Austin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff came together for Mini Development Day (Mini Dev Day) 2025, held on Friday, October 24, for day-long sessions filled with exploration, reflection, and innovation. This year’s event marked the official launch of the Faculty Growth Series (FGS), a professional development framework designed to strengthen the success of everyone at ACC through three strategic goals: Belonging, Purpose, and Connection (BPC), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The day featured a dynamic keynote presentation, nine sessions with 14 ACC presenters, and both opening and closing sessions hosted by the Office of Faculty Development. The conversations centered on inclusive teaching practices, technology integration, and the future of higher education in an AI-informed world.

Event Highlights

  • More than 175 ACC employees registered to join in for Mini Dev Day.
  • More than 65 faculty and staff registered to attend the in-person mixer held on Thursday, October 23.
  • Raffle prizes included faculty-favorite reads, CliftonStrengths access codes, and Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) swag, including Faculty Values T-shirts, water tumblers, and more.

Voices from the Day

Recordings from all Mini Dev Day sessions are now available. Watch session recordings here.

“Community colleges are at the heart of what we need to be doing across America, in the United States, and you all provide accessible learning for the future. And you all need to remember that it’s a difficult time for all of us in education right now, but we need to be at the core of what’s right, and I think you’re doing it.” — Dr. James Basham, Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Kansas, Keynote Speaker

“When we grow as educators, when we lead with belonging, when we teach with purpose, and we design for connection, we don’t just change classrooms, we change lives.” — Dr. LaKisha Barrett, Co-Chair, BPC Strand Lead, Faculty Growth Series

“This dev day is the first constructive and practical training on accessibility I’ve seen from ACC in 28 years. It’s a step in the right direction. We need more of this!” — Sean Loraas, ACC Technician, Accessibility

About the Faculty Growth Series

The Faculty Growth Series (FGS) is a professional learning pathway designed to support all ACC employees in advancing teaching, learning, and student success. Through events like Mini Dev Day, FGS provides opportunities to explore innovative practices, connect across roles and disciplines, and engage with ACC’s core values. The series centers on three strategic goals:

  • Building inclusive, purpose-driven classrooms through Belonging, Purpose, and Connection (BPC)
  • Ensuring access and flexibility through Universal Design for Learning and Accessibility (UDL)
  • Equipping faculty and staff with future-ready skills through AI Literacy and Fluency (AILF)

Watch the introductory video, Faculty Growth Series: The Connected Classroom, to explore how FGS connects BPC, UDL, and AI to empower teaching and learning at ACC.

To learn more about the Faculty Growth Series and upcoming opportunities, visit the FGS site.