ACC Green Pass program proves to be successful since inception
Over the last two years, Austin Community College's Green Pass program has seen growing success. In the span of time the program has been active, ACC's riders have amassed nearly 800,000 uses per year.
In January of 2010, ACC developed a new program that would provide Capital Metro passes to ACC students, faculty and staff.
All campuses, facilities to become smoke-free beginning January 2, 2012
In a unanimous decision during a Sept. 19 meeting, the board of trustees voted to make all Austin Community College campuses and facilities smoke- free beginning Jan. 2, 2012.
Over the summer break, the Austin Community College board of trustees adopted a $265 million budget for the 2012 fiscal year. The budget balances the need
Dr. Richard Rhodes named lone finalist at board of trustee meeting
Dr. Richard Rhodes has been named the lone finalist for Austin Community College's next president/CEO. ACC's board of trustees voted unanimously to select Rhodes on May 2 at a board meeting and will immediately begin negotiations on the start date and contract terms.
Before retiring, Stephen Kinslow recalls his term in office as college president
After 34 years at ACC, President Stephen B. Kinslow will be retiring in June. Kinslow, who was appointed as president in 2005, joined the college in 1977. He began as an associate dean, and later held the roles of vice president of school relations, dean (continued)
ACC board of trustees votes to raise all tuition by $5 per credit hour
Austin Community College board of trustees voted Monday night to raise all student tuition by $5 per credit hour to help offset significant state budget cuts outlined in House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1. This change will go into effect immediately for the Summer 2011 semester. Registration for the summer begins on April 7. (continued)
Search for next college president continues as finalists speak at forums, board members travel to campuses
The selection process for president/CEO of Austin Community College continues on April 18 as ACC board of trustee members travel to the college campuses of the two finalists. They will meet on May 2 to report the visitation and make their final decision. (continued)
Selected applicants from across the nation are getting ready to head to Austin in order to be interviewed for a chance to become the next president and CEO of Austin Community College. On Feb. 24-25, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) interviewed a group of semi-finalists selected by the committee and Gold Hill, a community college executive search firm.
Plan would increase space at all campuses by 2025 to handle expected increase in college student population.
The board of trustees met on Feb. 21 to discuss the college's district-wide master plan that would renovate and increase space at all campuses by 2025. By that year, the total headcount of students is expected to grow by 23,392, a number that includes potential future campuses that have not yet passed annexation elections, according to the board.
Students will continue to ride Capital Metro buses for free until at least August 2012. A $500,000 dollar, 20 month extension of the Green pass program was approved by the board on Nov. 1. The ACC Green Pass program started as a pilot program in January 2010.
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is moving closer toward a fare hike in 31-day bus passes and Metro Access services. The elimination of free fares for both elderly and disabled riders will also be up for vote on Nov. 10.
Two Austin Community College students will play a key role in the selection of the college's new president/CEO ACC's board of trustees decided at a special meeting on Sept. 20.
After 34 years at the college, ACC President and CEO Stephen Kinslow announced his retirement over the summer. This month, Austin Community College's board of trustees will begin the search to find a new president to replace Kinslow.
Austin Community College's board of trustees set policy and plans to direct the operation of the college. What they do at their monthly board meetings affect students, employees and all who live within the ACC taxing district. Here are just a few of the important issues the board dealt with this summer.
There are three board of trustee places up for election this year, and anyone interested in running could have applied to be a candidate in any of the three places. The places are "At-Large," which means they do not represent a specific area. Four candidates chose to run for place 5, and three for place 6.
"It's been exciting and a great learning experience," Michael Perrine said about running for ACC Board of Trustees Place 6.
Though he has served on several boards, this is the first time he's had to campaign.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to run," Perrine said, "that speaks volumes about the community college district."
In 2001 Vic Villarreal saw an advertisement in the Hill Country News that changed his life.
The advertisement was for positions on the planning and zoning commission in the city of Leander. Villarreal read the description for the job and thought he could do it. Two days after applying he was interviewed.
The board of trustees proposed methodology change for computing faculty pay has found resistance from the Adjunct Faculty Association.
