Austin Community College (ACC) is introducing a “School of” structure to align how academic programs are grouped and communicated across the College.
This update replaces the use of “Areas of Study” with Schools aligned to existing Dean areas. The goal is to create a clearer, more consistent experience for students, faculty, and staff as they explore and engage with ACC’s academic offerings.
What’s Changing
- The current “Areas of Study” structure will be simplified and aligned with existing Dean areas, which will be referred to as Schools
- Academic programs will be grouped under Schools aligned with current Dean areas
- A small number of naming updates will be made to better reflect disciplines and industry relevance
What’s Not Changing
- Department structures and reporting lines
- Individual academic programs or degrees
- Course offerings or curriculum requirements
Program name updates will continue to follow established curriculum and governance processes and are not part of this effort.
New School Structure
The following Schools align with existing Academic Affairs leadership areas:
Current: Academic Programs
New: Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences – Dr. Beth Knight
- School of College Readiness (formerly Adult Education) — Kathy Dowdy
- School of Humanities & Communications — Dr. Toño Ramirez
- School of Science, Engineering & Mathematics — Carolynn Reed
- School of Social & Behavioral Sciences — Stewart
Current: Workforce Education
New: Division of Professional Technical Education – Dr. Brandon Whatley
- School of Advanced Manufacturing — Dr. Laura Marmolejo
- School of Applied Technologies — Troy DeFrates
- School of Arts & Creative Industries — Perry Crafton
- School of Business — Dr. Lorlie Braxton
- School of Community Education (formerly Continuing Education) — Don Tracy
- School of Computer Science & Information Technology — Vacant
- School of Public & Social Services — Dr. Giao Phan
Current: Health Sciences
New: Division of Healthcare Professions – Dr. Nina Almasy
- School of Nursing — Dr. Tiffany Ricks
- School of Health Sciences — Dr. Estrella Barrera
Additional Academic Affairs Areas
- Division of Digital Learning — Dr. Erasmus Addae
- Division of High School Programs — Mison Yun
- Teaching & Learning Excellence Division — Dr. Susan Warner-Sanchez
Implementation and Timeline
Implementation will occur in phases over the next academic year and include updates across College systems and communications channels, such as:
- Initial employee awareness campaigns (spring and summer 2026)
- ACC website and program pages (summer 2026)
- Academic catalog (summer 2026)
- Internal and departmental websites (summer 2026)
- Advising and student-facing materials (summer and fall 2026)
The College aims to implement the changes by the start of academic year 2027. Additional details and timelines will be shared as implementation progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this change affect my department or program?
No. This update focuses on how programs are grouped and named at the School level. It does not change departments, programs, or reporting structures.
Why is ACC making this change?
Aligning academic groupings under a School structure helps reduce confusion and creates a more consistent, student-friendly way to explore programs and pathways.
Will program names change?
Not as part of this effort. Program name updates occur through established academic and curriculum processes.
What should faculty and staff do?
No immediate action is required. Additional guidance will be provided as updates are implemented across systems and communications.
Learn More
Additional updates and resources will be shared here as the transition progresses.
For questions, please email vcinstruction@austincc.edu. Learn more about broader ongoing changes across Academic Affairs here.
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