Alvin Community College E-News

Issue 37August 2010
upward bound sign language
ACC Upward Bound student Ella Stewart (right) uses sign language to say an important message to guests at the annual recognition dinner on July 20. Also shown is her sign language instructor Irma Garcia.
Dear ACC Alumni, Supporters and Friends, 
So you can stay up-to-date on what's going on at ACC and with students and alumni quickly and accurately, ACC E-News was created. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our services to you. If you ever have any story ideas or suggestions, please send them to accnews@alvincollege.edu.
 
Regents Approve Tuition Increase for Spring 2011 Semester 
Board Provides Direction to Complete 2010-2011 M&O Budget
The ACC Board of Regents unanimously voted to increase tuition and provided direction for the 2010-2011 Maintenance and Operations Budget during a regular meeting on July 22. Planning for the Texas Legislature's reduction in funding and a possible shortfall in tax income from lowering property values within the college district for at least the next year or two, board members approved a tuition increase of $4 per credit hour for in-district residents and $8 per credit hour for out-of-district residents and additional fees to go into effect during the spring 2011 semester.
 
Following a report by ACC President Dr. Rodney Allbright on the changes made to the proposed 2010-2011 Maintenance and Operations Budget, board members provided direction to administrators for its completion. The proposed 2010-2011 budget of $23,992,916 represents a 1.6 percent increase over last year and will include funds for new positions and change of one library part-time position to full-time. The new budget will address the record growth in enrollment and the annual salary step for faculty and staff. Although board members agreed to maintain the step increase, they voted 5-4 in favor of providing a 2-percent increase for employees with over 15 years of service.
 
HOSA Students Win First Place in National Competition
Two Also Place as Finalists in Different Categories
hosa winnersACC Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) members Garrick Alvarez (right to left) and Brandy Long won first place in the EMT category at the national competition in Orlando, Fla. recently. ACC HOSA students Rubi Vega, of Alvin, and Azalia Almaguer, of Pearland, were also finalists in other categories at the competition. Vega competed in medical photography and Almaguer competed in nursing. They all won first place in their categories at the state level to advance to the competition in Florida. HOSA is a national student organization dedicated to promoting healthcare industry career opportunities and enhancing quality healthcare.

 
Baylor, UT Doctors Receive Training at ACC PSG Program 
Fellowship Program Participants Attend All-day Workshop
baylor doctorBaylor College of Medicine Sleep Disorders Fellow Dr. Sean Hesselbacher (left) received training on how to hook up leads for polysomnography (sleep study) testing at ACC on July 6. Doctors from the Baylor College of Medicine Sleep Disorders Fellowship Program and University of Texas Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program attended an all-day workshop at ACC to learn about various testing methods.
 
Also shown are ACC students Tina Miller (standing) and Mai Le. ACC developed the first advanced technical certificate for polysomnography training in Texas in 2005 and introduced a new Associate of Applied Science degree in polysomnography in 2006. As a result, ACC became the first community college in the Houston area, and the second in the state, to offer an associate degree in this field. 
Hurricane Seminar Airs Regularly on Channel 16 
Learn Valuable Tips on How to Prepare and Evacuate for a Major Storm
To help people prepare for hurricane season, KACC-TV Channel 16 airs Brazoria County's hurricane preparedness seminar regularly. The seminar, which was coordinated by numerous organizations and local government entities to educate Brazoria County residents on hurricane preparedness, was held at ACC on June 21.  The event was taped by the ACC Broadcast Communications Department to air on the local Comcast access channel as a service to the community. The televised seminar discusses the lessons learned from past hurricanes, including Ike, and plans for Brazoria County in 2010. The program airs everyday at 6 a.m. and every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at noon and 8 p.m. For more information about KACC-TV Channel 16 or this program, call (281) 756-3770.  KACC-TV Channel 16 operates 24 hours a day and functions as a laboratory for ACC students desiring experience and careers in television broadcasting.
Student Activities Hosts Blood Drive on Aug. 17-18 
Give the Gift of Life, Help with Area Shortage
ACC Student Activities will host a blood drive at the main campus on Aug. 17-18 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. ACC blood drive donors will receive a free T-shirt and have the opportunity to enroll in the Blood Center's Commit for Life program.  Commit for Life encourages people to donate regularly to save lives and earn different levels of service. For more information, call (281) 756-3686. For frequently asked questions about donating blood, visit www.giveblood.org. 
MFAH Official Guest Instructs at ACC 
Students Get Tips from Museum Jewelry and Enameling Expert
mfah instructorMuseum of Fine Arts, Houston Glassell School of Art Jewelry and Enameling Department Head Sandie Zilker (center) demonstrated enameling techniques to ACC students, including Jan Halvorsen (right), of Houston, and Elizabeth Thomas, of Alvin, during an art metals course on July 21. Zilker served as a guest instructor for the week.  
 
Upward Bound Students Win Academic Decathlon 
Win Makes Six in a Row
upward boundThe ACC Upward Bound Program won its sixth consecutive academic decathlon during a competition held at ACC July 14-15. Upward Bound participants, in grades ninth through 12th, from four schools competed, including: ACC, Galveston College, Houston Community College Central, and College of the Mainland. Each school competed in events covering topics such as math, science, ready writing, spelling, sports (including basketball in right photo), speech and the well-known College Bowl.
 
The ACC Upward Bound Program also honored numerous students during its annual recognition dinner on July 20. Among those who were honored included: Eva Jackson, Upward Bound Dedication Award; Idaysha Branch, Upward Bound Leadership Award; Jared Koehler, Upward Bound Spirit of the Year Award; Paola Jimenez, Upward Bound Student of the Year; and Ella Stewart, Upward Bound Volunteer of the Year. Upward Bound, created and endorsed by the Department of Education and funded by a federal grant, seeks to motivate low-income and/or potential first-generation college students while they are still in high school and help them develop the skills they need to complete secondary education and succeed at the post-secondary educational institution of their choice.
UHCL Offers Classes in New Location in Pearland 
For years, the University of Houston-Clear Lake offered baccalaureate and graduate classes at ACC's main campus and the Pearland Center to give area residents an opportunity to earn credits toward bachelor's and master's degrees. Now that UHCL has moved into a new facility in Pearland this fall, classes will not be offered at the ACC's campuses after August.
Marketing Department Hosts Contest to Name New Mascot 
Submit Suggestions on Facebook Before Aug. 11
dolphinbACC welding student Donald Keller (right), of Alvin, shows the college's new dolphin mascot some dance moves in the Student Center on July 29. The dolphin spent the morning greeting new students during the annual fall orientation before heading to the Student Center to see what everyone was up to during lunchtime and hold a fun dance competition. The ACC Marketing Department is hosting a contest to name the dolphin on the college's Facebook page until Aug. 11. 
 
Calendar of Events 
August 17-18: Student Activities Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
August 26: Fall Semester Classes Begin
August 26: ACC Board of Regents Meeting, 7 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center
 
September 6: ACC Closed for Labor Day
September 23: ACC Board of Regents Meeting, 7 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center
Quick Links
Allbright 4
Welcome to ACC
from the President
Dr. Rodney Allbright 
 
It is our mission to serve the community by providing excellent educational opportunities for people of all ages, events and activities for the whole family, venues for other public and private events and a way to foster economic prosperity.