The proposed change to the F10 board policy would expand the current comparative payment structure that uses the Austin market to one using "Texas metropolitan community colleges."
Davis Jones tells his story to the Accent
Davis Jones is a 26 year old ACC student running for place 5 on the ACC Board of Trustees. He expects to win. "I'm a proponent of positive thinking," said Jones. "I'm certainly going in humble; I'm going to do my best." Jones believes that the main value he will bring to the board is the unique perspective of a student. "I'm not coming as a politician," said Jones. "I'm not coming from a Democratic club. I'm not coming from a Republican club. I'm coming as a clear voice from ACC representing the students – representing the customers."
Guadalupe Sosa tells her story to the Accent
When it came time for Guadalupe Sosa to vote for the chair person of the advisory committee, working on the plans for a South Austin Campus, she hesitated. She wasn't sure if she should vote for herself. Sosa had brought the idea to build a campus in South Austin to ACC's Board of Trustees, and she had been working on it tirelessly for years.
There were many qualified people in the room. She hesitated, but then voted for herself. She won the chair position by one vote.
The Governmental and Community Relations office will begin taking candidate applications beginning Feb. 6 for the May ACC Board of Trustees elections. Board Place 3, Place 5, and Place 6 will all be up for election. These Trustees are elected at-large to oversee the entire ACC service area.
Potential candidates can already file an Appointment of Campaign Treasurer form that would allow them to legally begin raising funds for their campaign, but a candidate is not officially on the ballot until they fill out an application for a place on the ballot.
McGhee tells his story to the Accent
Fred McGhee remembers what it was like to be the new guy in a new place, having to learn how to deal with the local cultural norms and learn a new language. McGhee moved to the United States when he was ten. Before that he had lived in Germany with his German mother and American father.
Senate is debating change to Gov. Code
A bill that would allow people with a concealed handgun license to bring their gun on campus was discussed in the Senate State Affairs committee on April 27. SB 1164 would amend the Texas government code to give properly licensed individuals the right to have their concealed handguns with them in classrooms, dorm rooms and all other campus buildings.
Higher tuition and fees might be necessary if ACC does not receive more money from the state of Texas for employee health care. Members of the board of trustees, the president of ACC, and the Office of External Affairs have all taken the time to call, send letters and talk face to face with central Texas state representatives about the issue of proportionality.
This semester was the first in which college administration was given the freedom - via a recently amended House Bill - to choose due dates for each tuition payment, and it was also the first semester in which the installment plan's $10 startup fee was eliminated.
While formal policy is being debated, original decision to remove posters has been reversed
The decision to have posters of President Obama and Michelle Obama removed from the walls of administrative offices on the Riverside Campus and other ACC offices was formally reversed Thursday, March 26. Until a new policy is crafted, the posters of President Obama will be allowed on the walls of the administrative offices.
After 35 years of providing educational opportunities to Austin's residents, ACC celebrated with ALL ACCESS: An Education Celebration and ACC's 35th Birthday Bash with Hip Hop Into College on Saturday, March 28, at the Eastview Campus. The event was open to the public and every participant received a VIP Pass with information on the various events at the celebration.
Citing employee concerns, administration reverses decision
The decision to have posters of President Obama and Michelle Obama removed from the walls of administrative offices on Riverside Campus and other ACC offices was formally reversed Thursday, March 26. Until a new policy is crafted the posters of President Obama will be allowed on the walls of the administrative office.
ACC will strive to procure twenty percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020. Committing to use a substantial amount of renewable energy is a lofty goal, considering that ACC has only recently begun to examine ways as an institution to reduce its impact on the environment.
The Rio Grande Board forum was held on Oct. 21 in the Student Lounge. Austin Community College's Board of Trustees member Allen Kaplan along with other college representatives were available to answer students' questions and hear their concerns. Most of the conversation centered around improving the facilities at the Rio Grande campus, particularly the inadequate parking and lack of hot water in the bathrooms.
