ACC’s Role in the
Georgetown
Community
March 7, 2007
District Service Area
ACC: A Critical Regional Resource
Black = In-district
Green = Out-of-District
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Community College Facts
Surprised?
Source: American Association of Community Colleges
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ACC Facts
Surprised?
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ACC is the 8th largest community college in the United States.
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ACC has 7 comprehensive campuses.
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ACC also has 11 centers.
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ACC has more than 33,482 credit students (fall).

ACC transfer students perform as well as or better than those who
begin at a four-year college or university.
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ACC’s tax rate has been changed only once, and is much lower than
every Central Texas ISD, City, and County taxing authority.

More than 50% of those entering higher education begin at a
community college.
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A Strong, Regional ACC District
Critical for Economic Development
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ACC offers degrees and certificates in 180 programs
Access programs for growing segments of the population
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Adult Basic Education for those not yet college-ready *
Developmental Education *
Traditional role that leads to stronger 4-year institutions
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Transfer Education
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ACC is No. 1 provider of transfer students to area 4-year institutions
As ACC grows, so do 4-year colleges and universities
Workforce education for healthy communities*
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Primary trainer and retrainer of the local workforce
Associate degree is fastest-growing workplace credential**
Customized training for business and industry
Continuing Education – lifelong learning
*State-mandated, unique role of community colleges
** Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Closing the Gaps
Should Scare You
ACC Is The Best Public Solution
• Closing the Gaps is an economic development imperative
– tied to education -- that impacts all of us.
• Texas projects huge population increases among
minorities, whose college-going rate lags.

Texas needs an additional 630,000 people to enter higher
education by 2015 if the state is to have a competitive
workforce.
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Closing the Gaps
Should Scare You
ACC Is The Best Public Solution
• An uncompetitive, undereducated workforce:
• Makes lower salaries
• Contributes less to local tax bases
• Requires more social services
• ACC is:

The higher education gateway for more than half of all
freshmen.

The ONLY higher education option for those first needing
Adult or Developmental Education.

The best public solution to Closing the Gaps challenges.
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Population/Demographic Trends
ACC: A Critical Resource
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Alarming Education Trends
ACC: A Critical Resource

Estimates place more than 225,000 Central Texans at literacy levels below the
threshold necessary to qualify for more than a minimum wage job.*

Approximately 40 percent of all public school students in Central Texas are
classified as economically disadvantaged by the TEA

Approximately 35 percent of all public school students in Central Texas are
classified as “At Risk” by the TEA

Texas SAT scores rank 47th in the nation

2006 TAKS Results
 White
 African-American
 Hispanic
79% pass
45% pass
52% pass
* Source: U.S. Census Bureau
** Does not include dropouts
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Alarming Education Trends
ACC: A Critical Resource

Texas leads the country in the income gap between
upper- and middle-class families

The biggest cause of rising income inequality over the
past 20 years has been the erosion of wages for the
70 percent of workers with less than a college
education.

In Texas, 84 percent of children whose parents do not
have a high school degree live in low-income families.

Growing inequality has costly consequences

U.S. loses ~ $200 billion yearly in combined tax
and income revenue for each cohort that does not
complete high school.

Health-related losses for 2004 dropouts totaled at
least $58 billion.

Increasing high school completion rate by 1%
could save U.S. up to $1.4 billion annually in
reduced costs from crime.
Sources: Austin American-Statesman
Center for Public Policy Priorities Report
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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ACC District Goals
ACC: Critical to Economic Development

Meet Closing the Gaps Challenges

Expand ACCESS to higher education and training
Maintain AFFORDABILITY ($110 out-of-district vs.
$39 in-district per semester credit hour)
Increase participation of minorities

Strengthen ISD initiatives

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Promote Economic Development

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Strong business/industry partnerships
Unique workforce education programs
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ACC District Goals
ACC: Critical to Economic Development

Promote regional role

Expand ACC resources

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Expand tax
base/annexations
Expand ACC Foundation

Increase understanding
of ACC

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Unique mission
Access role for those not
yet college ready
Quality of programs
Success of ACC
students
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A Strong, Regional ACC Matters
ACC: Critical to Economic Development

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Local communities hire workers from throughout ACC’s
Service Area
Absent a qualified workforce, business and industry will
look elsewhere
Lower education levels = lower salaries
Lower salaries = lower contributions to tax base
Lower salaries = higher social service costs
Increased social service costs, decreased tax base =
higher taxes
Economic development matters to everyone – it is tied
to education
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How to Help
ACC: A Critical Resource

Promote Regional Understanding of ACC’s Value

Counter Stereotypes About Community Colleges

Expand Dialogue About Public Education and
Public Funding

Support and Promote Fund Raising for ACC

Support Annexation Efforts

Support Regional K-16 Efforts
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Partnership with
Georgetown ISD

ACC Center at Georgetown High School

Early College Start
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ACC Center at
Georgetown High School

Evening classes open to the public

General education, lecture-based classes

Declining enrollments – need additional ways to promote
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Early College Start at
Georgetown High School

Model dual-credit program

ACC faculty teach classes during the day at GHS
 Students frequently graduate with 18-24 college credit hours
 Courses offered: U.S. History, U.S. Government, English
Composition and Literature, Economics, Psychology, College
Algebra

Classes offered at GHS are free to high school students
 2005-06 value to Georgetown community: $165,885

Fall 2006 GHS Enrollment = 147

Spring 2007 GHS Enrollment = 129 (preliminary)
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Continuing Education
Support in Georgetown

Account Executive assigned to the Georgetown area

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Served on Achieve Texas Committee for the Georgetown
Independent School District
Member of the Rural Capital Area Workforce Board
Recruits companies for grant applications
Provides training solutions for business and industry
Works with the Chamber of Commerce to provide training
classes when needed
Karen Duncan – Customized Training Account Executive
512-223-7139
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Want More Information?
Web: www.austincc.edu
Email: ceo@austincc.edu
Master Plan: www.austincc.edu/masterplan
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Mary Hensley, Ed.D.
Austin Community College
Vice President College Support
Systems and ISD Relations
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78754
(512) 223-7618
(512) 223-7895 (fax)
mhensley@austincc.edu
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For a copy of this
presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/georgetown/03070
7GeorgetownPresentation.ppt
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