Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Visit ACC

Reaffirmation Process Occurs Every 10 Years   

Alvin Community College hosted a visiting committee of administrators from peer institutions across the South during September 26-28. The visitors came to Alvin to interview college faculty and staff regarding the compliance portion of ACC's reaffirmation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a process that occurs every 10 years.

The reaffirmation process includes the reporting of all major changes to the college (such as the offering of new programs or degrees), the submission of a Compliance Report that covers all aspects of the college's instructional and support functions, a Focused Report addressing concerns raised by the Compliance Report, the recently concluded visit, and finally the submission of a Response Report in which the college outlines any final adjustments suggested by the visiting committee. ACC will receive final word on its reaffirmation in June 2012.

The college began this process over a year ago, with faculty committees researching and drafting sections of the Compliance Report. Dr. Drew Nelson, ACC's SACS Liaison, states that "This is more like a marathon than a sprint, and probably more like a military campaign than a race. All college personnel have put in extra time and effort during the last 18 months. While we will not be done until next June, the visiting committee left with few concerns, and those issues are quite manageable."

Accreditation by the Southern Association is critical to the college. Non-accredited institutions' coursework rarely transfers to accredited colleges and universities, and accreditation is required before institutions can participate in financial aid programs such as Pell Grants. ACC has been accredited by SACS since 1959, and looks forward to continuing in its role as a provider of education to the community.

Annual Fall Festival to be Held on October 29

Food, Games and Family Fun

Quality Enhancement  Plan Approved During SACS Visit

QEP will address Orientation for Online Courses   

ACC will launch an online orientation on MyBlackboard beginning with the Spring 2013 semester as part of its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

An increasing number of internet courses are being offered each year, and an increasing number of students are opting to take these courses for a variety of reasons. Many students work and/or have family responsibilities, yet want to continue their education. MyBlackboard is presently the course management program that ACC uses in its online courses.

The team that developed ACC's QEP felt that an online MyBlackboard orientation would serve as a bridge between the course management system and online courses and remove a potential barrier to online learning.

"For students unfamiliar to MyBlackboard, the first week or two are spent finding the course materials, figuring out how to send e-mails or working out technical issues with their personal computers; for instance, having the proper Java settings and allowing pop-ups. We feel that after completing this online orientation, students will better understand how to navigate MyBlackboard and troubleshoot technical issues," said Chris Chance, QEP team co-chair and history department chair.

The QEP Team - made up of ACC faculty and staff - spent two years researching and developing a QEP as part of its reaffirmation of accreditation under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Team discovered that there is a significantly higher incidence of failure and withdrawal rates in online classes than in face-to-face classes.

On September 27, the QEP team presented its plan to the SACS Onsite Evaluation Committee, and the committee gave ACC the green-light to begin implementation of the plan. Between 2011 and 2012, Dena Faust, director of Distance Education at ACC, will be customizing a MyBlackboard orientation package to suit ACC's purposes. During the summer and fall semesters of 2012, a select group of faculty and students will beta test the orientation and offer Ms. Faust feedback.

"Not only students but faculty will benefit from this orientation, said Faust. The launch of the orientation will coincide with the release of MyBlackboard 9.0. This version will be quite different from the version the college currently uses.  

ACC is committed to providing students with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to succeed in their courses and feels that an online orientation will facilitate and enhance student learning in online classes.

Drug and Alcohol Awarness Events

Activities to be Held Oct. 24-27

Service Audits Available to Local Businesses

Free Service for Community  

ACC Hosts Annual Fall Fitness Fair on Nov. 3 

Flu Shots will be Available for $25

The Alvin Community College Health and Medical Programs will sponsor their annual Fall Fitness Fair on Thursday,  

Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Science/Health Science Building on the main campus.

The event will focus on health awareness, prevention and treatment awareness and the importance of positive lifestyle habits. Numerous health screenings, informational booths and health care professionals will be available.

There is no charge to attend the event and many of the screenings will be free. For more information, contact ACC Allied Health Division Chair Diane Flatland at (281) 756-5660.   

New Aesthetic Laser Technician Program Comes to ACC

Class to Begin on October 17 

ACC Continuing Education Workforce Development is pleased to offer a new Aesthetic Laser Technician Program, presented in partnership with MK Education, beginning October 17 at the ACC main campus. 

This program is designed to prepare students to test and achieve the Texas recognized designation as a Certified Laser Hair Removal Provider (CLHRP). New state regulations for laser hair removal providers require that technicians be certified to practice in the state of Texas.

Aesthetic laser technicians utilize lasers in skin care facilities for hair removal. The may also treat aesthetic conditions such as veins, age spots, Rosacea and more. They help remove unwanted hair, oversee client preparation, collect procedure fees or perform management duties for treatment facilities.

The new 100-hour program is divided into 80 hours of classroom instruction that will be held Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and a 20-hour hands-on externship in a medical spa, beauty salon or laser hair removal facility. The tuition is $1,900 (in-district) or $1,920 (out-of-district).

To learn more about this ACC program, contact Dr. Stacy Ebert at sebert@alvincollege.edu or call (281) 756-3806 or visit http://www.alvincollege.edu/cewd/health_care. To register for the program call (281)756-3787 or go to H103 on the main ACC main campus.

New ACC Continuing Education Courses Begin 

Classes in Zumba and American Sign Language start Oct. 25

FREE Zumba class - have fun and burn calories!

Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Get hooked on Zumba and love your workout! Upcoming sessions - Nov. 1 to Nov. 17 (six classes) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and/or Nov. 22 to Dec. 13 (six classes) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. For more information call Rhonda Myers at (281)756-3729 or email rmyers@alvincollege.edu.

Homeschool Program expands with American Sign Language

This course will cover the beginning levels of American Sign Language for 9th-12th homeschoolers.  They will study deaf history, culture, vocabulary and ASL grammar.  This course also encompasses the study of technologies for the deaf and famous deaf people. For more information call Rhonda Myers at (281)756-3729 or email rmyers@alvincollege.edu.  Registration is available online through CE Online Registration.