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Instructional Offices

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Office of the Vice Chancellor of Instruction

This Office of the Vice Chancellor of Instruction serves the College in its implementation and evaluation of instructional programs and the departments supporting faculty with the necessary tools and resources they need to help students reach their goals. In addition, it also works with the community and local independent school districts in support of the College’s mission to promote student success and improve communities by providing affordable access to higher education and workforce training in the eight-county service area.

Dr. Gaye Lynn Scott, Vice Chancellor of Instruction

Academic Transfer Programs

Dr. Gaye Lynn Scott, Associate Vice Chancellor

 

College & High School Relations

The Office of College and High School Relations works collaboratively with internal and external
partners to increase the number of high school students participating, persisting, and completing dual
credit programs. Students participating in ACC’s high school programs are able to obtain college credit
toward a degree or certificate in an academic or workforce pathway.

Mison Zuniga, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor

Programs:

• • Early College High School
  • Dual Credit Programs
  • Career Programs
  • Upward Bound

 

Distance and Alternative Education

The Office of Distance and Alternative Education is responsible for providing support for distance learning faculty and responding to requests for distance education information and student support issues. ACC faculty teaching distance learning courses follow the same College policies, procedures, and administrative rules as faculty teaching on-campus courses.

Erasmus Addae, Associate Vice Chancellor

Faculty

Distance and Alternative Education works diligently to provide comprehensive support services for potential and current distance education faculty. These include opportunities to prepare and support faculty to teach online:

• • Blackboard Workshops – These are self-paced online and synchronous training focused on creating proficiency in the use of Blackboard to support student learning.
  • Distance Learning Instruction Series (DLIS) – In order to meet the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) requirements, ACC instructors must complete the Distance Learning Instruction Series (DLIS) before teaching a distance education course*. The series provides information, examples, and tips on teaching effective and engaging distance education courses. The series is divided into four modules, each of which focuses on one major component of distance education instruction.
  • Quality Matters (QM) – This is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the quality of online courses and online components. Sponsored by MarylandOnline, Quality Matters has generated widespread interest and received national recognition for its peer-based approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement in online education.

*For Fall 2021, this requirement is suspended per ACC Faculty Senate. See full announcement.

Students

Online and hybrid classes offer Austin Community College (ACC) students a convenient way to earn college credit. Course content and transferability is identical to classes offered on campus, giving students more scheduling options and a wider selection of classes to meet their needs. Distance and Alternative Education’s mission is to provide student access to quality higher education credit and noncredit courses via distance learning technologies in the ACC service area, statewide, and nationally.

Distance education students have available a variety of ACC Online Resources including academic, financial, personal, and technological support. Distance learning students can also visit any ACC campus in their area to access any services and resources available at the College.

 

DigiTex

The Digital Higher Education Consortium of Texas, or DigiTEX, is a state-funded cooperative effort between the various community colleges in the state to share courses and allow students to complete their degree plans on time. Austin Community College’s participation in DigiTEX is as a teaching institution, allowing students from other participating colleges to sign up for seats in select online courses. Students from these colleges who sign up function and act like any other standard student in the course and are subject to the same rules with the exception that the student would not be expected to come to an ACC campus (functions such as testing would be conducted at the student’s home college). ACC can function as a host institution for ACC students in the event of an immediate graduation or emergency, but this is subject to approval by the Office of Distance and Alternative Education and the department of the class in question.

 

Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED)

The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) is dedicated to instructional support and innovation. We exist to champion faculty as partners in the strive for student success. TLED provides frontline faculty support, offers development opportunities, and champions teaching and learning excellence.

Susan Thomason, Associate Vice Chancellor

Workforce Education

Gretchen Riehl, Associate Vice Chancellor