Hello, and welcome to Austin Community College.
Congratulations on becoming a Riverbat!
You're about to embark on your area of study information session.
My name is Heather Beels. I'm an advising specialist here at ACC.
Hello, my name is David Zuniga. I'm an advising supervisor here at ACC.
Today's goals are to explore programs, careers, transfer opportunities
within your area of study, confirm your interest in your area of study,
and explore ACC resources, as well as discuss key educational expectations.
First, you'll hear from your area of study faculty coordinator,
who will share specific information related to your area of study programs,
credentials you can earn, resources available at ACC,
and career information related to your area of study.
On behalf of the Austin Community College faculty,
we welcome you to the Liberal Arts area of study information session.
I'm Kerri Pope, professor of philosophy.
Hi, I'm Dr. Wayne Butler, professor of General Studies
and Technical Communications.
We are here today to inform you, inspire you, and guide you
on your educational journey.
Today, we'll help you explore the Liberal Arts area of study programs,
careers and transfer opportunities, and we'll also discuss ACC resources,
and get you on the path to success in your chosen area of study.
Welcome to the Liberal Arts area of study! You're gonna love it.
[Kerri] Wayne, what's an area of study? I'm not sure everyone knows what that is.
[Wayne] Well, an area of study is a collection of programs
that have things in common, like courses, skills, and perspectives.
[Kerri] Yes, like a common way of looking at the world?
[Wayne] And also a common focus on critical thinking and writing.
[Kerri] How about common transfer paths?
[Wayne] Yes, all these things help unite an area of study.
[Kerri] So the Liberal Arts area of study is a group of programs that focus on
similar skills, courses, and transfer paths.
[Wayne] Yes, exactly. But do you know why
we call this collection of programs "Liberal Arts"?
[Kerri] Historically, doesn't it go back to Greek antiquity?
To the Athenians and the first democracy?
[Wayne] That's right. Over three thousand years ago, the Athenians formed one of
the first democracies; that is,
a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
They understood that if citizens were to participate in their government
effectively, they needed deep knowledge about social issues of societal
importance, and the skills to think critically about those issues.
But if we go back to the Latin roots of the term "liberal,"
we learn it means "worthy of a free person."
In the case of the arts, the Latin meaning was "technique" or "skills."
So the liberal arts focuses on the skills needed by free people
to participate in the legal, civic, and commercial arenas of their lives.
So they studied subjects that gave them a broad understanding of the world
around them, and allowed them to think critically about their own world.
Boy, the liberal arts have a long and glorious history indeed.
It does have a long history, but that doesn't mean it's stuck in the past.
The liberal arts has contemporary practical applications as well.
Right you are, Wayne! Liberal arts truly equates to critical job skills.
The Athenians were on to something. An educated populace is very valuable.
Over 80 percent of employers want their employees to have some level
of liberal arts knowledge.
The liberal arts aid in communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
But the liberal arts also offers insights into other cultures—
anthropology, sociology, geography, foreign language.
These subjects delve into cultures around the globe,
and offer perspectives on our own culture in comparison.
[Wayne] But it is also about exploration.
We live in such a fascinating world, and the liberal arts give us a chance
to explore that world through so many lenses.
[Kerri] Lenses? Can you explain?
[Wayne] The Liberal Arts at Austin Community College consists of
twelve different programs that offer us a view of the world
from their own unique perspectives.
A philosopher is interested in the study of knowledge and ethics,
while a sociologist looks at inequality in cultural dynamics.
Psychology majors like to figure out what makes people tick,
while the subject of geography examines how where you live
impacts your life.
As shown on the Venn diagram here,
the programs within the Liberal Arts are like lenses;
that is, different perspectives on the exploration and examination
of the human experience.
And while they overlap with one another, together they all contribute
to the core skills of liberal arts, such as civic awareness, critical thinking,
cultural awareness, ethical reasoning, interpersonal skills,
life and personal skills, research skills,
and written oral and visual communications.
So no matter what Liberal Arts major you focus on,
by the end of your ACC experience in the liberal arts,
you'll be proficient in core knowledge and skills.
Now, let's take a look at individual programs to explore the focus of each.
As an English major, you'll study the various ways English speakers have and
continue to use language to create literary art, and to communicate in
different ways for different audiences and purposes.
English majors can enter various fields where critical reading, writing,
and communication are crucial skills.
English is a great foundation for those interested in going into teaching,
writing and communications, as well as the law.
ACC English majors often transfer into Bachelor degree programs
at four-year colleges, as is the case with most Liberal Art degrees at ACC.
Anthropologists study people and cultures around the world,
their evolutionary history, and how they adapt to their environments.
Anthropologists can study archaeology, linguistics, and even forensics.
ACC offers Associate's of Arts in Anthropology
and an Associate of Science in Archaeology.
Austin Community College's Interdisciplinary Studies program
recognizes that culture, history, politics, civil society, and religion,
as well as science and technology, are interwoven and interconnected.
Degree specializations include American, Mexican-American/Chicano,
and Peace and Conflict Studies.
