This year’s Austin Community College District (ACC) Health Sciences Open House drew record-breaking numbers, with prospective students, families, and community members filling the halls of the Eastview Campus.
The event saw a 98% year-over-year increase in registrations and a 64% year-over-year increase in attendees.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore various pathways and careers through interactive program demos and informational tabling from health sciences programs, healthcare and community partners, and student support services.
The event showcased the newly expanded dental hygiene area at Eastview. Current students and faculty hosted two special sessions, providing tours of the clinic space and engaging in open Q&A sessions. This allowed prospective students to connect directly with current learners, giving them a firsthand look at the reality of the student experience in the program.
Bringing the Event to Life
The massive undertaking was made possible by the collaboration between Health Sciences, the Office of College Relations & Marketing (OCRM), Recruitment, and various support services.
Overall, more than 2,000 people registered for the 2026 event.
OCRM helped secure more than half of the RSVPs through paid advertising on digital, streaming, and radio as well as social media channels platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
In the spirit of collaboration and connection, the team also engaged directly with the community—visiting 78 local businesses in the Eastview area to share event information and distribute handouts, while also reaching out to 48 neighborhood associations across Round Rock, Eastview, and Highland. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many community members eager to help amplify the event and share information within their platforms.
“The open house was a huge success. Not only in the record-breaking number of registrations and strong attendance, but also in the collaboration,” said College Marketing Director Alex Bryant. “Through early planning, clear goals from the start, and strong collaboration on outreach, we were able to connect with current students, prospective students, families, and community members. The event space was filled with families who brought a sense of joy and curiosity as they explored the programs available.”
The success of the event also depended on the assistance of more than 200 volunteers, including faculty, staff, and students from across the Health Science division and the wider College, alongside dedicated community partners.
“I have been part of Health Sciences for over 20 years and more directly involved in the planning and execution of our open house over the past 5-6 years,” said Health Sciences Dean Dr. Estrella Barrera. “This year’s event was one filled with vibrant energy. All of our volunteers showed up ready to serve, greeting guests with the spirit of YES.”
Continuing the Conversation
After the event, attendees identified as prospective students were uploaded into the College’s Salesforce system and enrolled in prospective student email campaigns. This enables the Recruitment team to maintain ongoing communication and continue promoting ACC as an educational option.
While the record-breaking attendance was a great success, our teams will continue to monitor and track outcomes to assess the event’s ROI. This includes measuring how many attendees go on to declare a health sciences program or apply and enroll as new students at ACC.
See photos from the event below.
