TSPR Austin Community College

Chapter 9
COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

This chapter reviews the Austin Community College's (ACC) college and community relations in the following sections:

A. Marketing and Public Relations

B. Community and Business Involvement

C. Foundation and Grants Development

D. Governmental Relations

D. GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
The special assistant to the president for Governmental and Community Relations has responsibility for governmental and community relations, elections and the Center for Community-Based and Nonprofit Organizations. In August 2002, ACC reorganized some key functions and expanded the position to include service learning. The organizational structure of Governmental and Community Relations is shown as Exhibit 9-31.
Exhibit 9-31
ACC Governmental and Community Relations Organization
Source: ACC Organizational Chart, August 2002 and interviews.
FINDING
The college has been effective in working with the Texas State Legislature. The special assistant to the president is responsible for monitoring and reviewing state legislation and representing the college in legislative committee hearings. One of the major responsibilities of the special assistant is to help the board and the president work with the Texas State Legislature on the college's legislative priorities. The college does not use lobbyists in its efforts.
ACC works with the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) in developing legislative priorities for all community colleges across Texas. The TACC legislative priorities for 2001 are shown as Exhibit 9-32.
Exhibit 9-32
Texas Association of Community Colleges Legislative Priorities
2001

Request Rationale

#1: Formula Funding The progress made during the 76th legislative session towards full funding of the community and technical college formula should continue. The legislature should increase the community and technical college formula appropriation to 81 percent of the cost of instruction and administration consistent with Texas Association of Community College's (TACC) five biennia (five legislative sessions or 10 per year) plan to full formula funding.

#2: Workforce Development As the primary provider of workforce development and training, Texas public community and technical colleges' efforts to meet this critical need should be enhanced by increasing the appropriation for the Skills Development Fund, reforming the Smart Jobs Fund and funding the High Priority Program Development Fund.

#3: K-12 Partnerships The 77th Legislature should provide support for collaborative efforts between community and technical colleges and K-12 institutions and other higher education institutions.

#4: Employee Benefits The 77th Legislature should avoid shifting the cost of health insurance benefits to community and technical college faculty and staff by fully funding the ERS appropriation request.

Source: ACC Governmental and Community Relations, June 2002.
The college develops its own legislative priorities in addition to working with the TACC. ACC's board and president develop a set of legislative priorities in advance of the legislative session and prepare a briefing document to use in speaking with legislators and their aides. The briefing document states the desired change, the action required by the legislature to enact the change and the rationale for making the change.
The briefing document includes pertinent information regarding ACC, including student headcount, comparative exam results for ACC and other community colleges, Texas Legislative Budget Board performance measures for community colleges and excerpts from the ACC master plan. The ACC legislative priorities for 2001 are shown in Exhibit 9-33.
Exhibit 9-33
ACC Legislative Priorities
2001

Request Purpose

#1: Texas Public Education Grant, to remove the limitation of 6 percent by amending Ch. 56.033 of the Education Code This proposed change would provide community and junior colleges the latitude to set aside a higher percentage of funds, more in line with the allowable percentages for four-year institutions.

#2: State financial aid for the most needy This legislation targets increased funds for financial aid for those students who most need financial support to attend college. ACC seeks legislation that provides funding for the most disadvantaged students, those with no personal or family "Expected Contribution."

#3: Expansion of Adult Education funding for those on TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds currently have minimal set-asides for Adult Education. We would request that the legislative set-asides from existing TANF funding be increased for Adult Education programs.

#4: Tuition waivers for recent high school or GED TANF recipients ACC requests to extend the length of time allowed for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families eligible high school or GED completers to receive tuition waivers. The current law provides for tuition waivers to be available for one year after high school or GED.

#5: Tuition flexibility to offer discounted or reduced tuition, with community college boards of trustees allowed broader powers for determining This change would allow college boards to have more flexibility to make decisions on discounted or reduced tuition, and at the same time allow colleges to expand course offerings, have better utilization of resources, facilities and equipment. Community colleges should also have the same rate reduction as universities.

