Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n
Austin Community College District (ACC) is aware of recent federal executive orders and actions that could affect our College community. We are monitoring the situation closely \u2014 particularly orders related to federal funds the College receives and actions related to immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still a lot we don\u2019t know. So, we\u2019re going to deal with facts and work with what we do<\/strong> know while we prepare for any possible changes. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I can share: <\/p>\n Safety & Security Protocols We don\u2019t anticipate immigration officers will appear on ACC campuses without some form of prior notification that would allow us time to ensure detailed communications and directions for the entire College. <\/p>\n If immigration officers change their existing protocols and appear in your office or classroom, I want to protect you from that pressure and expectation for response. I will share a clear, legal protocol for you to connect any potential officer to the official College respondent. <\/p>\n ACC will always comply with the law, and here is what compliance will look like to ensure we follow our protocols to keep everyone safe:<\/p>\n My goal is to maintain our commitment to transparency and ensure you know what is happening and when issues arise. Again, it is highly unlikely an immigration officer would violate existing protocol and directly contact you in your office or classroom. Because we are experiencing uncertain times, I want you to know exactly how to respond. In the meantime, I\u2019m asking you to trust my deep commitment to our students and employees. You and your safety will remain my primary focus. <\/p>\n Student Financial Aid Federally Funded Programs Resources & Support As always, as we learn more, we\u2019ll share more. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I\u2019m so proud to be a part of this College and to work with you as we build the college our students and community deserve. <\/p>\n Much love, Russell Lowery-Hart, Ph.D. Dear Colleagues, Austin Community College District (ACC) is aware of recent federal executive orders and actions that could affect our College community. We are monitoring the situation closely \u2014 particularly orders related to federal funds … Continue reading
<\/strong>ACC has been and will remain an open, safe, and inclusive institution for all students and employees. The College will continue to follow its safety and security protocols to ensure legal compliance while protecting the rights and privacy of students and employees.<\/p>\n\n
<\/strong>This week, the new administration took action to freeze federal grants. We have been assured by the Department of Education that the executive order EXCLUDES student financial aid. This means ACC can continue to process and disburse student financial aid as we always have. Our students can rely on the same financial aid<\/a> processes they\u2019re accustomed to at ACC. If you know a student who has questions or concerns, please encourage them to reach out to the Financial Aid Office<\/a>. And, if there are any changes to the Department of Education\u2019s response, we will let you know. <\/p>\n
<\/strong>Some of our federally funded grant programs may be impacted by the freeze, but nothing is changing at this time. The order was temporarily halted by a federal judge on Tuesday. We have time to learn more and determine our next steps. We expect that contracts we have with the federal government will continue to be fulfilled, and we are prepared to continue funding salaries on grant-funded projects through the fiscal year. We fully expect this freeze to be resolved soon. <\/p>\n
<\/strong>I know these times may feel uncertain, but we\u2019ll get through this together. If you need to talk with someone, we encourage you to use the free and confidential services provided by our Employee Assistance Program<\/a>. The ombudsperson<\/a> is also available to offer confidential support and connect you with resources that may meet your needs. <\/p>\n
russell<\/p>\n
Chancellor
Austin Community College District<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"