Cypress Creek Campus Student / Board Forum Notes Wednesday, October 9, 2013, Student Commons, #1100. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Trustees:
Jeffrey Richard, Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Victor Villarreal, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees Guadalupe Q. Sosa, Secretary of the Board of Trustees Allen H. Kaplan, Trustee
Presiding:
Dr. Kathleen Christensen, Vice President, Student Services
Moderator:
Angel Villalpando, SGA Senator
1. In 2012, the ACC Board of Trustees implemented a smoke-free policy for all ACC campuses and facilities. Recently, electronic cigarettes have become a popular alternative to smoking tobacco products. There has been a large increase on the Rio Grande campus of students smoking electronic cigarettes both indoors and outdoors. What is ACC’s policy on electronic cigarette usage on campus? The ACC administrative rule is a tobacco free rule. Electronic cigarettes are permitted, because they are tobacco free. 2. Students are concerned with the number of classes they are required to take outside of their major. Can the number of courses be amended? The number of credits required for the degree is recommended by the ACC department and approved through internal committees. The final approval comes from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the ACC Accrediting Agency. Developmental education is required by the State if students are assessed as not being college ready. The general education requirement for all AAS degrees is required by SACS and THECB as a component of all AAS degrees. 3. Many students attend ACC with the intention of transferring to a four-year college or university. Students at Cypress Creek have expressed concern over the number of hours students must take in order to transfer. Does ACC have any control over the number of hours student must take in order to transfer? The accepting institution determines the number of credits and the GPA required in order to transfer. ACC does not determine the number of credits the transfer institution requires or accepts. ACC offers the Transfer Academy where a student can gain valuable information regarding the transfer options and the transfer process. The web address to visit is: http://www.austincc.edu/degrees-and-certificates/earn-a-degree-and-transfer/prepare-fortransfer/transfer-guides 4. The price of textbooks has continued to skyrocket. College students are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase textbooks for their classes? Does the Board know of any efforts that ACC is undertaking to make textbooks more affordable for their students? Textbook prices are very high for some books. Alternatives for students: Search “Textbook sources – Austin Community College” on the ACC website for information on ACC and textbooks. The Barnes and Noble Bookstore offers a textbook rental program. Visit a Support Center Specialist at any campus (except Rio Grande Campus) to see if you qualify for the federal textbook program. ACC has a limited “lending library” of textbooks for students who qualify. Students who qualify can check for available textbooks at http://library.austincc.edu/eresources/textbooks/. All students should review program guidelines to see how they might use these materials. Be sure to check with your professor. - Many professors will not require students to have the latest edition of a book; so you might be able to buy a less expensive copy or there might be a copy in the libraries. 10/4/2013 12:21 PM Page | 1
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Some professors put a copy of the textbook on reserve in libraries. Although these copies have limited use only (3 day, 2 hour or one week), you might be able to use one until you have funding or you might be able to photocopy the pages you need until you find the funding you need. Many professors are now offering electronic copies of textbooks.
Students are encouraged to speak with Legislators. The issue of the escalating cost of textbooks has been discussed numerous times with the Texas Legislators; limited progress has been made. Students are also encouraged to discuss with the Faculty Senate and the Adjunct Faculty Association. Faculty determines the textbooks for students. 5. With the addition of the Elgin campus and the Hays and Highland Mall campuses rapidly approaching, how will the Board of Trustees ensure that Austin Community College District is operating as one college with students receiving similar, if not the same, information across the board? Several students complain that they receive different information on different campuses in regards to important services like financial aid. Students should check their email and on-line services for information that is personally significant. ACC has recently launched Degree Map which provides students with information about their progress towards a degree. Degree Map has a feature that will compare a student’s courses to another degree, and provide the courses and tuition required to finish the current degree or another degree. Visit an advisor to access your degree map. 6. How does the Board of Trustees plan on addressing the growing concern of public transportation across ACC campuses? ACC has a current contract with Cap Metro to provide bus transportation for Cypress Creek Camps. ACC also provides the Green (bus) pass for each student. One answer to transportation between campuses is to offer a range of courses at each campus, eliminating the need to travel between campuses. 7. The Board of Trustee members are not only examining the present condition of ACC, but are always looking towards the future. What direction does the Board plan on taking ACC in the next 5-10 years? Partnerships with other universities across the state, such as the current co-enrollment with UT Austin-PACE, and Pathways, with Texas State University. The co-enrollment program with Texas State begins fall 2014. Keeping education accessible and affordable Helping students be successful Improve the transfer process for students Expand child care Keeping the campuses safe and secure Offer MOOC’s – massive open online courses ACC will be the economic engine for central Texas More ISD’s coming into the ACC taxing district Competency-based education
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