ACC Faculty and Staff
Construction updates at Highland and Rio Grande: May/June 2020
Posted on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 11:49amThe Highland Campus South Parking Garage hit another milestone this summer. Construction crews added the college's name to the external-facing wall, which is visible from Interstate 35, Highway 290, and areas to the east and southeast of the campus...
Month-in-Review: July 2020
Posted on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 11:20amSnack Box DistributionStudent Life continues to provide a consistent place for students to meet their immediate food needs while on campus with the Food Pantry program. This service was put on hold as we were faced with the need to transition to...
MyACC faculty and staff portals launch this fall
Posted on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 10:36amAustin Community College District (ACC) employees will soon be able to access all college information in one place with the MyACC Faculty and Staff Portals, which launch this fall. "We are excited to finally release portals for faculty and staff....
ACC President's Podcast | Taking Learning & Teaching Online: How ACC adapted during COVID-19
Posted on Thu, 07/30/2020 - 10:33amWhen the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reached Central Texas in mid March 2020, Austin Community College District transitioned to remote teaching and learning. In this President's Podcast, Dr. Richard Rhodes sits down with three ACC students and...
Samsung Apprenticeship helps ACC Manufacturing student earn and learn
Posted on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 11:41amThe world of manufacturing is changing from assembly lines to automation and robotics. “I'm the one who fixes the machines. It’s really cool and scary in a way. These machines are worth millions of dollars. It’s like walking into the Borg Cube on...
ACC Welcomes Tesla to Central Texas
Posted on Wed, 07/22/2020 - 5:25pmThe company’s new Gigafactory in Travis County expects to bring thousands of new jobs in manufacturing Austin Community College District (ACC) is excited to welcome Tesla Inc. to the Central Texas community. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, announced the...
The Write Stuff: Published faculty help ACC student become author
Posted on Wed, 07/22/2020 - 2:19pm“I would not have considered myself a writer. I had written things for my kids, but it felt like a hobby, not a career I could pursue.” Jenny Elder-Moke is now living her passion. Her first book, ‘Hood,’ was published by Disney-Hyperion in June. It...
You’re Invited to ACC’s 2020 Awards Celebration! Cheer on your favorite faculty & staff
Posted on Wed, 07/22/2020 - 8:56amAustin Community College District (ACC) hosts a virtual awards celebration recognizing recipients of its Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards Thursday, July 30, at 6 p.m. Faculty, staff, students, and the community are invited. 2020 ACC...
ACC Board of Trustees July 6 Recap
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 4:06pmThe Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees held its July regular meeting on Monday, July 6, via teleconference due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Trustees approved the FY2021 budget, heard presentations on the CARES Act...
Collaboration, communication key to disbursing CARES student aid quickly
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 3:44pmAustin Community College (ACC) has distributed more than half of the $6.9 million in federal aid it received specifically for student emergency support from the Department of Education as part of the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund...
George Wilkerson: Honoring the legacy of ACC’s first dean of instruction
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 2:25pmDr. George Wilkerson may be best known in Austin as a comedy sketch writer and cast member for Esther's Follies, but as the founding dean of instruction at Austin Community College, creator of the first online Composition course in Texas, and an...
FY2021 budget approved without cuts, defers compensation decisions
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 2:10pmThe Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees voted to approve the budget for FY2021. The $416 million budget maintains existing operations and currently approved initiatives without making any cuts. "Our approach at this point is...
First week back: ACC cautiously implements return-to-campus plan
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 10:00amSince Austin Community College District (ACC) closed its campuses and centers in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a small number of classes — primarily in workforce-related programs in health sciences and applied technologies such as welding...
New ACC Highland signage now up on south parking garage
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 9:15amConstruction on Austin Community College District's (ACC) Highland Campus reached another milestone this week. On Wednesday, July 15, ACC’s Facilities and Construction team and project crews added the college's name to the external-facing wall of...
ACC named No. 1 college in Texas for university transfer.
Posted on Fri, 07/17/2020 - 9:09amAustin Community College District (ACC) is ranked top in Texas for university transfer. The college was named No. 1 for transfer student success according to recent data released by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The report...
Two Tales of Transferring: Finding Your Path in Life
Posted on Thu, 07/16/2020 - 3:20pmArturo Garcia For some students it can take some bouncing around before finding their path in life. That was the story for Arturo Garcia. He graduated from Reagan High School in 2010 and set his sights straight on enrolling at a local university. “...
Increasing Possibilities: ACC Manufacturing student returns to the classroom to skill-up
Posted on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 12:41pmFor Austin Community College District (ACC) student Rebekah Tangney, training in manufacturing is the key to sharpening and widening her skillset to open new possibilities. “I already have a four-year degree, but learning new skills is great for my...
ACC distributed $3.9 million to help students pay for college & expenses amid COVID-19
Posted on Thu, 07/09/2020 - 11:24amAustin Community College District (ACC) continues to distribute funds for students impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). In spring and summer semesters, more than 3,600 students received federal aid dollars through the ACC CARES Act...
Every count matters: ACC Experts weigh-in on 2020 Census
Posted on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 12:07pmInvitations for the 2020 Census are with households nationwide. The Census helps determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities over the next ten years. ACC Elections and Government Relations Manager Alicia...
ACC Campus Conversation: Planning the College's Return to Campus
Posted on Mon, 07/06/2020 - 7:23amAustin Community College District's (ACC) Return to Campus Plan is rooted in safety for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. ACC will gradually transition back to on-campus and in-person classes and activities in four phases. ACC President/...
ACC closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day
Posted on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 10:32amAustin Community College District (ACC) will close in observance of Independence Day, Friday, July 3. Most staff, faculty, and students will resume remote operations at 8 a.m. Monday, July 6. Beginning Monday, July 6, a small amount of technical...
ACC hosts The Future of Work Summit July 27-31
Posted on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 11:30amAustin Community College District (ACC) hosts the Future of Work Summit July 27 through July 31. The virtual event, sponsored by ACC's Teaching and Learning Excellence Division (TLED), is part of the college's Academic Master Planning process and...
ACC remembers Juneteenth with talks on equity & inclusion
Posted on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 4:44pmAustin Community College District (ACC) is looking deeper at what we can do to affect meaningful change in our community to address racial injustice and inequalities. On Friday, June 19, the college hosted a roundtable with students, employees, and...
ACC wins Excellence in Institutional Efficiency award
Posted on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 2:44pmAustin Community College (ACC) is the first community college to receive Salesforce's Excellence in Institutional Efficiency award. The award — which recognizes higher education institutions using Salesforce Education Cloud to increase operational...
Applications increase for Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at ACC
Posted on Fri, 06/26/2020 - 1:58pmNow in its fourth year, interest in the Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Austin Community College (ACC) continues to grow. Nearly 300 students have requested to apply for the fall 2020 cohort, which plans to accept 150 students. The...
Barnes & Noble Bookstores at ACC remain closed until further notice
Posted on Fri, 06/26/2020 - 10:06amTo ensure the health and well-being of our students and employees, the Barnes & Noble Bookstores remain temporarily closed until further notice. Barnes & Noble will continue to accept course material and general merchandise orders online...
Month-in-review: June 2020
Posted on Fri, 06/26/2020 - 8:55amVirtual President's ReceptionOn May 27, ACC President/CEO Dr. Richard M. Rhodes hosted the third annual President's Reception honoring all high school seniors graduating with an ACC degree, workforce certificate, or at least 12 hours of transferable...
Construction updates at Highland and Rio Grande: March/April 2020
Posted on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 10:29amDespite a brief shutdown and some challenges with delayed deliveries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, construction marches forward on the Rio Grande and Highland campus projects, which both reached significant milestones in the past month. Rio Grande...
Regional Advisory Committees hear academic and campus master plans updates
Posted on Thu, 06/25/2020 - 10:21amAustin Community College District's (ACC) three Regional Advisory Committees representing the district's north, south, and central service areas met virtually in June to hear updates on the college's academic and campus master plans. Academic Master...
Support foster youth in Central Texas: Donate now to ACC’s 11th annual luggage drive
Posted on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 2:51pmDonations are now being accepted for Austin Community College District’s (ACC) annual luggage drive. The program supports youth who are preparing to transition out of foster care. “Each year thousands of youth age out of the foster care system in...
President's Podcast: Engineering Brighter Futures
Posted on Tue, 06/16/2020 - 2:32pmThe Texas Workforce Commission projects a 25 percent growth in engineering jobs statewide in the next decade. In response to this anticipated growth, ACC and Texas A&M created the Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at ACC. Supported by...
Fall registration opens for all students Monday, June 15
Posted on Mon, 06/15/2020 - 1:26pmRegistration for fall classes at Austin Community College District (ACC) begins Monday, June 15. Most fall courses will remain online. “There are still a lot of unknowns about the Coronavirus, and ACC continues to monitor the situation daily with...
ACC announces plan to begin its return to campus
Posted on Fri, 06/12/2020 - 3:29pmAustin Community College District (ACC) will begin a gradual approach to return to campus beginning in July. The college released new health and safety procedures and protocols to safely phase-in a small number of workforce classes and student...
How IT is working to keep the college online
Posted on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 12:42pmAustin Community College's Information Technology (IT) department continues its work to support the college's response plan for the evolving situation regarding the COVID-19 virus. Even before the college's decision to suspend all nonessential, in-...
ACC Board of Trustees June 1 recap
Posted on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 12:05pmThe Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its regular meeting on Monday, June 1, to discuss the budget, learn about the results of a student satisfaction survey, and vote on contracts. Below are highlights from the...
Taking hands-on learning online: Biology lab
Posted on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 11:23amThe Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced Austin Community College (ACC) faculty to adapt their classrooms, labs, and simulations to a virtual environment. We are sharing the innovative ways our faculty are taking hands-on learning online. In this...
Student Affairs conducts call-a-thon to check on students
Posted on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 11:17amAlthough students were not physically on campus during the last half of the spring semester, they remained top of mind for Austin Community College faculty and staff. To check in on how students were doing with the transition to an online learning...
COVID-19's impact on spring student academic success
Posted on Thu, 06/11/2020 - 11:12amWhile the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the way the college operates, it fortunately had only a moderate impact on student academic performance this spring. "I was very impressed by the dedication of our faculty and staff and the...
ACC names new Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Posted on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 4:54pmThe Austin Community College District (ACC) names Larry M. Davis as the college's new Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer (CEDIO). The CEDIO will continue the college's work to address equity gaps at ACC. "ACC spent the past seven years...
ACC graduates share stories ahead of virtual commencement on Saturday
Posted on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 2:49pmAustin Community College graduates, their families and friends, and the Central Texas community are invited to join together and recognize the achievements of ACC’s spring 2020 class. ACC encourages the community to wear purple in celebration and...
A Message from the President: June 2, 2020
Posted on Tue, 06/02/2020 - 2:36pmTo: Faculty, Staff and StudentsFrom: Richard M. Rhodes Date: June 2, 2020 Subject: A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students, This week, we begin classes for the summer 2020 semester amid a global pandemic and a growing national...
What your colleagues are doing: Music Professor Virginia Volpe
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 2:27pmACC Music Professor Virginia Volpe created a virtual performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with the ACC Choir. Students were responsible for mixing individual recordings to make one master track. Listen to it here.
Earning As: April/May 2020
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:54amThis regular feature recognizes achievements, activities, and accolades of ACC faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below. Rosa Carrasco, ACC Engineering professor, was featured in the National Institute for...
Congratulations April 2020 Bravo Award Recipients
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:48amACC congratulates the following Riverbats Bravo award recipients for April 2020. The Riverbats Employee Bravo Awards program recognizes employees whose actions reflect exemplary customer service as demonstrated by excellent communication,...
Fashion Incubator and Fashion Design students create graduation stoles for ACC faculty, staff
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:46amAustin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff who earn a new credential from another institution will soon have a special Riverbat stole to wear at graduation. The idea originated during a meeting between all the employee associations and the...
Summer registration seeing positive trends
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:40amAfter a vigorous start, summer registration numbers have steadied but continue to show positive trends despite the COVID-19 outbreak. About 13,800 students enrolled on the first day of registration, which grew to nearly 18,700 students in the first...
ACC Frontline Heroes: Facilities Support staff
Posted on Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:32amWhile Austin Community College (ACC) students and the majority of faculty and staff have been working remotely since Friday, March 13, the facilities support team has remained on campus assisting with the college's response to the COVID-19 outbreak...
Taking hands-on learning online: Professional Nursing
Posted on Thu, 05/28/2020 - 5:14pmThe Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced Austin Community College (ACC) faculty to adapt their classrooms, labs, and simulations to a virtual environment. We are sharing the innovative ways our faculty are taking hands-on learning online. In this...
Save big on college at ACC with generous financial support programs
Posted on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 4:06pmAustin Community College (ACC) works to connect students with financial support to help them stay on track toward their college and career goals. Extra support, in addition to continued resources, is available during the Coronavirus (COVID-19)...
ACC closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day
Posted on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:18pmAustin Community College (ACC) will close in observance of Memorial Day Monday, May 25. Staff will resume remote operations 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 26. Registration for summer courses remains open through the weekend. The college’s pass/no pass grading...