Winston Churchill famously said,
"Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it."
Historians broaden our understanding of our world by objectively viewing
civilizations and our own national and state heritage.
Economics examines how individuals and groups, including companies
and governments, decide how they will use limited resources to produce
and distribute goods and services.
Learning a foreign language opens a door to a world of opportunities.
It enhances your marketability in most careers,
and expands your cultural understanding
and ability to communicate in a global society.
Degree specializations include Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese,
German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish.
The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said, quote,
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
And he believed philosophy, the love of wisdom,
was the most important pursuit of all.
Philosophy is a collection of disciplines designed to deepen your understanding
of yourself, the world around you, and the relationship between the two.
The Philosophy program helps you articulate what you think and why.
Many a law school student starts with Philosophy major.
Sociology seeks to answer questions about why people think and act
the way they do, through the study of structural and cultural patterns
and social dynamics.
As a student of sociology, you'll learn how to gather and interpret information—
in itself a set of very marketable skills—
and to detect social forces that other people often take for granted.
The Sociology program at Austin Community College has a
strong emphasis on social justice.
The study of government involves analyzing individual and group behaviors
and outcomes in local state, national, and international politics.
To fulfill your birthright as a participant in self-government,
you need knowledge of how and why things work, and the way they do—
just as the Athenians intended
Psychologists study human behavior in the brain,
including healthy and abnormal brain functions,
and the brain's role in language development, thinking skills,
and physical movement.
Psychology also examines social, cross-cultural, and gender perspectives.
Geographers look at the interaction of human and natural environments,
movement, and regions.
But Wayne, what if you don't know what you want to study?
Think about studying liberal arts.
You get to explore wide range of ideas until one sparks your passion.
Austin Community College's General Studies degree is for students
who are uncertain of their career plans,
or would like to benefit from two years of a broad, general college education.
Curriculum has been adapted to allow students to explore several subject areas.
Faculty advisors can help you create a course plan designed for either
university transfer, or entering the workforce.
I see what you mean about lenses, Wayne.
Each program looks at the world we live in, our history, and ourselves,
but in its own particular way. That is very valuable!
Indeed, and as we'll see in more detail later in this presentation,
it turns out what employers are looking for are critical thinkers who can
research, solve problems, collaborate, and communicate with a wide range
of people and personalities connected into the global economy.
In some ways, it's never been a better time to be a Liberal Arts major.
In fact, why don't you lead us in the details, Kerri?
Wayne, it is a great time to be a Liberal Arts major.
As numerous studies indicate,
the future earning potential for students increases with educational attainment!
That's right, Kerri!
With the rising cost of college, some in society have questioned
the usefulness or return on investment of a college education,
and especially one in the liberal arts.
But let's take a look at what the U.S. Department of Labor reveals about
the value of attending college.
What we notice is, the more education one has, the more money they might make,
while reducing chances of unemployment.
You'll note at the bottom of the chart that even some college
could lead to more income than no college at all.
The key things to keep in mind is that you don't need to climb
this ladder from some college to PhD in one mad dash.
Most of us who hold advanced degrees climb the ladder at our own pace.
Study some, work some. Study some, work some more.
The most important takeaway is that you never stop pursuing your goals and dreams.
The structure of ACC's pathway system makes that climb manageable,
and therefore your goals more obtainable.
In this table, you'll see just a tiny sample of the kinds of careers
open to Liberal Arts majors, and the kinds of money one can expect to earn.
Note that these are mid-career averages.
Entry-level positions pay less, and end-of-career positions earn more.
Note also, all of these listed here will require more than an associate degree.
But an Associate of Arts or transfer program in liberal arts
puts you on the pathway towards your dream job!
Wayne, what does that pathway look like?
Well, Kerri, part of the idea behind ACC's Guided Pathways initiative
and areas of study program is to provide a clear path through
all the choices you'll need to make on your journey.
As with any journey, it's a great idea to know where you want to go
before heading off. However, no matter what your career goals are,
in most cases, you will need a degree.
So your first step is to start where you are!
As we like to say here at ACC, "Start here, get there!"
While at ACC, you can strive to earn at least 42 credit hours—
about 14 three-credit hour courses— in the core requirements,
most of which are in liberal arts; and you can transfer that entire bundle
in the form of a core certificate
to any public Texas four-year Bachelor's degree program.
But even if you don't complete all 42 credits, as noted on the previous slide,
some college is better than none.
Want to jump to the next level?
Take another six or so courses and earn the Associate degree,
which could open up more job opportunities,
but even more importantly, qualifies you to transfer
to all Texas public universities,
as well as many private colleges across the country.
And once you transfer, earn another 60 hours—about 20 more courses—
in a specific field of study, and earn a Bachelor's degree
in your program of choice.
The main credential for most good-paying jobs,
as well as a prerequisite for all graduate degrees.
But be careful. You want to be focused, and take certain courses in a certain
order, and you want to do well in those courses.
So before you take your first step on this journey,
consult with an ACC advisor; use ACC's online Degree Map tools;
and visit with the ACC Transfer Academy to learn the most efficient paths
to earning an ACC core certificate
and then, the ACC Associate degree, and then transfer to the four-year college.
