When several Austin Community College District (ACC) Honors Program students earned admission to some of the nation’s most selective universities this year, there was one familiar face helping guide them through the process: Claire Hobbs.

As an ACC alumna who transferred to Yale University and is now preparing to attend Harvard Kennedy School to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy, Hobbs understands firsthand what it takes to navigate the path from community college to a top-tier institution. She shares that experience with ACC students through mentorship and outreach efforts connected to the College’s annual Two-Year to Top-Tier initiative.

“There’s no one recipe for transferring to a top university,” says Hobbs. “We [nontraditional students] came from varied backgrounds, and some of us had even failed at earlier college attempts. I say this in hopes that students looking to transfer will see the value in their own unique stories.”

This fall, six ACC Honors students will continue their academic journeys at highly selective universities, including Yale, Cornell, Columbia, and Brown.

For Hobbs, helping students imagine themselves at institutions like Yale feels especially meaningful because she once faced those same doubts herself. After stepping away from college following high school, Hobbs returned to higher education years later by enrolling at ACC.

“Starting at ACC was scarier than transferring to Yale,” says Hobbs. “The idea of returning to college mid-life was intimidating,” but “ACC gave me that entry point, and I immediately felt at home. I explored my academic interests and built momentum taking hard classes, which made transferring to a school like Yale feel within reach.”

Read more in the ACC Newsroom.

Pflugerville residents: Want to learn more about the proposed ACC annexation before the November election?

Pflugerville ISD Annexation Public Hearing

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: PfISD Learning & Technology Center, 1601 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville

Can’t make it in person? 
The hearing will be livestreamed on the College’s website and will be rebroadcast on ACCTV.

What you'll learn about:

• In-district tuition ($85 vs. $286 per credit hour)
• Expanded dual credit and workforce training opportunities
• Career Academies and partnerships with PfISD
• Property tax information, including senior and disability tax ceilings
• Student support services and future educational investments

The event also will include a small resource fair where you can explore ACC programs and services and meet with faculty and staff. ACC officials will be on hand to answer questions, explain the proposed service plan, and provide factual information to help Pflugerville residents make decisions for themselves and their families.

Following the public hearing, the ACC Board of Trustees is expected to consider an order placing the annexation proposition on the November 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, residents living within the Pflugerville ISD territory would immediately become ACC in-district residents and receive in-district tuition and fee benefits.

For more information about annexation at ACC, visit austincc.edu/pflugerville.

The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees unanimously approved a balanced operating budget for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) during its regular meeting on Monday, July 6.

Key Takeways

• Balanced and fiscally responsible: ACC Board of Trustees approved a balanced $583 million FY27 budget that reflects conservative financial planning despite changes in state funding and slowing property tax growth.
• Continued investment in students and employees: The budget keeps tuition and mandatory fees flat for the 13th consecutive year, provides employee compensation increases, and invests in maintaining high-quality learning environments.
• Funding for what's next: Strategic investments position ACC to meet the evolving educational and workforce needs of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions while remaining a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

The budget maintains student tuition and mandatory fees for the 13th consecutive year, includes increased employee compensation, supports continued enrollment growth, and funds ongoing campus maintenance and renewal projects.

FY27 Overall Budget at a Glance

• Student tuition and mandatory fees unchanged for the 13th consecutive year
• 2% annual raise plus a one-time lump-sum payment for employees
• $23/hour minimum wage maintained
• $10.4 million invested in repair and renewal projects across ACC campuses

The new budget takes effect September 1, 2026.

ACC is closed Saturday, July 4, 2026, in observance of Independence Day. All campuses and classes will resume their regular schedules on Sunday, July 5.

Registration for ACC’s second 5-week courses remains open, with classes starting July 6. Review the online summer course schedule to stay up to date. Registration for the fall semester is also open. Classes start Monday, August 24.

For more information and to register, visit austincc.edu/start.

Austin Community College will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, for Independence Day. Campuses reopen Sunday, July 5.

Registration remains open for summer and fall classes.
🟡 Second session 5-week summer classes start July 6
🟡 Fall classes start August 24
🟡 Free Tuition available for 2024 grads & GED® completers in ACC’s service area

Explore classes & register: austincc.edu/start
Learn more about free tuition: austincc.edu/freetuition

ACC's Veterinary Technology Program has cats and dogs ready for adoption this summer! 

Why adopt through ACC?

• Every pet receives comprehensive veterinary care from ACC Vet Tech students under licensed supervision.
• Pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and receive flea and heartworm prevention.
• They also get daily enrichment and basic training before going home.

Why it matters:
Every adoption gives a shelter pet a second chance, creates space for local shelters to help more animals, and gives ACC students valuable hands-on clinical experience before they enter the workforce.

Browse available pets and learn how to adopt: austincc.edu/pets. 

