The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees met for its first regular meeting of 2026 on Monday, January 12. The meeting was held at the Eastview Campus so the board could honor the remarkable career and lasting legacy of Roland C. Hayes, one of the College’s founding faculty members and the visionary director of ACC’s African American Cultural Center.

Following a resolution to recognize Hayes’ distinguished career, exemplary service, and meaningful contributions to the mission and success of the College, Trustees voted unanimously to rename the Center to the Roland C. Hayes African American Cultural Center. 

The College and Board hosted a special reception for Hayes at the Center prior to the work session and meeting. View photos from the event. 

Below are highlights from the meeting.

Regional Advisory Committee Annual Report and Appointments

Trustees heard updates from two Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) members and welcomed newly appointed members, including the first RAC member from Lockhart. Their goals for 2026 include: 

  • Continued Citizen Advisory Role for the Bond Implementation
  • Advocating/Educating Community on Free Tuition and Other New Initiatives
  • Providing Community Feedback for ACC Initiatives

New Dean of Nursing

The board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Dr. Tiffany N. Ricks as the College’s new dean of Nursing. Ricks was previously ACC’s associate dean of Nursing and brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, healthcare, and community-based evaluation.

FY2025 Financial Audit Report

ACC’s auditor, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, presented the scope, process, and results of the College’s FY25 audit. The firm reported no material weaknesses. 

For the 22nd consecutive year, the College received a Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting for FY2024 for the quality of its reporting.

Enterprise Project Management Office

Trustees learned about the College’s new Enterprise Project Management Office in a presentation from EPMO Senior Director Sarah Lisenbe. The strategy execution office was formed in May 2025. The office provided an update in December.

Compensation & Reclassification Study Update

ACC’s Classification and Compensation Study was undertaken to address long-standing structural inconsistencies in job classification, role leveling, and compensation practices across the College. ACC Human Resources Vice Chancellor Kelly Torrico presented an overview of the study, its findings, and what’s left to do. 

Torrico says the College now has a new and sustainable framework for how it classifies and compensates jobs. As a result, it found that some employees required a compensation adjustment to align with the framework.

  • 1,356 positions evaluated
  • 437 employees received salary adjustments (no decreases)
  • 145 adjustments were greater than 10% of the employee’s salary
  • $5,535 was the average adjustment
  • Cost: $2.4M adjustment

She said there is still work to be done, including applying the framework to Student Affairs, Basic Needs, and the hourly workforce; updating the compensation manual, getting it all in Workday, and updating job descriptions.

Theory of Change Presentations

At the work session prior to the meeting, Trustees heard from the Academic Tutoring & Coaching and Dual Credit Theory of Change Design Teams. Read summaries of their presentations from the November Employee Town Hall.

A full recording of the Board meeting will be posted on the Board web page at austincc.edu/board.