BY BRITTANY ANDERSON, ELLE BENT & BROOKE SJOBERG
Marking a milestone
In case you missed it
High school partnerships ACC partnership • All high school students can earn up to 42 core college credits to obtain an associate degree at no cost, per the district. • Courses contributing to credit earned include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, OnRamps, dual credit and ACC courses, according to the district. TSTC partnership • Juniors and seniors at Cedar Ridge and Stony Point high schools will be able to take four sequential courses in a dual- credit precision manufacturing track. • Dual-credit precision manufacturing courses will be free for students.
Similar to the initiative that allowed RRISD to partner with ACC for the creation of a dedicated Early College High School, all high school students will be able to earn an associate degree at zero cost, beginning this fall. The district also announced a partnership with TSTC to create a new precision manufacturing pathway. Peggy Mica, RRISD’s assistant director of career and technical education, highlighted the value of this program for students. “Manufacturing is growing rapidly in the Round Rock and Austin areas as well as other parts of the state and country,” she said. “Our students will now have the opportunity to learn about this career field with a high demand for qualified employees.”
Ahead of the fall 2024 semester, ACC officials said enrollment increased by 23% across all campuses, with enrollment at the ACC Round Rock campus increasing by 29.9%. This comes as the community college system has implemented a free tuition model for all students who live within its service area, which extends from Georgetown to Lockhart. The free tuition pilot program isn’t the only expansion ACC has made in recent months. The community college district is also partnering with The University of Texas and the Texas Institute for Electronics to create a semiconductor training center in Austin. This comes on the heels of its Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start program, which launched last fall. The four-week, full-time pro- gram provides theoretical and hands-on training for students to transition into manufacturing technician roles.
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s next?
ACC enrollment growth ACC saw a surge in growth after announcing a free tuition pilot program.
speaking opportunities, engagements for our faculty,” Lessiter said. “[As well as] long term spin-off academic programs, so we create the students who are going into the incubator.” In June, ACC approved a construction manager to oversee the applied technology expansion to renovate one building and build a new one. TSTC is still determining logistics for its new building, which is expected to open in a few years, Provost Kelly Coke said. “We know advanced manufacturing is here,” Coke said. “It’s the future, but it’s also here to stay.”
With the ongoing expansions, officials hope these campuses will address current and future workforce needs. The construction of Esperanza Hall at the Texas State University at Round Rock campus— to house the school’s nursing program—is expected to begin in November, per the university. The life sciences incubator is expected to be completely constructed by the end of 2025, Lessiter said. “When that’s up and running, we’ll be able to create research opportunities around that,
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SOURCE: ACC/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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