The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for a work session and its regular meeting on Monday, July 6. Trustees adopted the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget, authorized the sale and issuance of bonds, and approved several contracts. 

At the work session, the College presented an update on the expansion of its Health Sciences programs. Watch the presentation here.

Below are highlights from the board meeting.

FY27 Budget 

Trustees unanimously approved the College’s FY27 operating budget. The $583 million balanced budget includes an employee compensation increase, maintains student tuition and mandatory fees for the 13th consecutive year, preserves the College’s $23-per-hour minimum wage and its free tuition pilot program, and funds continued enrollment growth and campus improvements. Read more here.

Bond Issuance

The Board approved a resolution to allow the issuance of Limited Tax and Refunding Bonds, Series 2026 to take advantage of a refunding opportunity on 2015, 2016 bonds. The issuance is expected to result in a savings to taxpayers of $2.4 million in total interest costs.

Bookstore Contract

Trustees approved moving forward with contract negotiations with a qualified bookstore management services firm to serve as ACC’s official bookstore partner. The selected firm will provide comprehensive bookstore management services, traditional print and digital textbooks, laboratory equipment, sundries, ACC-branded merchandise, and other required or recommended academic materials. The bookstore partner will operate in-person retail services at the Highland Campus Building 4000, and will also provide online operations to fully support, enhance, and champion ACC’s academic mission and North Star Goal.

The College conducted a competitive sealed proposal (CSP) solicitation process and received three submittals. The administration recommended awarding the contract to Follett Higher Education Group LLC, replacing the College’s existing provider, Barnes & Noble.

Round Rock Parking Lot Expansion

The Board approved a qualified general contractor to provide parking lot expansion services at the Round Rock Campus (RRC). The expansion project will alleviate the shortage of parking spaces, which have been affected by the new construction at RRC, including the two new Applied Technology Buildings located on the southwest portion of the campus. Following a CSP solicitation process that resulted in eight submittals, Trustees approved moving forward with the administration’s selection of J.T. Vaughn Construction LLC.

Consent Items

The Board also approved contracts for ultra-high-resolution optical microscope systems for ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Department and HEAT Safety Equipment for ACC’s Fire Academy Training Program as part of the consent agenda. 

Other Items

Due to the passage of Texas Senate Bill 37, an institution’s General Education Core Curriculum requires review by the Board of Trustees. Our Academic Affairs Division worked with faculty, instructional leaders, and other leaders at ACC to present the Core Curriculum recommendation to the College’s Board of Trustees. Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, along with Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Gaye Lynn Scott, presented an update on ACC’s general education curriculum, which the Board approved.

View all agendas and recordings from the meeting here. Recordings are usually available by the first Thursday following the meeting.