we wanted to jump in right away to do something to help the residents of West,” said Marcelo Urieta-Bravo, president of the ACC chapter of CKI. “We had students come in from all over Texas and Oklahoma to help.”

The students assembled the donations into care packages for residents and first responders, and the family of a UT-Austin CKI representative transported the goods to West.

In addition to ACC and UT-Austin CKI chapters, participants in the donation drive include students from Southwestern University, the University of Texas at Brownsville, West Texas A&M University, and Oklahoma State University.

“As soon as the students found out about the explosion, they said they wanted to help,” said Angela Robertson, ACC Student Life coordinator and CKI advisor. “All of these students have a true heart for service.”

CKI is affiliated with Kiwanis International, a global service organization. Click here to learn more about the ACC chapter of CKI.

If you are interested in donating to the people of West, visit the West Explosion Victims Fund webpage or the Red Cross of Central Texas’ Facebook page.

Slideshow from donation drive:

The ACC students are uniting with students from CKI chapters at the University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University, the University of Texas at Brownsville, West Texas A&M University, and Oklahoma State University.

“CKI is all about community service and inspiring others to give back, so we wanted to jump in right away to do something to help the residents of West, ” said Marcelo Urieta-Bravo, president of the ACC chapter of CKI. “We have students coming in from all over Texas and Oklahoma to help.”

Students will collect donations at the entrances of the Southpark Meadows Walmart Supercenter (9300 S. I-35) on Sunday, April 21, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. In addition to monetary donations, specific items requested are:

• Personal hygiene items
• Non-perishable food
• Pet supplies
• Baby/infant care items
• Grab and go snack items (such as granola bars or sports drinks) for victims and first responders
• First aid supplies
• New undergarments and socks, etc.

Items will be assembled into care packages. Monetary donations will be forwarded to the West Explosion Victims Fund in care of Pointwest Bank in West.

“As soon as the students found out about the explosion, they said they wanted to help,” says Angela Robertson, ACC Student Life coordinator and CKI advisor. “All of these students have a true heart for service.”

View the CKI chapter’s Facebook page for more information, or contact Robertson at 223.8233, or arobert1@austincc.edu.

CKI is affiliated with Kiwanis International, a global service organization. Click here to learn more about the ACC chapter of CKI.

The bilingual, multicultural event celebrates the community and provides important information about ACC. College staff will be on hand to provide information about admissions, financial aid, and adult education, including ESL and GED programs.

Los Texas Wranglers will perform live Tejano music, and there will be food and refreshments. Children will enjoy entertainment, games, and face painting.

“Día de la Familia allows the community to get connected to our programs and services,” says Dr. Mariano Díaz-Miranda, director of ACC’s Latino/Latin American Studies Center.  “ACC is truly the community’s college, and we invite families to experience that for themselves at Día de la Familia.”

Día de la Familia is part of the college’s ongoing efforts to reach out to the growing number of Hispanic families in the area and to build a college-going culture. In fall 2012, ACC enrolled 12,276 Hispanic credit students, more than 28 percent of the credit student body. The college is certified as a Hispanic Serving Institution, a federal designation indicating the college maintains 25 percent or greater full-time equivalent Hispanic enrollment.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 223.6361 or visit austincc.edu/elcentro.