The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees held its February 2022 regular meeting on Tuesday, February 1.

The meeting included a presentation by ACC community partner Seedling Foundation and a $300,000 rebate check presentation by Austin Energy. The rebate was awarded as a result of cost-saving measures implemented at the college through various sustainability initiatives. Below are additional highlights from the meeting.

Resignation of Trustee Nicole Eversmann

The only former ACC student elected to the Board of Trustees, Nicole Eversmann, has resigned. She leaves her position as board secretary to accept a full-time position as Director of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT) with the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC). Eversmann was elected to the Place 5 seat in November 2016 and has served more than five years on the board. Learn more here.

Following her departure, the board elected Trustee Sean Hassan to replace her as board secretary and discussed developing a process to fill her vacant seat. This process will be presented at the next board meeting. 

Human Resources Vice Chancellor Retiring

Chancellor Dr. Richard Rhodes announced the retirement of ACC Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Gerry Tucker, J.D. Dr. Rhodes reviewed her accomplishments and thanked Gerry for her service to the college, its employees, students, and the community. The college will host a retirement celebration in her honor on Thursday, February 24. Details about the reception as well as a message board to share well wishes can be found on a special page created in her honor on the ACC website. 

Chancellor’s Remarks
Dr. Rhodes reported that new numbers released from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board show ACC’s completion rate is now 23 percent. The college increased its graduation rate faster than any other community college in the state over the last four years and maintains its status as a top college for transfer. 

ACC also was awarded three new state grants — two of which came from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the other from the Texas Workforce Commission. Learn more.

He concluded by sharing upcoming events: 

  • The college hosts a series of events in February to commemorate Black History Month. The events are centered around this year’s theme of Black Health and Wellness and are presented by ACC’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center and the African-American Cultural Center. They are free and open to the community. 
  • On Saturday, February 12, ACC will host an event in partnership with Austin PBS. ‘Ready, Set, Learn!’ is a virtual event designed for students who are parents of young children. ACC students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to sign up. Space is limited. 

Sustainable Practices Report
Andy Kim, ACC Energy & Sustainability director, presented a sustainable practices report to the board. It included the college’s energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives and awards, renewable energy and alternative transportation efforts, and more. Watch the entire presentation here and sign up for the new sustainability newsletter here

Watch all the recordings from the meeting here.