The 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 fund distribution at ACC, and were introduced to ACC's new Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer.
Below are highlights from the meeting.
FY2020-21 Budget Approved
The board voted to approve the FY2021 budget for the district. The $416 million budget includes funding to complete projects already in progress and defers discussion on compensation and other longer-term decisions for a few months. Read more here.
CARES Act Funds
Dr. Shasta Buchanan, vice president of Student Affairs, provided trustees with a report on the process and current status of the CARES Act Student Emergency Aid Distribution. Nearly $4 million of $6.9 million earmarked for direct student support has been disbursed, and every eligible student who applied for CARES funding received federal aid. Read more here.
President's Report: Enrollment Numbers, New CEDIO
The date of the board meeting coincided with the college's first day of its gradual return to campus plan. A select number of classes, mostly in health sciences and applied technology, began to offer in-person components on campus with smaller class sizes and new health and safety protocols including mandatory facial coverings, health screenings, temperature checks, ID badge requirements, hand washing, social distancing, and more. To review the complete return to campus plan, visit austincc.edu/return.
Summer enrollment remains strong, with more than 26,500 students registering. The college saw a nine percent increase in headcount and a 17 percent increase in credit hours.
So far, fall enrollments are lower than prior years, 19,500 students in the first four weeks; however, registration did start a month later than usual.
On Saturday, June 6, ACC hosted its first virtual commencement celebration to honor spring 2020 graduates. Dr. Rhodes thanked the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Communications and Marketing, Teaching and Learning Excellence Division, and ACCTV, as well as all the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who contributed to the effort. The celebration, including the pre-celebration countdown show, is still available online at austincc.edu/commencement.
Dr. Rhodes introduced ACC's new Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Larry Davis, who will continue the college's equity and inclusion work with a focus on instructional and student affairs. Davis comes to ACC from Texas A&M University - Central Texas where he most recently served dual roles as Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Student Success. At ACC, he will work hand-in-hand with ACC's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center. Read more about Davis here.