ACC: Solutions for Texas
Community Colleges Drive Economic Development
San Marcos Chamber of Commerce
Eggs and Issues Breakfast
March 12, 2009
A Brief History of ACC/San Marcos
• January, 1995: ACC San Marcos Center opens at San Marcos HS.
Evening-only classes.
• January, 2001: ACC Lamar Center opens. Day-only classes.
• November, 2003: San Marcos CISD becomes founding school district
partner in nationally recognized College Connection program.
• May, 2006: Election to annex SMCISD into ACC District cancelled due to
petition process allegation.
• August, 2006: ACC San Marcos Center moves to new San Marcos High
School for evening-only classes.
• January, 2008: ACC Goodnight Center opens for day-only classes.
• January, 2009: ACC begins truck driver training at Gary Job Corps.
• June, 2009: Automotive technology program begins at ACC Goodnight
Center with dual credit classes for SMHS students and evening classes
for adults.
ACC/San Marcos Today
• Students able to complete the core curriculum in San Marcos
• Transferrable to any public college or university
• ACC Early College Start Program
• Dual Credit
• Co-Enrollment
• Tech Prep
• ACC College Connection Program
• Very limited workforce/career education programs
• No revenue stream to support facilities/equipment needs
ACC/San Marcos Today
Program Enrollments
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
ACC Centers,
Fall 2004 and Fall 2008
Early College Start,
FY 05 and FY 08
Tech Prep,
FY 05 and FY 08
College Connection,
FY 05 and FY 08
ACC/San Marcos CISD Partnerships
Early College Start
• Dual credit and coenrollment
• 1+ year(s) of college
FREE
• General education/
core curriculum
• NEW Automotive
Technology program
at ACC Goodnight
Center
• NEW Truck Driver
Training Program at
Gary Job Corps
Tech Prep
College Connection
• Credit-in-escrow
• One-on-one
support to assist
• Career and technical
students through
education courses
college admissions
process
• Seniors receive
acceptance letters to
ACC
• Serves as state/
national model
Early College Start:
Value for San Marcos Families
$79,520 tuition/fees waived for San Marcos CISD ECS students in FY08
$117,008 tuition/fees waived for San Marcos CISD Tech Prep students in FY08
Tuition/Fees for 36 credit hours
$36,320
$34,321
Good
Value!
$13,374
$13,329
Great
Value!
$9,892
$8,664
$5,088
$1,944
Southwestern
University
St. Edwards
University
UT Austin
Texas State
University
Best
Value!
$0
ACC Out-of- ACC In-District ACC Early
District
College Start
Sources: Private – Southwestern University (32 hours—16 hours each , Fall and Spring) – www.southwestern.edu/assistance/tuition.php
St. Edwards University (36 hours—12 hours each, Fall, Spring, and Summer) – www.stedwards.edu/stufinan/current/ctcost.htm
UT Austin (36 hours—12 hours each, Fall, Spring, and Summer) www.utexas.edu/business/accounting/sar/t-f-rates.html
Texas State University (36 hours—12 hours each, Fall, Spring, and Summer) http://catsweb.txstate.edu/catsweb/sa/HBFLTRESU_FALL.htm
ACC: Creating a College-Going
Culture within SMCISD
Two Mobile Go Centers
 Equipped with 14 – 16 laptops with satellite
Internet access
 One-stop, college-information facilities
 2,500 events FY08
 5,500 visitors FY08
Financial Aid Saturdays
• Free assistance with the FAFSA
• Help in English and Spanish
Thank you to the Texas Pioneer Foundation for funding the second
Mobile-Go Center and College Connection program growth!
