Austin Community College District (ACC) Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart is featured on the national “Reimagining HigherEd” podcast, sharing how ACC is redesigning higher education by putting students—not systems—at the center of every decision.
In a conversation with host Professor Judyth Sachs, Lowery-Hart discusses the College’s student-first approach and how listening directly to students has transformed the way ACC supports success.
Topics discussed:
- Building systems around students. Rather than assuming students leave college because of challenges in the classroom, ACC has focused on understanding and addressing the real-life barriers students face outside of it.
- Empowering frontline employees. ACC has intentionally redesigned processes to give faculty and staff the flexibility to solve problems without navigating layers of bureaucracy, creating faster, more responsive support for students.
- Using AI to strengthen human connection. The College is leveraging artificial intelligence to identify when students may need help and proactively connect them with advisors and support services—enhancing, not replacing, personal relationships.
Listen to the full episode of “Reimagining HigherEd”: