Dear Colleagues,
On August 26 the fall semester will begin, and our campuses will be filled with new and returning students. It’s one of my favorite times. I want to make sure that you have everything you need to start the semester strong and to help our students feel welcome and supported while they’re here.
Welcome Riverbats Resources
The first few days of the semester can feel overwhelming. We’re adjusting to new schedules and many of our students are learning their way around our campuses. We’ll continue our tradition of welcoming students on their first days with special Welcome Riverbats teams of ACC employees at every campus.
You might have seen an email from your campus manager explaining what’s planned on your home campus. If you can, I encourage you to volunteer for one of the shifts. It’s two hours of really rewarding time with our students. I learned a lot from my first semester doing this, and I think you will, too.
Below are some additional resources you can share with students who may need some extra support.
Finding Their Classes
Students can find out where their class is located by checking the course schedule or class syllabus. It should also contain when the class meets and where they should go.
- Example: Room 1142: Building 1000 at Cypress Creek Campus; 1st Floor; Room 1142
Getting to Campus
Parking permits are now digital and are available at no charge. Everyone who plans to park on campus will need to sign up for their ACC parking permit.
Eligible ACC faculty, staff, and students who use public transportation can ride CapMetro for free. ACC’s special Green Pass gives you unlimited rides on CapMetro Fixed Route Service, Express Bus Service, MetroAccess, MetroRail services, and their new on-demand transit service, Pickup.
Getting to Know Their Campus
It helps to get familiar with our campuses before the first day. Over the summer, we made improvements to the campus web pages to make this easier. There’s a campus map on each page now, and we’re piloting a new interactive map program that helps students digitally walk through campus.
New Safety Procedures This Fall
This fall we’re launching a set of five new standard safety protocols. They’re modeled after best practices and designed to help you know what to do if there’s ever an emergency on campus. You can learn more about these steps on our Emergency Management website. More information and details will be shared during Emergency Preparedness Week, September 9-13.
New Programs Starting This Fall
Finally, I want to share an update on the new programs that are starting this fall.
- Free Tuition Pilot Program: The program begins this fall. More than 4,300 students enrolled in classes this semester through this program.
- Affordability Scholarship Program: More students are persisting into their final 15 hours thanks to this new program. We designed to help reduce financial barriers for students who were enrolled at ACC during the spring 2024 semester — when we announced the Free Tuition Pilot Program.
- Free Tuition for Dependents: We updated college policy to extend free tuition support to the dependents of eligible employees who have been here at least six months and have dependents under the age of 26. There is no limit to the number of hours they can take.
I hope you have a wonderful fall semester. Let’s show our students how much we care. Let’s love them — and each other — to success.
Much love,
russell