John-Michael Cortez was elected to place two of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees this May and has many plans for ACC, including improvements to the transportation and parking issues students face. He stated that he ran for the board because he realized that ACC provides an essential and accessible higher education and workforce training for the central Texas area.
Adam Oliphant Staff Writer Students are becoming increasingly concerned about global warming's impact on the earth's future climate. The first step to improve the situation is to quantify humans' impact by conducting a CO2 inventory. Some Austin Community College students are doing just that, starting at the South Austin Campus, to see how much carbon ACC campuses produce.
The Rio Grande Board forum was held on Oct. 21 in the Student Lounge. Austin Community College's Board of Trustees member Allen Kaplan along with other college representatives were available to answer students' questions and hear their concerns. Most of the conversation centered around improving the facilities at the Rio Grande campus, particularly the inadequate parking and lack of hot water in the bathrooms.
School begins to offer classes over the weekend to complete degree
Here's some good news for both current and prospective Austin Community College students who have a hard time juggling their time between classes and their jobs: ACC now has weekend-only classes. Students can take core curriculum classes or earn a degree, while fulfilling career responsibilities during the week.
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.
New location for fire academy? There is a proposed transfer of the far away Taylor fire academy to a new AFD training center with easy access to the I-35 corridor. The move is expected to cost up to half a million dollars and will bring the academy within the ACC service area.
Students concerned about dwindling parking spaces may not see an expansion this semester, but a recent report has indicated that numerous projects are being evaluated in the hopes of addressing the parking problems that have plagued various ACC campuses.
The board of trustees has approved an interlocal agreement between the city of Austin and ACC regarding a proposed move of ACC's fire academy. The facility, currently in Taylor, will be moved to an Austin Fire Department training facility. The Jan. 22nd, approval follows discussion earlier in the spring semester regarding a move of the facility effective fall 2007.
state to restore funding cut by governor
The Austin Community College Board of Trustees rescinded the $2 general fee increase implemented over the summer at a Nov. 5 meeting, just in time for spring registration, following announcement that an agreement had been reached in the legislature to restore state appropriations cut by the governor's June 15 veto.
Since January, the non-profit Center for Public Policy & Political Studies at ACC has been communicating with students and faculty to address community issues through participation in education and policy research, and to develop student leadership skills through internships and collaborative efforts.
An Austin Community College employee has sued the college in response to a reprimand handed him following comments he made before the ACC Board of Trustees. Mark Goodrich, an ACC maintenance technician, voiced his disapproval of the administration's handling of Room 221, a room that has been subject to concern over mercury contamination since a 2003 lawsuit claimed faculty had been exposed to unsafe levels.
Austin Community College is looking at constructing new campuses in Round Rock, San Marcos, and other surrounding communities after the release of consultant recommendations on how to properly meet state-mandated education initiatives. Priority areas are cities with low land costs and high-expected population growth.
Student Government puts child care issue in spotlight
Cable network C-SPAN drew a crowd of students at Austin Community College's Northridge Campus as student government officers seized the opportunity to spotlight important issues. C-SPAN's Oct. 11 visit to Northridge in a decked-out studio bus as part of the "Road to the White House" tour put students on camera and brought attention to the campus on a sleepy Thursday afternoon.
Is ACC responsible for leaving her vulnerable?
An Internet petition started by former ACC student Rita Pena, 24, is demanding the college admit liability for life-threatening injuries sustained in an attack near Rio Grande Campus that left her with only partial use of her left hand. Pena was found by ACC police lying near West Avenue and 12th Street after being stabbed multiple times after walking to her car from her evening math class on Oct.
Representatives from the Austin Community College Student Government Associa-tion visited Washington, D.C. and met with Texas politicians as part of the American Student Government National Conference. Fifteen students attended workshops Sept. 27-30 and met with Sen.
The city of Round Rock is now one checkmark closer to hosting its own Austin Community College campus. After an 11th hour effort galvanized enough support from the local community, the issue now goes before the ACC Board of Trustees at an Oct. 30 meeting - the last step before the issue reaches the voting booth.