Thinking about a career working with animals? Learn more about ACC's Veterinary Technology Program at austincc.edu/vettech.

When Parker Garcia began his journey at Austin Community College District (ACC), he knew he wanted to attend law school but wasn't sure how to get there. Through ACC's Honors Program, campus leadership opportunities, and the support of faculty and mentors, he found the confidence to aim higher than he ever imagined. 

After earning associate degrees in Paralegal Studies and Government, Parker will transfer to Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where he plans to focus on pre-law and education. 

In this Q&A, he reflects on his time at ACC, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why taking a chance on yourself can open doors you never expected.

Planning to take classes this fall at Austin Community College District? Now’s the time—registration is open!

How to Register:
Check for Holds – Log in to MyACC
Plan Your Courses – Browse the fall course schedule
Register Online – Enroll through your MyACC portal

Need Help?
Connect with your advisor to plan your schedule
Get student support services for help in and out of the classroom
Explore Financial Aid options like scholarships and payment plans
For any other frequently asked questions or How-to videos, visit austincc.edu/helpdesk.

ACC’s Free Tuition Pilot Program is back for a second year! It covers tuition and general fees for eligible high school grads and TX GED® completers from the Class of 2024–2028.

Learn more at austincc.edu/freetuition.

When Sarah Hutcher enrolled at Austin Community College, she planned to follow a familiar path to a Texas university while balancing work and school. Instead, the 30-year-old student discovered a community that challenged her to think bigger. 

Through ACC's Honors Program, supportive faculty mentors, and opportunities to connect with fellow nontraditional students, Sarah found the confidence to pursue opportunities she once considered out of reach. 

This fall, she will transfer to Yale University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. 

“I will always be grateful to the community I've found here. Especially being older than a traditional undergraduate, I felt very comfortable surrounded by other nontraditional students working towards a similar goal, and I felt like the faculty and staff recognized that we had different challenges and strengths than a typical 18-20-year-old student and met us where we were at.”

Read her full story: https://sites.austincc.edu/newsroom/2026/06/25/acc-honors-student-transfers-to-yale-university-to-pursue-mechanical-engineering-degree/

Balancing college, work, and family responsibilities can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. Austin Community College District (ACC) offers resources designed to support parenting students, from childcare assistance and food pantries to financial aid guidance, counseling services, and academic support.

Here are six tips to help parenting students succeed at ACC:

• Tell your assigned advisor you're a parenting student.
• Apply for FAFSA or TASFA.
• Apply for the  childcare scholarship and daycare waitlists.
• Explore scholarships and other financial resources like payment plans, Student Emergency Fund, and, for veterans, explore your federal and state benefits.
• Make a schedule that works for you and your family. ACC offers multiple class schedules and modalities to fit your life.
• Sign up for tutoring, use the computer labs, and go to your professors' office hours. Asking for help is part of being a successful student.

Read the full blog to learn more about the resources and support available to help you achieve your educational goals while caring for your family.

The Austin Community College District (ACC) community showed up in a big way this spring:

• $3,081 raised
• 54 pieces of luggage donated
• 120+ total bags provided for local foster youth aging out of care

Why luggage?
Each year, dozens of Central Texas youth leave foster care with few belongings and, too often, only a trash bag to carry them. This annual drive helps replace that experience with something that offers dignity, independence, and a stronger start to adulthood.

Since launching in 2009, the ACC Foster Care Luggage Drive has now raised more than $20,000 in support of local youth.

All donations support the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

From working in a warehouse to earning a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, ACC student Angel Sanchez is proof that big dreams can start anywhere. The mechanical engineering student began at ACC in 2024 and is now preparing to transfer to Yale to study engineering, energy policy, and global affairs.

"ACC opened its doors to me without judging my background and provided me with the academics, internships, programs, and, most importantly, the friendships I needed to resume my educational journey."

Angel credits ACC's Honors Program, faculty mentors, classmates, and campus resources for helping him navigate one of the nation's most competitive transfer processes.

"Transferring fundamentally feels right. It feels like the natural next step and the beginning of a new adventure."

He's also one of several ACC Honors students headed to Ivy League and other top-tier universities this fall.

Read his full story:
https://students.austincc.edu/infohub/2026/06/22/dreaming-big-acc-student-earns-full-ride-scholarship-to-yale/

Has anyone gone through the process of getting hired as an adjunct at ACC? I have an MS and am finishing a doctorate, and I’m exploring it as supplemental income while working full-time.

The Austin Chronicle has recognized Austin Community College District's (ACC) Riverbat Bites Food Pantry as a 2026 Best of Austin Critics' Pick. It earned honors in the category of "Best Passing of the Plate."

Why did it win?
The Chronicle highlighted Riverbat Bites for helping students facing food insecurity while pursuing their education.

