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ACC Student Government member Jacob Delahoussaye, of Alvin, does his best to hang on to his seat on a mechanical bull that was set up outside the Student Center on February 23.
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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. |
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ACC Board Approves Refinancing Bonds
Refinancing will save ACC about $1.2 million
 | ACC's Science Health Building was funded by a $19.9 million bond issue approved by voters in 2005.
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The Alvin Community College Board of Regents voted unanimously during their February 23 meeting to refinance about $8.9 million in bond debt related to the Science Health Building construction.
The move will save the district about $1.2 million in interest in repaying about $19.9 million in bonds that were approved by voters in 2005 to construct the ACC
Science Health Building.
A financial firm told regents during the meeting that it is a good time to refinance the bonds because interest rates are historically low.
"When you have a down economy, this is one of the benefits," Regent Karlis Ercums said. Ercums also said the low costs of refinancing make the deal worthwhile.
ACC has about $16 million in outstanding debt related to the 2005 bonds. The college will only refinance about $8.9 million.
Investors tend to seek bonds less than $10 million because they can get a better return. Due to tax codes it's more beneficial at this point to refinance just half of the debt, a financial expert told regents.
ACC will be able to refinance the other portion of the debt the following year.
Read more about the bond refinancing.
The board will have their next meeting on March 22. |
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ACC to Hire QEP Coordinator
Coordinator would help create online class orientation
| Alvin Community College is looking for a Quality Enhancement Plan coordinator after the Board of Regents approved the position during the February 23 meeting.
The QEP plan is a requirement as part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation reaffirmation.
The coordinator would develop and install a mandatory online orientation for Distance Education students, to increase completion rates.
ACC has record enrollment in online classes. Distance Education Director Dena Faust gave a presentation to regents regarding the growth of online learning. ACC had 839 online students in 2007 and 1,631 in 2011. Enrollment is already grown 15 percent so far in 2012 compared to last year, Faust said.
Board members asked several questions about how the new programs could be implemented, when students can take the courses and whether they are providing the same education as classes on campus. Regents also wanted to know if Distance Education is keeping track of student success. Faust said ACC charts online completion rates and is trying to prevent students dropping classes with an online orientation, as required by the Quality Enhancement Plan. Applications for the position will be accepted through March 9. Learn more about the position by calling 281-756-3500. |
Football Great to Speak at Author's Luncheon
Former Houston Oiler Dan Pastorini and writer John Lopez will discuss biography |
 | | Houston Oiler legend Dan Pastorini will speak about his book during the Author Luncheon on April 11 at the Nolan Ryan Center. |
The Alvin Community College Foundation will host football legend, Dan Pastorini, during the Author's Luncheon on April 11 at the Nolan Ryan Center.
Pastorini, 62, recently published a book with co-author John Lopez about the former quarterback's days as a football player, a drag racer and other aspects of his life.
Taking Flak: My life in the fast lane chronicles details about Pastorini's career including being the first to wear a flak jacket in a game to protect broken ribs and throwing a pass that eventually would lead to the dawn of instant replay
The book also details his career as a drag racer and his time as an actor in several movies.
Lopez is a sports writer who regularly contributes to the Sports Illustrated website and is a host of the CBS morning sports 610 AM talk show Vandermeer and Lopez.
Read more about the book.
Tickets for the event are $50 and sponsored tables are $500. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. on April 11. For more information call 281-756-3600. |
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ACC Student Government Hosts Crawfish Fundraiser
Funds will go towards SGA trip to state convention
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 The Alvin Community College Student Government Association will sell crawfish plates on March 8 to help send SGA members to the Texas Junior College Student Government Association State Convention in Austin.
Plates of crawfish, corn, potatoes, a drink and a commemorative T-shirt are $15 while plates without the shirt will cost $10.
The state convention runs from March 29 - April 1. Details are available by calling 281-756-3686 or e-mail studentactivities@alvincollege.edu
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ACC Teaches Students about Drunk and Distracted Driving with Simulator
Students try, and fail to maneuver vehicle during demonstration
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 | Dean of Students JoAn Anderson tries out a simulator that mimics the effects of drinking while under the influence of alcohol during the Arrive Alive demonstrations on February 29.
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| | Alvin Community College student Nick Saldivar, of Angleton gets some tips about driving the simulator from Unite International event technician Heidi Martinez on February 29. |
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Several Alvin Community College students and Dean of Students JoAn Anderson learned exactly how hard it is to drive while under the influence of alcohol or trying to send a text message on February 29.
Unite International brought in a simulator vehicle that proved difficult to handle for the test-drivers.
Many of the students who drove the simulation said they were surprised by how difficult it was to keep the car on the road and avoid crashing. "It's really hard to try and control," said student Amanda Guajardo, of Alvin. "It was eye-opening." After doing their best to drive the wayward simulator, students were then given information about what can happen to someone if they are caught drinking or texting while driving. They could be fined, jailed or face civil lawsuits. If they injure someone in a wreck caused by drunk driving, they could face prison time.
