A group of Austin Community College District (ACC) students joined hundreds of their peers at the Texas State Capitol for Community College Day on Monday, February 3. Held every Texas legislative session, the event invites community colleges from across the state to discuss social advocacy, funding, policies, and other key issues.
Thirteen ACC students were joined by ACC Board of Trustees members Sean Hassan and Steve Jackobs, Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, and faculty and staff. Together, the group met with local and state legislators to share their concerns and hopes for the 89th legislative session.
Topics discussed included funding for community colleges, dual credit programs, immigration, out-of-state tuition, mental health, and more.
The ACC Board of Trustees approved the College’s legislative priorities in January. They align closely with the 2025 Policy Priorities set by the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) and the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT). Key priorities include:
- Supplemental Appropriations Request: Adjust the FY 2024-25 budget to fully fund House Bill 8 (HB 8) performance-based awards.
- Formula Funding for FY 2026-27: Strengthen outcomes-based funding established by HB 8 to support more students in earning credentials of value.
- Recognition of Private Institutions in Performance Metrics: Ensure formula funding reflects diverse student success pathways, including those involving private institutions.
- Dual Credit GPA Parity with Advanced Placement: Advocate for equal GPA weighting across all advanced academic courses, encouraging students to pursue dual credit classes while receiving the same GPA benefits as AP coursework.
The 89th Texas Legislative Session runs through June 2. Click here for legislative information.