Austin Community College District (ACC) is playing an important role in supporting education legislation at the Texas Capitol this legislative session. Three ACC staff members sat before state legislative committees to provide expert testimony on a couple of bills that could impact current and future students.

ACC Employer Outreach and Experiential Learning Programs Director Dr. Sam Greer spoke to the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency on House Bill (HB) 2768, which allows state agencies to partner with community colleges on an IT apprenticeship program. He shared his experience with the IT apprenticeship created at the Texas Department of Information Resources last session. He also explained how an expanded alternative pathway to state IT jobs could help bridge the skills gap by providing students with hands-on experience, industry-relevant training, and a direct pathway to employment in state IT roles at all state agencies.

ACC’s College & High School Relations Associate Vice Chancellor, Mison Zuniga, and High School Enrollment and Partnerships Manager, Zach Denton, were both invited to speak to the Senate Committee on Education K-16 regarding Senate Bill (SB) 1191, which requires school districts to award equal weight and numeric conversion for grades earned in all forms of advanced academics (dual credit, AP, IB and OnRamps).

They have each shared their experiences below.

Dr. Sam Greer

I testified on HB 2768 regarding IT apprenticeships at state agencies. Because I oversee ACC’s apprenticeship programs, Dr. Chris Cervini [ACC Community & Government Affairs Vice Chancellor] contacted me about the bill. I told him that the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs mentioned in the original bill are overly rigid and unpopular with our employers. 

I submitted substitute language that would allow Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) to be an option for state agencies. IRAPs are far more flexible and popular with our private employers. The verbiage was changed, and IRAPs are an option in the final bill.  

If passed, we will develop many IT apprenticeship programs for ACC students in state agencies. The students can be employed by the state agencies while they complete their degrees at ACC, and upon graduation, they can be hired permanently at those agencies. 

Mison Zuñiga

How were you chosen to provide testimony, and how did you prepare?
I was chosen as a subject matter expert for my 15+ years of experience in dual credit programs and my knowledge of how our 25 ISDs (with high schools) award or do not award weighted high school GPA points for dual credit courses, like Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.  

To prepare, I worked closely with our Community and Government Affairs colleagues, Dr. Cervini and Cassie Fitzgerald, to gather data and draft testimony supporting SB 1191/HB 2321.  SB 1191 would require public high schools in Texas to award equivalent weighted high school GPA points for all advanced academic programs. It can level the playing field for dual credit with standardized GPA weighting. Ultimately, it can allow students and families to choose the advanced academic program that’s best for them without the fear of receiving fewer GPA points, negatively impacting their class rank. I also reviewed the proposed bills in detail, anticipated potential questions from legislators, and practiced delivering clear, concise messaging for a non-technical audience.

Can you briefly describe the experience?
The experience was both exciting and humbling. The opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers and contribute to a conversation that could shape policy was significant. There was a sense of responsibility to represent high school students well. Visiting the State Capitol during a session can be intimidating, and testifying can be nerve-racking. However, my Community and Government Affairs colleagues were alongside me during each visit to the Capitol. They took the time to ensure I was prepped and ready and checked in with me throughout. We walked out of the Capitol together.

What do you hope comes out of it?
I hope the testimony helped build understanding with policymakers and that high school students completing college courses through dual credit are awarded the same level of weighted high school GPA points as other advanced academic programs. Not to denigrate other advanced academic programs offered in high school, however, the fact remains that dual credit is college material taught by college professors, resulting in the conferral of concrete college credit at the end of the course. It is the best vehicle for opening doors to postsecondary completion for students who may have yet to have this access, and it should be offered on a level playing field with other advanced academic programs.

Zach Denton

How were you chosen to provide testimony, and how did you prepare?
I was recommended to the Community & Government Affairs (CGA) office by our AVC of College & HS Relations, Mison Zuniga. I prepared by working with Mison, Cassie, and the CGA team to develop a draft of our testimony, utilizing my years of experience in facilitating dual credit programs for the College and relevant data surveyed from our service area school partners. 

Can you briefly describe the experience?
It was simultaneously enjoyable and nerve-wracking. Both my undergrad and graduate degrees are in political science/government, and I have also served as an adjunct faculty member in the College’s Government department for 10+ years, so my love of politics provided some background and also made this opportunity a full-circle type of moment. The whole process of testifying went by so quickly, and it was fun to get asked questions by the senators on the committee. 

What do you hope comes out of it?
I hope that our prepared testimony and the answers we provided to their questions resonated and will ultimately translate to the bill making it through the legislative process to become law. This would establish an equitable, standardized GPA weighting system for all advanced academics (to include dual credit) at public high schools throughout Texas. 

Watch Dr. Greer’s testimony HERE (consideration of HB 2768 begins at the 1:09 mark) and Mison and Zach’s testimony HERE.