{"id":1308,"date":"2026-05-05T15:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/?page_id=1308"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:35:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:35:55","slug":"transition-to-a-school-of-structure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/transition-to-a-school-of-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"Transition to a \u201cSchool of\u201d Structure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin Community College (ACC) is introducing a <strong>\u201cSchool of\u201d<\/strong> structure to align how academic programs are grouped and communicated across the College.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This update replaces the use of \u201cAreas of Study\u201d 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\u2019s academic offerings.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Changing<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The current \u201cAreas of Study\u201d structure will be simplified and aligned with existing Dean areas, which will be referred to as <strong>Schools<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Academic programs will be grouped under Schools aligned with current Dean areas<\/li>\n<li>A small number of naming updates will be made to better reflect disciplines and industry relevance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Not Changing<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Department structures and reporting lines<\/li>\n<li>Individual academic programs or degrees<\/li>\n<li>Course offerings or curriculum requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Program name updates will continue to follow established curriculum and governance processes and are not part of this effort.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New School Structure<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following Schools align with existing Academic Affairs leadership areas:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current: Academic Programs<\/h3>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New: Division of Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences \u2013 Dr. Beth Knight<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>School of College Readiness (formerly Adult Education) \u2014 Kathy Dowdy<\/li>\n<li>School of Humanities &amp; Communications \u2014 Dr. To\u00f1o Ramirez<\/li>\n<li>School of Science, Engineering &amp; Mathematics \u2014 Carolynn Reed<\/li>\n<li>School of Social &amp; Behavioral Sciences \u2014 Stewart<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current: Workforce Education<\/h3>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New: Division of Professional Technical Education \u2013 Dr. Brandon Whatley<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>School of Advanced Manufacturing \u2014 Dr. Laura Marmolejo<\/li>\n<li>School of Applied Technologies \u2014 Troy DeFrates<\/li>\n<li>School of Arts &amp; Creative Industries \u2014 Perry Crafton<\/li>\n<li>School of Business \u2014 Dr. Lorlie Braxton<\/li>\n<li>School of Community Education (formerly Continuing Education) \u2014 Don Tracy<\/li>\n<li>School of Computer Science &amp; Information Technology \u2014 Vacant<\/li>\n<li>School of Public &amp; Social Services \u2014 Dr. Giao Phan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current: Health Sciences<\/h3>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New: Division of Healthcare Professions \u2013 Dr. Nina Almasy<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>School of Nursing \u2014 Dr. Tiffany Ricks<\/li>\n<li>School of Health Sciences \u2014 Dr. Estrella Barrera<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Academic Affairs Areas<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Division of Digital Learning \u2014 Dr. Erasmus Addae<\/li>\n<li>Division of High School Programs \u2014 Mison Yun<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Naming System Crosswalk<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Old Naming System<\/th>\n<th>New Naming System<\/th>\n<th>Leader<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Academic Programs<\/td>\n<td><strong>Division of Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Beth Knight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Adult Education<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of College Readiness<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Kathy Dowdy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Humanities &amp; Communications<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Humanities &amp; Communications<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>To\u00f1o Ramirez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Science, Engineering &amp; Math<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Science, Engineering &amp; Mathematics<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Carolynn Reed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Workforce Education<\/td>\n<td><strong>Division of Professional Technical Education<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Brandon Whatley<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Advanced Manufacturing<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Advanced Manufacturing<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Laura Marmolejo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arts &amp; Digital Media<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Arts &amp; Creative Industries<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Perry Crafton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Business<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Business<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Lorlie Braxton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Continuing Education<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Community Education<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Don Tracy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CSIT<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Computer Science &amp; Information Technology<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><em>Vacant<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D-CAT<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Applied Technologies<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Troy DeFrates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Public &amp; Social Services<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Public &amp; Social Services<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Giao Phan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Health Sciences<\/td>\n<td><strong>Division of Healthcare Professions<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Nina Almasy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Health Sciences<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Nursing<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Tiffany Ricks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Health Sciences<\/td>\n<td><strong>School of Health Sciences<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Estrella Barrera<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Distance Education &amp; Alternative Learning<\/td>\n<td><strong>Division of Digital Learning<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Erasmus Addae<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>College &amp; High School Relations<\/td>\n<td><strong>Division of High School Programs<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Mison Yun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implementation and Timeline<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Implementation will occur in phases over the next academic year and include updates across College systems and communications channels, such as:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Initial employee awareness campaigns (spring and summer 2026)<\/li>\n<li>ACC website and program pages (summer 2026)<\/li>\n<li>Academic catalog (summer 2026)<\/li>\n<li>Internal and departmental websites (summer 2026)<\/li>\n<li>Advising and student-facing materials (summer and fall 2026)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The College aims to implement the changes by the start of academic year 2027.  Additional details and timelines will be shared as implementation progresses.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<p><div class=\"list\"><p class=\"trigger\"><a href=\"#\">Will this change affect my department or program?<\/a><\/p><div class=\"toggle_container\"><div class=\"block\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. This update focuses on how programs are grouped and named at the School level. It does not change departments, programs, or reporting structures.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"list\"><p class=\"trigger\"><a href=\"#\">Why is ACC making this change?<\/a><\/p><div class=\"toggle_container\"><div class=\"block\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aligning academic groupings under a School structure helps reduce confusion and creates a more consistent, student-friendly way to explore programs and pathways.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"list\"><p class=\"trigger\"><a href=\"#\">Will program names change?<\/a><\/p><div class=\"toggle_container\"><div class=\"block\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not as part of this effort. Program name updates occur through established academic and curriculum processes.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"list\"><p class=\"trigger\"><a href=\"#\">What should faculty and staff do?<\/a><\/p><div class=\"toggle_container\"><div class=\"block\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No immediate action is required. Additional guidance will be provided as updates are implemented across systems and communications.<\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additional updates and resources will be shared here as the transition progresses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For questions, please email <a href=\"mailto:vcinstruction@austincc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vcinstruction@austincc.edu<\/a>. Learn more about broader ongoing changes across Academic Affairs on the <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/ay-26-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AY 26 Updates page<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Austin Community College (ACC) is introducing a \u201cSchool of\u201d structure to align how academic programs are grouped and communicated across the College. This update replaces the use of \u201cAreas of Study\u201d with Schools aligned to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/transition-to-a-school-of-structure\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":1310,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1308","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1308"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1369,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1308\/revisions\/1369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/vice-chancellor-of-instruction\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}