#6: In-district tuition for students in specialized technical programs from higher education institutions in Mexico ACC requests the option of charging in-district tuition for students from institutions in Mexico to attend certain ACC programs (such as Semiconductor Manufacturing) where the college has agreements with these partner institutions.

#7: Community college boards could convert to single-member districts without requiring the entire board to run ACC requests a change to the current law to allow single-member district elections in which board members can serve out unexpired terms before running for re-election.

#8 Williamson County higher education facility Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) is requesting funding for the construction of a multi-use facility for higher education in Williamson County. SWTSU is the lead university for MITC, the Multi-Institution Teaching Center serving North Austin and Williamson County. ACC would be, along with other MITC partners, co-located at the facility.

Source: ACC Governmental and Community Relations, June 2002.
The briefing document helps ACC communicate information about itself to the Legislature. The special assistant to the president for Governmental and Community Relations works with the Legislature on an ongoing basis before and during the session to ensure that the need for the legislative priorities are communicated. In 2001, the Texas Legislature approved all of ACC's legislative priorities.
COMMENDATION
ACC uses an effective communication process to accomplish its legislative priorities.

Request	Rationale
#1: Formula Funding	The progress made during the 76th legislative session towards full funding of the community and technical college formula should continue. The legislature should increase the community and technical college formula appropriation to 81 percent of the cost of instruction and administration consistent with Texas Association of Community College's (TACC) five biennia (five legislative sessions or 10 per year) plan to full formula funding.
#2: Workforce Development	As the primary provider of workforce development and training, Texas public community and technical colleges' efforts to meet this critical need should be enhanced by increasing the appropriation for the Skills Development Fund, reforming the Smart Jobs Fund and funding the High Priority Program Development Fund.
#3: K-12 Partnerships	The 77th Legislature should provide support for collaborative efforts between community and technical colleges and K-12 institutions and other higher education institutions.
#4: Employee Benefits	The 77th Legislature should avoid shifting the cost of health insurance benefits to community and technical college faculty and staff by fully funding the ERS appropriation request.

Request	Purpose
#1: Texas Public Education Grant, to remove the limitation of 6 percent by amending Ch. 56.033 of the Education Code	This proposed change would provide community and junior colleges the latitude to set aside a higher percentage of funds, more in line with the allowable percentages for four-year institutions.
#2: State financial aid for the most needy	This legislation targets increased funds for financial aid for those students who most need financial support to attend college. ACC seeks legislation that provides funding for the most disadvantaged students, those with no personal or family "Expected Contribution."
#3: Expansion of Adult Education funding for those on TANF	Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds currently have minimal set-asides for Adult Education. We would request that the legislative set-asides from existing TANF funding be increased for Adult Education programs.
#4: Tuition waivers for recent high school or GED TANF recipients	ACC requests to extend the length of time allowed for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families eligible high school or GED completers to receive tuition waivers. The current law provides for tuition waivers to be available for one year after high school or GED.
#5: Tuition flexibility to offer discounted or reduced tuition, with community college boards of trustees allowed broader powers for determining	This change would allow college boards to have more flexibility to make decisions on discounted or reduced tuition, and at the same time allow colleges to expand course offerings, have better utilization of resources, facilities and equipment. Community colleges should also have the same rate reduction as universities.
#6: In-district tuition for students in specialized technical programs from higher education institutions in Mexico	ACC requests the option of charging in-district tuition for students from institutions in Mexico to attend certain ACC programs (such as Semiconductor Manufacturing) where the college has agreements with these partner institutions.
#7: Community college boards could convert to single-member districts without requiring the entire board to run	ACC requests a change to the current law to allow single-member district elections in which board members can serve out unexpired terms before running for re-election.
#8 Williamson County higher education facility	Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) is requesting funding for the construction of a multi-use facility for higher education in Williamson County. SWTSU is the lead university for MITC, the Multi-Institution Teaching Center serving North Austin and Williamson County. ACC would be, along with other MITC partners, co-located at the facility.