Buzz Crenshaw (Jon Albright of Alvin) and voice actress and apprentice foley artist Sally Simpson (Brittany San Miguel of Alvin) create ghostly sound effects in a rehearsal for the ACC production of A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol which opens at the Theatre on December 6. 

The Board of Regents approved an early exit incentive by a unanimous vote during their meeting on November 20.

Under the plan, employees who have worked 15 years or more at the college may receive a tax-deferred payout for 75 percent of their annual salary.

Regents will vote on the final approval of the plan based on enrollment during the February 26, 2015 meeting.

The consultants project that the incentive would save the college between $400,000 and $587,000 over the five-year period if all positions are replaced.

The plan is administered by the Public Agency Retirement Services company.

In other action, ACC Community Advisory Committee members Lisa Butler and Pam Goergen delivered a presentation to the board regarding the committee's first meeting in September.

Butler and Goergen told regents that the committee offered several suggestions for the college to consider for the future including expanding facilities, adding to the Dual Credit program and increased opportunities for workforce development

The committee members included elected officials, business and industry leaders, education professionals and ACC alumni.

The ACC Foundation raised funds for scholarships, college programs and staff development during the 15th annual Christmas Gala Stetsons and Stilettos on December 2.

Donations were raised through live and silent auctions during the Gala. Some of the auction items included sports tickets, music memorabilia, food baskets,

The Foundation also collected $100 individual donations as part of the Adopt A Grant program for the Summer Children's Theatre Festival, the Fresh Fruit For All Community Garden and a project to provide solar lighting on the Jogging Trail.

The Gala is the Foundation's biggest fundraiser and proceeds are used to establish several scholarships which are awarded to future and current ACC students. Fifty percent of all proceeds go directly to student scholarships.

Other funds are used for the three Excellence Awards given every year to a professional employee, a faculty member and a technical support, clerical or maintenance employee.  

The Innovative Initiative Grants are awarded to staff members annually to encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward innovative and creative approaches to fulfill the mission of the college

Registration for the spring 16-week and first 8-week mini semester is now open and will close January 13.

Spring classes will begin on January 20.

The first fall eight-week mini semester will be from January 20 to March 10.

Registration for the second mini semester will begin on February 16 and end March 9. Second mini semester classes start March 12.

The 3-week Holiday mini semester registration is also open and closes December 15. All of the Holiday mini classes are online and will run from December 18 to January 7. Several courses are available including Composition I or II, American and Texas Government, American and Texas History, Algebra, Fitness & Wellness, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology.

Students speak with a college recruiter during ACC University Day on November 11.

More than 100 students attended the annual University Day event, where representatives from more than 20 colleges and universities provided information to students interested in transferring once they finish at ACC.

"It was another wonderful event," said Alpha Trevino, ACC advisor. "University Day allows students to have interaction with university representatives without having to travel. They can gather important academic information before making their decision to transfer."

Representatives from Sam Houston State, University of Houston, Texas A&M and many more were at the the event to provide information about transferring to their respective schools.

Starting in the spring 2015 semester, ACC will give students a chance to participate in local government while also earning credit toward a Bachelor's Degree.

Students can now register to take Government 2306, which is an independent study course that includes an in-depth look at Brazoria County and Texas governments.

Those who take the course also will work with the ACC Election and Policy Center to work with candidates for the April issue of The Ballot, which is a voter guide for the May 14 municipal elections.

"Students will be making a true difference to our community through educating and informing our voters about local government elections and their importance to all of us," said Elizabeth McLane, ACC Government chair.

An intraoperative monitor technician evaluates a patient's nerve activity during a surgery.

ACC will launch the state's first Intraoperative Monitoring program in the spring 2015 semester.

Intraoperative monitors are technicians who help surgical teams by providing information about a patient's nerve activity during an operation. Demand for technicians in the health care field has increased in recent years.

Technicians with the certification monitor patients' nervous systems during spinal surgeries or cranial operations. The monitoring helps protect nerve function during surgical procedures.

"You are responsible for ensuring that nerves function properly," Neurodiagnostic Technology Director Angelia Klaproth said. "This is a vital role in the surgeon's operating team."

Intraoperative Monitoring is part of the Neurodiagnostic Technology field. To be eligible for the program, students must have at least an Associate Degree plus other pre-requisite courses such as Anatomy and Physiology.

For more information visit the ACC website or call 281-756-5644.

ACC Respiratory Care Clinical Director Marby McKinney stands next to her MetaNeb equipment which the department recently received through a grant from Hill-Rom Inc. a medical supply company.

The ACC Respiratory Care program continuously works to ensure that their instruction and materials are comparable to the workforce.

The college received approximately $25,000 for a MetaNeb 3.0 unit from Hill-Rom Inc., a medical supply company. The MetaNeb unit assists Respiratory Care staff with helping patients breathe deeper. It helps increase lung expansion and clears a patients airways.

"We are excited to have this unit for our program," said Marby McKinney, ACC Respiratory Care director of clinical education. "Now students will be able to utilize it before they see it on the job."

Respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages, from premature babies with underdeveloped lungs to elderly individuals who may have been affected by disease, get the oxygen they desperately need to live. Therapists also provide patients the treatments and other resources to improve their quality of life.

In addition to increasing lung capacity and easing congestion, the MetaNeb unit also works as a source of supplemental oxygen for patients. This provides a vital source of therapy for patients with breathing problems and conditions.

To ensure that high school course curriculums are coinciding with college standards, more than 100 teachers from 12 area school districts sat down with ACC instructors on November 12 during ACC's annual Articulation Day seminar.

Articulation helps ensure that high school students are prepared to enter college Associate of Applied Science programs or Certificates with the proper skills needed to pursue their degree and become employable. Students earning an 80 or above in their high school classes are eligible to receive college credit for high school classes in the coordinating degree plan.  

Instructors from ACC Associate of Applied Science programs including Communications, Culinary Arts, Management, Process Technology, Diagnostic Sonography, and other departments spoke with high school instructors at the Nolan Ryan Center.

Some of the topics discussed in the meetings included program requirements, application processes, college entrance exam requirements, job outlooks and potential earnings.

Many of the instructors focused on the basic skills that each student needs before they apply for a particular program.

Blue stays busy visiting college events, community events, local schools and civic organizations.

One of the most visible faces at the college, Blue's profile has grown throughout ACC and beyond.

Students must be at least a part-time student at ACC with a 2.0 GPA or better. They must also be available throughout the week and on Saturdays.