Faculty and staff across ACC have helped over 5,000 students — and growing! — learn about the Student Basic Needs Questionnaire this fall. While participation has been strong across nearly every campus, we’d like your help to get more — particularly from students at the Riverside and Rio Grande campuses.

As an added incentive, all students who complete the questionnaire by the deadline will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of five $50 Amazon gift cards or an ACC swag bag.

The goal is to have 10% of students at each campus fill out the questionnaire, which is open through Friday, September 25.

Why It’s Important

Early intervention can make a meaningful difference when it comes to persistence. During the questionnaire’s fall 2025 pilot, students who completed it and subsequently connected with resources continued into the spring 2026 semester at a rate about 11 percent higher than the average ACC student. 

The short, 10-question Student Basic Needs Questionnaire gives students an opportunity to identify areas where they may need support this semester, including food access, childcare, housing, mental health, and other essential needs. Students who identify a need receive direct follow-up from ACC’s CARE coordination team, which can help them connect with College and community resources. 

How You Can Help

Faculty and staff can help make sure more students have the opportunity to connect with support during this critical window before the questionnaire closes. 

Here are a few ways you can help:

  • Share the link (austincc.edu/studentneeds) with students in class or as a Blackboard announcement.
  • Take a few moments during class or while meeting with students to encourage them to complete the questionnaire while it is still open.
  • Use the C.A.R.E. Network Faculty/Staff Toolkit for ready-to-use classroom scripts, syllabus language, a short presentation on Basic Needs services, and frequently asked questions. 

A small encouragement from you can make a huge difference for our students this fall. Learn more about ACC’s C.A.R.E. Network and Basic Needs resources at austincc.edu/care.