Board of Trustees roundup for Feb. 5

Enrollment

Fall semester enrollment was up about 4.2 percent, according to December's financial statements. According to a press release from ACC, spring 2007 enrollment, with 31,148 registered students, is the most successful spring enrollment to date. The College Connection program and growth in the Hispanic and Asian student base are cited as contributing factors.

Long term planning a district priority

Board members discussed how the college will meet the "Closing the Gaps" initiative, a state-sponsored initiative requiring Texas public colleges to implement strategies to increase enrollment by 2015. Priorities include increasing diversity, especially among blacks and Hispanics; expanding the College Connection program for incoming High School graduates, and developing community relationships with surrounding cities for future annexation.

Funding for ACC Foundation

The college is seeking greater funding for the ACC Foundation. The program works through ACC's goals of raising funds for scholarships and increasing available funds for campus improvements. Results submitted from a pre-fundraising campaign study show that the community has a positive attitude towards ACC, but that there is not a clear sense of the college's accomplishments.