Education
BY SIERRA MARTIN & BROOKE SJOBERG
ACC proposes free tuition for high school seniors Pending the outcome of a proposal from its new chancellor, some enrolled and prospective Austin Community College students could soon qualify for free tuition. What’s happening? In February, ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart will propose to the college system’s board of trustees a measure to create a zero-cost tuition program for high school seniors, with the goal of expanding the program to include students at all levels who live in the college system’s service area. If approved, it will go into effect this fall, a Jan. 10 release from ACC states. In October, Lowery-Hart described the commu- nity college’s affordability as its source of power and importance as a regional education partner. ACC has not increased tuition rates in the last decade.
Hays CISD will not employ chaplains
How it works Under the program, $85 per credit hour would be funded for each student for a period of three years, covering several fees paid by students: Resident tuition $67 General fee $15 Success fee $2 Sustainability fee $1 $85 per credit hour allocations Fees that would not be covered include: • Out-of-district fees • Tuition for nonresident and international students • Course- and program-specific fees • Textbook costs
The Hays CISD board of trustees voted against employing chaplains in the district Dec. 11. Due to the passage of Senate Bill 763 in the 88th Texas Legislature, each school board in the state must vote before March 1 on whether they will adopt a policy district to employ chaplains or allow them to volunteer. A closer look HCISD Superintendent Eric Wright said the district will continue to accept people from different religious backgrounds to serve as mentors to students but not take the place of professional school counselors. “Our school counselors are the best suited to handle all of the support services for our students ... because they are trained for such a purpose, and so that’s why we don’t want to employ chaplains in lieu of that,” Wright said.
SOURCE: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
About the program High school seniors could receive up to three years of free tuition, with enrolled ACC students qualifying for two years, the release states. Funds for the program would come from monies already available within the college system’s budget.
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