Construction method chosen for Rio Grande expansions The Board approved a construction method for the Rio Grande Campus faculty office complex and parking renovations at the campus. Due to the complexity of the project, a construction manager at risk was chosen to provide a "team approach" between ACC, architects, engineers, and contractors.
as college prepares for election
Austin Community College's Board of Trustees might have a very different look in 2008. Three seats on the board will be up for grabs next spring, when the six-year terms of trustees John Hernandez, Nan MacRaven and Lilian Davis expire. The vacancies will present a rare opportunity for others looking to help shepherd the college into its next six years to have a place on the nine-person panel.
More growth is needed at Austin Community College to meet the predicted growth in population and workforce demands in the Austin area, according to an Oct. 19 report by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The report said that ACC was critical in helping to ensure Austin's success in the global economy and called for the alignment of policies to "broadly increase enrollment from Metro Austin into post-secondary education".
Contract awarded for parking expansion at South Austin The board approved to award a contract to expand the parking garage at South Austin Campus by one level and one half, with hydraulic elevators, to SpawGlass Contractors. Board members moved forward in April's regular meeting to approve the project, instead of delaying until May, due to concerns that the expansion may not be completed by the fall semester.
The Texas Federation of Teachers criticized the Austin Community College administration for reprimanding ACC/AFT rep and former union president Mark Goodrich for statements he made attacking the college president at the Aug. 6 Board of Trustees meeting, according to a memo circulated within the union.
The removal of a photograph featuring a nude woman from a Photographic Technology Department showcase has some students looking at Austin Community College's censorship policy, or lack thereof. With many questions unanswered and issues yet to be resolved, one ACC student would like to figure out what happened to her art.
On Nov. 7, the president of Austin Community College District, Stephen Kinslow, met with Pat Stanley, U.S. Department of Education deputy assistant secretary for community colleges, in Washington, D.C. regarding a seminar on adult career pathways, where various community college presidents came together to discuss successes and complications in workforce education.
Except for McRaven, unfamiliar names grace May ballot
Four seats on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees will be up for vote in May 10 municipal elections. The six-year terms of Lillian Davis (Place 1), Nan McRaven (Place 3), and John Hernandez (Place 2) will expire this year. In addition, Place 5 is up for election because current member Rafael Quintanilla will vacate his position after moving out of the district he represents.
Students at Austin Community College do not currently have school provided e-mail accounts, but that may soon change. According to the Student Government Association's Director of Communications Brad Burnett, the organization has been lobbying for students to have an ACC e-mail address.
Rio Grande area undergoes a facelift
During the next 18 months, students and faculty at ACustin Community College's Rio Grande Campus should be prepared to battle even more parking shortages - and a storm of dust. Several construction projects are slated for the area beginning this summer. The erection of an Austin Community College parking garage and the rennovation of the RGC gymnasium are part of a dual plan made possible by the ACC Board of Trustees' recent approval of $15 million and $12 million budgets, repectively.
as college prepares for election
Austin Community College's Board of Trustees might have a very different look in 2008. Three seats on the board will be up for grabs next spring, when the six-year terms of trustees John Hernandez, Nan MacRaven and Lilian Davis expire. The vacancies will present a rare opportunity for others looking to help shepherd the college into its next six years to have a place on the nine-person panel.
Round Rock campus now in the hands of voters
On May 10, voters in the two-thirds of the Round Rock Independent School District not already in the Austin Community College taxing district will decide whether to be annexed by the college. Only one-third of RRISD is currently in-district because that part of RRISD is located in an Austin zip code.
Trustee seat to be vacated Four spots on ACC's nine-member Board of Trustees will now be up for election May 10, following the resignation of trustee, Rafael Quintanilla. A special election will be held to replace Quintanilla, who departs in the fourth year of a six-year term.
After years of health concerns and legal battles, renovation could finally end college's headache
John O'Connor Staff Writer To some, the long-disputed history of Rio Grande Campus Room 221 rings like a campy horror flick, and to others it screams of a real life nightmare. The former science office is undergoing renovations and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks to make way for a drama department scene shop.
