Austin 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 Plan (AMP)
ACC's Academic Master Plan 2020-25, which will guide the college's collective academic vision, administrative supports, and strategic plans for the future, was announced in December 2019 and a strategic planning meeting was held in January 2020. The groups started to collect proposals for new projects, initiatives, facilities, or personnel to include in the AMP; however, the rest of the process was delayed briefly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the early input the AMP Steering Committee and Area of Study teams received include:

INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Alignment of adult education, continuing education, and credit courses in Guided Pathways/Career Progressions
• Expansion of competency-based, open educational resources/Z-degrees, and online programs
• Creation of digital badges
• Revamping of "gateway courses" incorporating digital literacy/digital fluency
• Expansion of short-term programs for job entry
• Incorporation of "high impact practices," notably experiential learning

INNOVATIONS IN STUDENT AFFAIRS

• Effective early alert system for struggling students
• Increased provision of online services/support
• "One Stop" services online as well in ACC Welcome Centers
• Student-friendly schedules/programs (8 weeks, hybrid, weekend and evening programs)
• Career and Transfer Centers in each region – strong linkages between students' academic and career goals

As part of the revised timeline, a kick-off webinar to welcome back and update Steering Committee members and Area of Study chairs on the new timeline and process is planned for August. The groups will meet in September to finalize proposals.

For more information, visit the Academic Master Plan website.

Districtwide Campus Master Plan (DCMP)
Pfluger Architects, the firm hired to lead the Districtwide Campus Master Plan, presented the RACs with the drafts of campus plans specific to their regions.

The drafts are based on previous feedback from the RACs, user groups, and the community; assessments of new codes, zoning, and conditions that may impact campuses; and in-depth demographic and workforce trends reports utilized to inform the process.

The campus plans provide multiple options for each campus and region regarding development into the future, separated into short term (5-10 years) and long term (20+ years) plans.

RAC members were able to ask questions and provide feedback on the drafts. Pfluger will present a final DCMP to the ACC Board of Trustees in August.

The RACs also discussed the college's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally scheduled for April, this is the second meeting in 2020 for the RACs. They are each required to meet a minimum of three times a year. A third meeting is planned for September.