More than 30 Austin Community College District (ACC) joined Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart for the spring 2025 Student Town Hall on Friday, May 10, both in person and virtually.
The event opened with remarks from newly elected Student Government Association (SGA) President Diane Allen, who encouraged students to speak up and participate in the conversation.
Dr. Lowery-Hart shared updates on student-centered changes across the district, including ACC’s Free Tuition program, completion scholarships, and expanded student roles in paid campus design teams. He emphasized that the College’s values are now student-written and integrated into employee evaluations, including his own.
Theory of Change
Dr. Samantha Croft introduced ACC’s Theory of Change, a collegewide redesign focused on improving student outcomes. The initiative is guided by four goals: helping students start strong, enroll full-time, meet basic needs, and feel a sense of belonging.
Fourteen cross-campus teams (with student participation) are working on advising, access, equity, and classroom engagement. The goal is to raise the college completion rate from 47% to 70% by 2030.
Students can follow the process, give feedback, or join a team by visiting austincc.edu/TOC.
The first wave of changes for students is expected to be implemented as early as late summer.
Student Voices and Concerns
Students representing clubs and identity groups raised issues around accommodations, access to funding, classroom practices, and more inclusive support. Others expressed appreciation for services like child care, the Learning Lab, and the Honors Program. College leaders acknowledged the feedback and affirmed plans to improve systems based on student input.
Students also asked for expanded food options, access to showers, and improved wellness and intramural facilities. The Chancellor shared updates on the Highland Wellness Center project and noted efforts to lower vending machine prices. Broader food access plans are expected to roll out in the coming months.
Missed the event? Watch the full recording at austincc.edu/studenttownhall.