ACC’s Role in the Georgetown Community March 7, 2007

2 District Service Area ACC: A Critical Regional Resource Black = In-district Green = Out-of-District

3 Community College Facts Surprised? Source: American Association of Community Colleges

4 ACC Facts Surprised? ACC is the 8 th largest community college in the United States. ACC has 7 comprehensive campuses. ACC also has 11 centers. 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. 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.

5 A Strong, Regional ACC District Critical for Economic Development ACC offers degrees and certificates in 180 programs Access programs for growing segments of the population Adult Basic Education for those not yet college-ready * Developmental Education * Traditional role that leads to stronger 4-year institutions Transfer Education 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* 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

6 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.

7 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.

8 Population/Demographic Trends ACC: A Critical Resource

9 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 47 th in the nation 2006 TAKS Results White 79% pass African-American 45% pass Hispanic 52% pass * Source: U.S. Census Bureau ** Does not include dropouts Alarming Education Trends ACC: A Critical Resource

10 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 Alarming Education Trends ACC: A Critical Resource

11 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 Promote Economic Development Strong business/industry partnerships Unique workforce education programs

12 ACC District Goals ACC: Critical to Economic Development Promote regional role Expand ACC resources Expand tax base/annexations Expand ACC Foundation Increase understanding of ACC Unique mission Access role for those not yet college ready Quality of programs Success of ACC students

13 A Strong, Regional ACC Matters ACC: Critical to Economic Development 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

14 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

15 Partnership with Georgetown ISD ACC Center at Georgetown High School Early College Start

16 ACC Center at Georgetown High School Evening classes open to the public General education, lecture-based classes Declining enrollments – need additional ways to promote

17 Early College Start at Georgetown High School Model dual-credit program ACC faculty teach classes during the day at GHS Students frequently graduate with 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 value to Georgetown community: $165,885 Fall 2006 GHS Enrollment = 147 Spring 2007 GHS Enrollment = 129 (preliminary)

18 Continuing Education Support in Georgetown Account Executive assigned to the Georgetown area 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

19 Want More Information? Web: Master Plan:

20 Mary Hensley, Ed.D. Austin Community College Vice President College Support Systems and ISD Relations 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX (512) (512) (fax)

21 For a copy of this presentation: 7GeorgetownPresentation.ppt