Austin Community College District (ACC) is introducing a “School of” structure to align how academic programs are grouped and communicated across the College.

This update replaces the use of “Areas of Study” with “Schools” aligned to existing dean areas. The goal is to create a clearer, more consistent experience for students, faculty, and staff as they explore and engage with ACC’s academic offerings.

What’s Changing

  • The current Areas of Study structure will be simplified and aligned with existing dean areas. These will be referred to as Schools.
  • Academic programs will be grouped under Schools aligned with the current dean areas.
  • A small number of naming updates have been made to better reflect disciplines and industry relevance.

What’s Not Changing

  • Department structures and reporting lines
  • Individual academic programs or degrees
  • Course offerings or curriculum requirements

Program name updates will continue to follow established curriculum and governance processes and are not part of this effort.

Why This Matters

Moving to a School structure helps create a more intuitive and student-centered way to organize and present academic programs.

This approach supports:

  • Clearer pathways for students exploring their options
  • Stronger connections between related programs
  • More consistent communication across the College

These updates are part of ACC’s ongoing work to ensure Academic Affairs remains future-ready and responsive to student needs.

New School Structure

The following Schools align with existing Academic Affairs leadership areas:

Current: Academic Programs
New: Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences – Dr. Beth Knight

  • School of College Readiness (formerly Adult Education) — Kathy Dowdy
  • School of Humanities & Communications — Dr. Toño Ramirez
  • School of Science, Engineering & Mathematics — Carolynn Reed
  • School of Social & Behavioral Sciences — Stewart

Current: Workforce Education
New: Division of Professional Technical Education – Dr. Brandon Whatley

  • School of Advanced Manufacturing — Dr. Laura Marmolejo
  • School of Applied Technologies — Troy DeFrates
  • School of Arts & Creative Industries — Perry Crafton
  • School of Business — Dr. Lorlie Braxton
  • School of Community Education (formerly Continuing Education) — Don Tracy
  • School of Computer Science & Information Technology — Vacant
  • School of Public & Social Services — Dr. Giao Phan

Current: Health Sciences
New: Division of Healthcare Professions – Dr. Nina Almasy

  • School of Nursing — Dr. Tiffany Ricks
  • School of Health Sciences — Dr. Estrella Barrera

Additional Academic Affairs Areas

  • Division of Digital Learning — Dr. Erasmus Addae
  • Division of High School Programs — Mison Yun
  • Teaching & Learning Excellence Division — Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez

What to Expect Next

Pending final approval, implementation will occur in phases and include updates across College systems and communications channels, such as:

  • ACC’s public website and program pages
  • Academic catalog
  • Internal and departmental websites
  • Advising and student-facing materials

The College aims to implement the changes by the start of academic year 2027. Additional details and timelines will be shared as implementation progresses.

What Faculty and Staff Need to Know

No immediate action is required. As updates move forward, guidance will be provided to support departments and teams in aligning materials and communications with the new School structure. The College will share updated marketing materials, handouts, and assets in the coming months. 

Questions

This update focuses on how programs are grouped and communicated at the School level. It does not represent a departmental restructuring or program renaming effort.

For questions or additional information, please contact [email protected] or visit the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs’ web page dedicated to this subject.