Dear Colleagues, <\/p>\n
We\u2019re just a few days away from welcoming our students for the spring semester. I\u2019m excited about the Welcome Riverbats events at every campus. I\u2019ll be out there too and look forward to seeing you. Together, we\u2019re going to help our students feel loved and supported from the moment they arrive. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s an extra special time for me because we have reached the culmination of my First 100 Days at ACC. It has been a journey of listening and learning. You have been open and honest, and I have promised you a plan to move us forward with purpose and a clear path.<\/p>\n
Today, I want to share a preview of what\u2019s to come. <\/p>\n
First, our shared values. We hosted a series of listening sessions with students during my First 100 Days. They opened up and told us what they need. Their honesty helped us understand our purpose in a new way, and we\u2019re creating values based on what they revealed. I will share those with you soon.<\/p>\n
Second, I have no doubt that when we commit to working together in our shared values \u2014 we can do great things. Our theory of change will be just that: we\u2019re going to grow our completion and transfer rates. Here\u2019s what that looks like: <\/p>\n
If we can help students start strong<\/strong>, create opportunities to help them enroll full time<\/strong>, help meet their basic needs<\/strong>, and wrap them in a culture of belonging and connection,<\/strong> we will grow<\/strong> completion and transfer rates<\/strong>. <\/p>\n This work will take all of us. So, just as crucial to our theory of change is the work we\u2019re doing to build trust, transparency, and love for one another. It\u2019s going to force us to think in new and different ways. That might feel messy. That’s okay. We\u2019re here to learn, grow, and become the best college in the nation. <\/p>\n Finally, you might have heard about a preliminary proposal that went to our Board of Trustees on Monday. It\u2019s a bold idea to make college tuition free for everyone. It\u2019s going to take time to get there. So, we\u2019re proposing starting small, beginning with a pilot program that does just that for every high school senior in our service area who graduates this spring. You can read more about our proposal here<\/a>. We\u2019re developing a web page so you can follow our decisions and the process. <\/p>\n In the coming weeks, we\u2019ll have teams of stakeholders across the college working together to develop a formal plan. It will go to the Board in February. I have a lot of hope for what something like this can do for our students, our college, and our entire community. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve told you that I came to ACC because I believe we have the resources and talent to do incredible things. You<\/em> are that talent, and I\u2019m incredibly proud to be on this journey with you. <\/p>\n I promise to share more at our next Employee Town Hall Meeting<\/a> on Friday, January 19.<\/p>\n I hope you have a wonderful spring semester. Let\u2019s show our students how much we care. Let\u2019s love them \u2014 and each other \u2014 to success. Enjoy your long holiday weekend, I will see you on campus next Tuesday. <\/p>\n Much love, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart Dear Colleagues, We\u2019re just a few days away from welcoming our students for the spring semester. I\u2019m excited about the Welcome Riverbats events at every campus. I\u2019ll be out there too and look forward to seeing … Continue reading
russell<\/p>\n
Chancellor
Austin Community College District<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"