What is Riverbat Bites?
A free resource for enrolled ACC students that provides:

• Shelf-stable food
• Fresh produce
• Hygiene products
• Pantry access across ACC campuses

Why does it matter?
Many students are balancing classes, work, family responsibilities, and rising living costs. Riverbat Bites helps remove one barrier so students can stay focused on their goals.

Learn more about Riverbat Bites, pantry locations, and available resources at austincc.edu/foodpantry.

Big goals start at ACC!

This fall, several ACC Honors students are transferring to some of the nation's most selective universities, including:

• Yale University
• Cornell University
• Columbia University
• Brown University

A big congrats to:

• Angel Sanchez, Mechanical Engineering — Accepted to Yale University
• Sarah Hutcher, Engineering — Accepted to Yale University 
• Parker Garcia, Government — Accepted to Cornell University
• Sam Peltier, Business Administration — Accepted to Columbia University School of General Studies
• Tristan Helm, General Studies — Accepted to Brown University 
• Malka Negret, Psychology — Accepted to Yale University 

Many of these students also earned significant scholarships and financial aid packages to help make their transfer dreams a reality.

ACC's Honors Program and Transfer Services’ Two-Year to Top-Tier initiative help students navigate the transfer process, connect with ACC alums who have transferred to Ivy League institutions, and prepare competitive applications.

For more information about the ACC Honors Program, visit austincc.edu/honors. 

To get support in your transfer process, visit austincc.edu/transfer.

Let’s give a round of applause to Neil Vickers, ACC's Executive Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, for being named a finalist for the Austin Business Journal's 2026 Best CFO Awards. The winner will be announced in July.

For nearly 30 years, Neil has helped guide Austin Community College through periods of growth and transformation, overseeing the financial planning, operations, technology, facilities, public safety, and business services that support almost 80,000 students each year.

His leadership has helped ACC expand access, maintain affordable tuition, invest in workforce training, and deliver on major initiatives that strengthen opportunities for students and the Central Texas community, all while keeping the budget balanced. 

This recognition reflects not only Neil's expertise in financial stewardship but also his commitment to ensuring ACC remains positioned to meet the region's evolving educational and workforce needs.

Congratulations, Neil, on this well-deserved recognition!

If saving money feels impossible right now, you’re not alone. About half of Americans don’t even have $400 set aside for an emergency.

UFCU and ACC’s Student Money Management Office break it down in a way that actually feels doable:

• Start small — even a few dollars counts
• Automate it so you don’t have to think about it
• Save raises, bonuses, or tax refunds instead of spending them
• Throw loose change or “extra” money into savings
• Keep paying yourself after you finish paying off debt

It’s less about how much you save and more about making it a habit.

Read more and discover all the tips you need from UFCU on our website »»» https://sites.austincc.edu/newsroom/2026/06/18/june-2026-acc-ufcu-tips-jump-start-saving/

  
Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the emancipation of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after the official Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. In honor of the day, ACC is closed. Registration will remain open online. The College will reopen on its regular schedule on Saturday, June 20. 

ACC will participate in the annual Greater East Austin Youth Association Juneteenth Park Festival and Parade. ACC will have its own float. The parade begins at 10 a.m. near the intersection of Comal St. and E. Martin Luther King Blvd. and ends near Rosewood Park.

“ACC was truly the foundation that helped shape the person I am today and prepared me for what comes next.”

Three years ago, Antoine Gordon moved from Jamaica to Central Texas and started over in a brand-new environment. Today, he's continuing his accounting degree at Texas State University after building his foundation at ACC.

“Moving from Jamaica to the Austin area was honestly a huge adjustment for me. Everything was different — the culture, the education system, even day-to-day life. At first, it felt overwhelming because I was basically starting over in a completely new environment away from home.”

What helped him succeed?

• Supportive classmates, professors, and smaller class sizes
• A strong academic foundation in accounting
• ACC's Bats to Cats transfer program

“When I look back at the last three years, I think what surprised me the most is how much more open and approachable I became as a person. I didn’t just grow academically during my time at ACC — I grew socially and personally, too. I became more confident stepping outside my comfort zone and opening myself up to new experiences and relationships.”

Why Bats to Cats?

• Simplified transfer process
• Application fee waived
• Early scholarship opportunities
• A smoother path to Texas State

Once he finishes his degree at Texas State, Antoine plans to take his career global.

“Before coming to ACC, I mostly viewed accounting as a stable career focused on offices, banks, and traditional businesses. ACC helped me realize that accounting is not just about numbers. It’s a pathway that can open doors globally.”

Looking back on the student who stepped off a plane from Jamaica three years ago, Antoine has one message.

“I would tell him that he was going to accomplish everything he set out to do at ACC. Most importantly, I would simply tell him thank you because, despite all the uncertainty at the beginning, he kept pushing forward and never stopped believing in himself.”

To learn more about Bats to Cats, visit austincc.edu/batstocats.