City calls for inclusion into ACC system
Round Rock may not be the only new Austin Community College campus on the horizon. A Bastrop campus could also be down the road. Though no official steps have been taken, Bastrop leaders have recently called for plans to build a new campus in Bastrop County, in hopes of urging more local students into higher education to meet Texas higher education goals.
One Austin Community College student has a chance of sitting on the Board of Trustees come May if he announces his candidacy. Student Government Association Senate Chair Robert Daley has not formally announced, but has expressed interest in filing for a position on the ballot.
The Board of Trustees has scheduled sessions to discuss questions, concerns, and observations posed by students during a series of rotating forums throughout ACC campuses. One campus has already hosted a forum. Chairman John Hernandez visited Rio Grande Campus Oct.
Governor Perry's summer veto of $154 million in state community college spending, primarily designated for employee health benefits, has startled students and faculty returning for the fall semester. Administrators at Austin Community College, faced with a total cut of $7.
The Board of Trustees set the tax rate for the 2008 fiscal year at $.0958, down 0.7 percent from last year's rate of $.0965. Due to higher home appraisals, the average taxpayer with a home worth $100,000 will see a tax increase of approximately $8.50.
Photo courtesy of Eric Connolly
As the nation heals from the massacre on the Virginia Tech campus, schools around the nation, including Austin Community College, are taking closer look into their own security procedures. Cho Seung-Hui, an English major at Virginia Tech, armed with two semiautomatic pistols, killed 32 people, including himself and injured 29 others.
Hi, My name is Thomas Abney and I am asking for your vote for the president of the Student Government. I have served as the Finance Chair for the Campus Activity Executive Board since the fall of 2006. I am running for president because I believe that in order for the campus community to become engaged, we need easy access to interactive communication where we can all express our views, concerns, and suggestions.
The official grand opening of Austin Community College's Cypress Creek Campus Building 2000 was held on March 2. The event was attended by a large group of campus employees, Cedar Park and Leander city officials, and the public. The crowd filled the new plaza that was created in between the new and old building.
As you are waiting on the metal bench for your turn to get onto the 'Dillo, you never know what to expect, who you're going to sit down by or if they might be willing to share their life stories. From Congress Avenue all the way down Guadalupe Street and back, the 'Dillo brings in all types, including businessmen, tourists, the homeless-any and all Austinites in need of a free ride.
ACC Scramble
The Austin Community College Riverside Golf Course was the site of a recent tournament held to benefit the Student Emergency and Book Emergency Funds.
Additional $1 per credit hour earmarked for new campus
Growth is nothing new to Austin and Austin Community College is no exception. As ACC continues to expand including a great share of Central Texas, the Student Activity Fee Advisory Council [SAFAC] along with Student Government sought an increase in the Student Activity Fee.
Student spotlight
This past week I had the opportunity of meeting with our Star of the Month who was given a chance to tell the Board of Trustees how Austin Community College has helped her. Her name is Markette Griffin, 25, who grew up in Trinity, Texas. She first attended ACC to receive her GED and after a bit of persuasion, decided to return to achieve her dream as a physical therapist.
Unbeknownst to many ACC students, the Student Government Association is holding elections in April. SGA is a student committee elected by the ACC student body to oversee various issues related with student life. SGA Director of Communications Billy D. Stallings said the SGA's purpose is "to serve as a direct liaison for the students" before the Board of Trustees as a voice of the students.
It is 7:45 a.m. The sun is rising. The dew is still coating the grass like a blanket. A dark-haired man pulls a six-iron from his bag, swings and hits the ball crisply onto the green. This is a beautiful day to play golf at Austin Community College. The long-renowned Riverside Golf Course (formerly the Austin Country Club) became home to something other than just golf when ACC took ownership in 1984.
SMCISD residents decide on May 13
Citizens of San Marcos may soon be paying in-district tuition at Austin Community College if a proposed annexation goes into effect. If passed, the immediate impact would be a reduction of tuition for more than 700 San Marcos residents who currently attend ACC, an increase of businesses in the area and a more educated workforce.
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