• College Connection expansion to 13 area school districts
• Five statewide College Connection workshops
Limited Workforce Training
in San Marcos
New truck driver training program at Gary Job Corps
• Non-credit program
• 200 hours, M-F, for 4 weeks
• Next class begins March 23
• Operates year-round
• Minimum age 21
Limited Workforce Training in
San Marcos
New automotive technology partnership with SMCISD
 Located at ACC Goodnight
Center
 Classes begin Summer 2009
 Serve high school students
(day or evening)
 Serve adult students
(evening only)
Diverse Mission Unique to
Community Colleges
Academic Transfer
• University Transfer
• ISD partnerships
•Early College Start
•College Connection
Workforce Education
• Primary trainer and retrainer of workforce,
healthcare, and firstresponders
• Rapid response to
business/industry
Foundation Programs
Lifelong Learning
• Access programs for
growing population notyet-college-ready
• Continuing Education
• Developmental reading,
writing, and math
• Personal Enrichment
• Adult Education
• GED
• Professional
Development
Closing the Equity Gap:
I Am ACC Video
ACC’s Vision Statement
The Austin Community College District will be
recognized as the preferred gateway to higher
education and training and as the catalyst for
social equity, economic development, and
personal enrichment.
ACC’s Master Plan
 ACC’s diverse mission is more critical than ever.
 Master Plan is the blueprint for aligning the
college’s vision, mission and resources.
 www.austincc.edu/masterplan
ACC’s Master Plan: Core Goals
1. Meet Closing the Gaps Enrollment Goals
Traditionally under-served in higher
education
Economically disadvantaged
2. Expand Instructional Capacity
Physical campus
capacity
New faculty and staff to
meet growth
Expanded options
• Weekend colleges
• Distance learning
3. Expand Tax Base
1 and 2 will not happen without 3
Annexations
ACC Master Plan:
Preparing for the Future
• ACC is focused on the fastest growing
communities in the Service Area.
• ACC is “land banking”
• Master Plan Priorities:
• Round Rock
• Joined ACC District May 2008
• Campus under construction
• San Marcos
• Bastrop
• Leander
ACC: Closing the Equity Gap
Community colleges are vital to our economic future.
Texas community colleges enroll:
• 54% of all public higher education students
• 70% of all freshmen
• 78% of all minority students
(Source: Texas Association of Community Colleges)
ACC: Primary Gateway to Higher
Education & Training
 37,000 credit students
 180+ programs
 Seven campuses
(8th opening in fall 2010)
 Tax rate among the lowest in
Texas – 9.54 cents
ACC’s Return on Investment
 ACC fuels economic development
 Builds stronger/skilled workforce which attracts quality
business/industry
 Better jobs/higher wages = increased consumer spending
 Builds stronger middle class; more equitable tax
distribution
 Stronger, more diverse four-year colleges and universities
 Lower social services costs
San Marcos/ACC: Next Steps
• ACC has land for ACC: San Marcos Campus
• Annexation-dependent
• “Friends of ACC”
• San Marcos City Council Target Goal
• Annexation into the ACC tax district
• Approved October 22, 2008
What Will San Marcos Gain
By Having an ACC Campus?
• San Marcos becomes part of a REGIONAL higher ed system
• Lower tuition $39 versus $127 per credit hour
• Free Early College Start for all SMCISD juniors/seniors
• Comprehensive higher ed options
• Enhanced economic development
• Voting for all Board of Trustees
How Does Annexation Occur?
• Annexation law guides the process (HB2221)
• Steering Committee of local leaders would address strategy/activities
• ACC will provide information about the annexation law, ethics, and
process
• ACC will provide factual information about the College and its plan for
San Marcos
• Service Area Plan is required, as is a public forum
• Petition process required (5% of local voters)
• ACC board calls the election
SMCISD
Tax Impact - Property Owners
Property Value
$40,000
$80,000
$120,000
$160,000
Regular
Homestead*
$33.39 Annual
($2.78/month)
$71.55 Annual
($5.96/month)
$109.71 Annual
($9.14/month)
$147.87 Annual
($12.32/month)
Senior/Disabled*
No ACC Tax
No ACC Tax
$19.08 Annual
($1.59/month)
$57.24 Annual
($4.77/month)
Commercial
$38.16 Annual
($3.18/month)
$76.32 Annual
($6.36/month)
$114.48 Annual
($9.54/month)
$152.64 Annual
($12.72/month)
*$5,000 Homestead Exemption
*$95,000 Seniors and Disabled Exemptions
San Marcos/ACC: Next Steps
Questions and Answers
Stephen B. Kinslow, Ph.D.
President/CEO
ceo@austincc.edu
(512) 223-7598
(512) 223-7185 Fax
http://www.austincc.edu/pres
For copies of this presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/documents/03-12-09EggsandIssues.ppt