Unite International takes the simulators to schools throughout the country in an effort to prevent drunk driving and texting while driving.
Watch a video about the simulation at ACC. Learn more about Unite International and Arrive Alive.
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Alvin Community Band to Perform Spring Concert
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Alvin Community College Band
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The Alvin Community College and Community Band will perform marches and other music for the Wind Ensemble Spring Concert on Thursday, March 29.
Performances will include Travelin' Trumpets, A Longford Legend and Throne of Grace, a march composed by ACC Band baritone saxophone player, George St. George.
The concert is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 281-756-3588. Learn more about the ACC-Alvin Community Band on the group's Facebook page.
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ACC Open House to Showcase College Programs, Organizations on April 12
Event gives students a chance to learn about ACC
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ACC students, faculty and staff will give out information, scholarships, food and fun at the annual Open House event on April 12.
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Students considering Alvin Community College will learn more about the school and its programs during the annual Open House event on April 12 at the Nolan Ryan Center.
ACC students, faculty and staff will host booths at the event to provide more information about what's available at the college.
Visitors also will be provided with information about financial aid, campus tours, student activities, student clubs, organizations and more.
The event also will have free food, several fun activities and giveaways. Students can enter to win scholarships and door prizes with drawings held at 5:30 and 6:30pm.
The entire event runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nolan Ryan Center. For more information call 281-756-3500 or click here. |
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Ballot set for ACC Board Elections
Three Regent positions up for vote in May 12 elections
| Filing for the May 12 Alvin Community College Board of Regents elections ended March 5.
Position 1 incumbent James DeWitt will be going up against challenger Ted Kalivoda. Position 2 incumbent Bel Sanchez and Position 3 incumbent Doyle Swindell will run unopposed.
The winners will serve an unpaid, six-year term. Early voting begins on April 30. More information and a sample ballot also will be available at brazoriacountyvotes.com. |
ACC Student Gives Presentations at National Conference
Honors English student presents projects on African American studies |
 | Kassandre Floyd gave a presentation of her research project alongside several professors and graduate students at the 20th annual National Association of African-American Studies and Affiliates conference on February 13-15.
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Alvin Community College sophomore Kassandre Floyd presented her research project on the history of the Civil Rights Movement during the National Association of African-American Studies and Affiliates conference on February 13-15 in Baton Rouge, LA.
Floyd gave her presentation on the events in Birmingham, AL in 1963 during the conference. She also gave another presentation on African Americans and their views on the American Dream.
The national Association of African-American Studies and Affiliates will print Floyd's research in the organization's monograph.
Floyd first delivered her projects at the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium Honors Conference on November 18 at the San Jacinto College Campus in Houston. Several other ACC students presented research at the Gulf Coast conference.
Many of the presenters at the National Association of African-American Studies and Affiliates conference were professors, professionals and graduate students. It is rare that an undergraduate participates in the conference, said ACC English Instructor and Honors Committee Chair Ann Guess.
Floyd is a sociology major and also serves as the president of the ACC chapter of the American Association of University Women. |
ACC Introduces New Degree Program
Associate's degree with certification now available to Pharmacy Tech students
| | Alvin Community College students interested in being certified as a pharmacy technician will be able to get an associate's degree starting in the fall.
ACC regents unanimously approved the pharmacy technician degree during their meeting on February 23.
"They can move from starting out as a basic pharmacy tech to management in retail pharmacies as well as hospitals," said Rhonda Boone, ACC pharmacy technician department chair.
The program would require two additional pharmacy technology courses, a business management course and core subjects.
The certificate program has 30 students at Dawson and Pearland High Schools. The program will be expanded to Alvin High School next year.
Read more about the pharmacy technician program.
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| Calendar of Event |
March 8: SGA Crawfish Boil, 11 a.m. Building G Patio
March 8: Classes begin for second mini-semester
March 12-16: Spring Break
March 29: Wind Ensemble Spring Concert, 7:30 p.m., ACC Theatre
March 22: ACC Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m. Nolan Ryan Center
March 26-27: Blood Drive at the ACC Texas Room
April 6-9: ACC Closed
April 11: ACC Foundation Author's Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Nolan Ryan Center
April 12: ACC Open House, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Nolan Ryan Center
April 14: Upward Bound Basketball Tournament, games start 8 a.m. at the ACC gym
April 21: ACC Annual Student Leadership Conference, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center
April 23: Spring Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m. at ACC Theatre
April 26: ACC Board of Regents meeting, 7 p.m., Nolan Ryan Center
April 29: Registration for Summer classes begins
April 30: ACC Awards Day ceremony
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 | | 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. |
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