Austin Community College is an institution committed to helping all students achieve their educational and career goals. This section of the Catalog provides basic information about programs and services offered by the College to increase the chances that students will succeed. Check the web address listed under Student Services for information about office hours, additional services, or contact people.
Advising
Academic advisers assist new college credit students to complete the application process, review state-mandated TASP requirements, understand ACC’s placement policies, and evaluate assessment results. Once a student is admitted to ACC, advisers collaborate with counselors and faculty to provide accurate, up-to-date advising information to students. Advisers also assist Early Start high school students, visiting, and transfer students from other institutions trying to take classes at ACC, and One-Stop students hoping to continue their education at Austin Community College.
ACC+(Plus)
ACC+Plus (Partnership in Learning for Under-Prepared Students) is an innovative program in which developmental faculty and professional counselors work together to provide targeted support services for students in developmental courses. These services include, but are not limited to workshops on study skills, time management, test taking skills, dealing with test anxiety, listening skills, conflict resolution techniques, and learning styles.
Assessment
ACC offers assessment services at all campuses. In addition to the entry-level testing described in the Assessment and Testing Section of the Catalog, the College provides assessment tools to help students get a better picture of their abilities, interests, personality skills and values in order to select appropriate courses, majors and careers. When appropriate, counselors work with faculty members in providing diagnostic testing to assess student learning problems and to offer workshops on preparing for a test, dealing with test anxiety, and improving test taking skills.
Child
Care and Textbook
Payment Assistance
The Support Center assists eligible students in Applied Science degree or certificate programs to pay for child care and/or textbooks while attending ACC. The Support Center also has a textbook Lending Library, and provides counseling services and community referral information. PLEASE NOTE: Students must meet certain eligibility requirements before receiving Support Center services.
The Children’s Laboratory School, a separate program, is a preschool program that also serves as a demonstration school for ACC’s Child Development Program. The Children’s Lab School is located at the Eastview Campus and enrolls young children of ACC students, faculty and staff.
Evening child care is available at the Eastview campus at a reduced rate for students who need short term child care while attending evening classes.
Counseling and
Educational Planning
Counselors are available at every campus to assist students in defining educational and career goals, learning to benefit from instruction, and dealing with life challenges which may reduce their chances of succeeding at ACC. Counselors provide three types of services: pre-enrollment, after enrollment, and transition. Pre-enrollment Services include establishing liaison relationships with area middle and high school counselors, leading orientation groups, and working with academically at-risk students during their initial ACC registration. After-enrollment Services include direct services to students as well as partnerships with faculty members to increase the chances that students will succeed. Direct services to students include career and crisis counseling, a tracking system for academically at-risk students, and targeted support services for underprepared students. Faculty-counselor partnerships include the Advising Program, the Retention Program, and ACC+. Transition Services include programs to assist students to transfer successfully to a college or university or to locate employment related to their field of study at ACC.
Financial Aid
ACC offers a wide variety of programs to assist students in paying for their college education. See the Financial Aid section of this catalog or the Student Services web page for detailed information about ACC’s comprehensive financial aid program.
Job Referral
In cooperation with Workforce Development faculty and various community agencies, Retention and Student Services will expand job referral services to ACC students during the 2000-2001 academic year. These services will include assistance with the job search, resume writing and interviewing processes as well as referrals to jobs related to the students’ area of study at ACC.