Perrine hopes to focus on future growth of ACC

"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."

Although this is Perrine's first time to run for the board, he is not new to ACC.  He first started at ACC in 1982 taking summer accounting classes for transfer credit while a University of Texas finance student. Though he hasn't been idle since graduating in 1986, he was bothered that he never earned a CPA degree.

A little over two years ago he started researching his options for continuing his education. Looking at cost, classes offered and class times he decided to re-enroll at ACC and started taking a couple classes each semester towards this goal.

"I'm on campus at least two nights a week. I've taken classes at five out of the eight campuses. I have a lot of ACC in everyday life," he said.

Adding the extra work to his schedule as a student, businessman and parent doesn't concern him.

"I'm certainly very busy, but I think the process has helped me grow immensely. It has helped me become organized and more dependable because I have to stay on target," Perrine explained.

In addition, Perrine believes that his professional experience in finance and time spent on different boards gives him an insight into the work required in the district. Perrine explained that this background also gives the board a financial advisor, an SEC requirement for corporate boards.

Perrine identifies four issues that will play a critical role for ACC: implications of growth, faculty and employee satisfaction, campus maintenance and renovation, and increasing workforce development programs. Together these four areas largely relate to the growth the district has seen over the years and how the district should direct future growth.

"Enrollment has outpaced growth of ACC," Perrine said. "It's important that we grow wisely without forgetting where we come from."

The majority of Perrine's campaign time has been spent meeting with full time and adjunct professors. He said that from speaking with them many of the issues that affect their working conditions have become apparent. For example, he mentioned classrooms not being equipped with visual aide technology and adjunct faculty driving between the different campuses spread across Austin during a single day.

Many of these concerns surrounding faculty satisfaction issues are also related to the maintenance and renovation of existing campuses.

Perrine would like to see campuses such as the Rio Grande campus modernized with updated amenities for students. This is something he's seen firsthand as a student.

He's also focused on class offerings and the effect they can have on Austin's growth.

"Approximately three-quarters of current student enrollment is in transfer credits. That's an important legacy, but it's very important we continue to build that workforce. Job growth is important for all of us," Perrine said.

For that, Perrine would work on increasing job training classes in industries such as technology and health care that attract hiring companies to Austin.

"If I'm not successful I plan to become involved in other ways such as through the Chamber of Commerce," Perrine said. "I plan to stay…and become involved."