Austin Community College District (ACC) moves to make sure students are ready for the careers of today — and the jobs that don’t even exist yet.
This October, ACC officially launched the Alliance of Future Makers (AFM). The new initiative brings together educators from across the region, state, and nation to help shape the future of higher education.
“Higher education is preparing students for a future we can’t fully predict, using systems built for a past we can’t recreate,” says ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “The Alliance gives us space to challenge outdated models, embrace new opportunities, and design systems that truly serve today’s students.”
The Alliance will explore how colleges can adapt quickly to emerging industries, new technologies, and changing workforce needs. They will help shape updates to programs, more flexible learning options, and new pathways that connect what students learn in class directly to real-world careers.
“Change is not mandatory, but neither is survival,” says Dr. Monique Reeves, ACC’s Executive Vice Chancellor for the Future. “We are preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, with systems designed for a world that no longer does. The Alliance of Future Makers is about closing that gap — creating a future of education that is flexible, human-centered, and built to last.”
In its first year, AFM will focus on identifying trends, testing new approaches, and co-creating solutions with students, faculty, and industry partners. The work will culminate in spring 2026 with a national Innovation Hub Summit, showcasing models that prepare students for graduation and long-term success.
For more about the Alliance of Future Makers, visit austincc.edu/afm.