Austin Community College Provides High Quality Education at Affordable Tuition Rates

Austin Community College, a two-year community college, was founded in 1973 as part of the Austin Independent District School. Today, as part of the Community College system, it has seven campuses serving the central Texas City of Austin and some counties.

The School is a major contributor to the quality of life and economic prosperity of Central Texas.

The Austin Community College District is the eighth largest single-college, multi-campus community college district in the nation. It provides access to high-quality education at affordable tuition rates, as one of only 50 community college districts in the nation.

The School offers university transfer curriculum, technical certificate programs, two-year associate degrees, foundation skills, English as a Second Language courses, and a highly diverse Continuing Education program.

ACC is committed to educational excellence and serves students and the community with passion. Among programs and services offered here are vocational and certificate programs leading to certificates or degrees, as well as freshman and sophomore level academic courses leading to an associate degree.

Continuing adult education programs for academic, occupational, professional and cultural enhancement are also offered here. Special instructional programs and tutorial services are offered to under-prepared students and those who need special assistance to achieve their educational goals.

A program of counseling and advising is designed to assist students in reaching their educational and occupational goals. A program of technology, library, media and testing services supports instruction. There are programs for area employers that promote economic development.

Accreditation

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited Austin Community College to award the associate degree.

There are many Health Sciences programs, in addition that are accredited by non-governmental, nationally recognized bodies that oversee education in their areas of specialization.

These organizations are Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, American Physical Therapy Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, among several others.

Distance learning

The mission of Distance learning at Austin Community College is to ensure delivery of quality DL courses and provide necessary faculty and student support. DL faculty play a very important role in developing and delivering effective distance education courses.

All Distance learning courses, certificates and degree programs adhere to distance education 'Best Practices' as established by the accrediting agencies and educational organizations that govern ACC.

Faculty are required to provide students with an orientation, essentially the first day of the class, for each DL course. Whether online or on site, a well-structured orientation establishes rapport and sets the tone for rich faculty-student communication for the entire semester.

An Early Intervention program addresses DL students needing special assistance in a non-traditional learning environment so as to keep those students in their DL courses as active participants.

Austin Community College has been dedicated to serving a variety of students, including those that have multiple demands on their time from work, family and other responsibilities or those that require long commutes, and cannot attend traditional on campus classes.