It's good advice, Wayne!
Keep in mind, the courses you take and how well you do in them
are crucial to your success.
Your college transcript will follow you your entire life,
into the job market and beyond.
So make sure you use all the resources
ACC has put in place to ensure your success!
Now, not all your learning need be in the classroom or lab.
In fact, some of the deepest and most authentic learning happens in the
real world, in collaboration with others.
ACC Liberal Arts offers a wide range of opportunities
for unique learning experiences.
First, you can complete the 42 core requirement courses
on any of ACC's campuses.
We also offer a rich catalog of online courses so you can fit
your studies around the realities of your work and family life.
We also offer exciting opportunities to extend your education to the real world.
Our government department offers internship opportunities at
Texas State Capitol every spring.
You can also study anthropology, sociology, English, and foreign language
in other countries through the Study Abroad program,
to amazing places like France, Spain, Russia, and Peru!
Our Service Learning program allows you to gain credits and knowledge
through the hands-on experiences in the community.
And our cultural centers at Riverside and Eastview
give you the opportunity to gather, study, and enjoy
extracurricular events with Latinx and African-American peers.
There's really so much more than just the classroom in the well-rounded
student experience.
Speaking of the well-rounded college experience,
it's no secret that the life of a student can be lonely and difficult
while juggling all the responsibilities of school, work, and life.
But now, you're not alone on your journey.
In fact, ACC has a special division dedicated solely to enriching
and enhancing the college experience for students just like you.
Student Life offers a range of events, opportunities, and services to help you
connect with ACC and other students—
services such as group and personalized coaching for first-year students,
to help ease the transition from high school, or the military,
or opportunities to work with other students on service learning projects.
You can also meet with, or perhaps eventually become, a Riverbat ambassador,
who is a student just like yourself, specially trained to help other
ACC students navigate the ins and outs of college life.
Do not forget to take advantage of the free workshops that focus on
study skills, financial management, interpersonal skills, and more!
Did you know that research on student success reveals that those who are
more engaged with the school and other students can actually be
more successful than those who just focus on coursework and jobs?
It's true!
At ACC, Student Life in various Liberal Arts departments and programs
work together to create clubs geared toward student interest.
In fact, many clubs are started by students themselves, in cooperation
with a sponsoring faculty member and student life staff.
Have a special interest or passion, something you were always curious
about but didn't have time to pursue?
Wanna meet and socialize with those who share your interests and passions?
Join one of the many Liberal Arts clubs!
And, by the way, membership and especially leadership roles in student
organizations really stand out on a resume, to distinguish yourself
from those with similar areas of study and GPAs.
Great for networking down the road, too.
Grades are not everything these days, Wayne!
To stay competitive in both the college admission and career arenas,
a student needs to be well-rounded. The Athenians had the right idea:
arm yourself with a solid education,
and you will be better prepared to take over the world!
Hungry for more information?
Keep current on all things liberal arts
by following us on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram.
Just search @ACCLiberalArts.
I hope we have answered some of your questions regarding liberal arts
at Austin Community College, and the world of higher education.
Please stay tuned for more in-depth look at the life of the college student
and the ins and outs of class registration and degree planning.
Thank you for your time!
And go out there and follow your passion!
After hearing from your area of study faculty coordinator,
if you're still not certain which program is right for you,
you will have the opportunity to explore careers and majors
in a mandatory student success course,
"Effective Learning: Strategies for College Success."
This course will include two career assessments:
Focus-2 and Campus2Careers.
Focus-2 is designed to allow you to explore potential occupations
based on your skills, interest, and personality.
Campus2Careers offers you the opportunity to access the Austin job market
for those occupations you've been matched.
ACC offers specialized sections of this course depending on your program.
Next we're going to review resources that are available to you at ACC as a student.
Learning Labs. That's free tutoring!
Tutoring can be subject-specific or can be in general skills, such as writing.
They offer drop-in assistance, or you can schedule an appointment.
They offer one-on-one and group study sessions.
Libraries are also a place for resources.
You can find books, periodicals, videos, audio.
They offer computer and printer access.
They also offer experts who can help you with research for a class assignment,
essay review, thesis statement support, and other options.
Libraries offer quiet study rooms and online tools galore.
So please stop in and check 'em out!
Supplemental instruction.
This is peer-assisted study sessions in traditionally difficult academic courses.
Regularly scheduled out-of-class review sessions led by students
who have successfully completed the course previously.
You're able to compare notes, discuss readings, prepare tools to organize
course materials, and other options to prepare for your class.
The courses that are supported by supplemental instruction
are labeled on the course schedule,
or you can look on the SI website for the list of classes that offer SI.
The Student Accessibility Services office offers academic accommodations for
students with documented learning challenges.
SAS office is at every single campus;
they also offer interpreter services, assistive technology,
testing accommodations such as additional test-taking time, note-takers,
and other accommodations as necessary. They also offer temporary accommodations.
For example, let's say you break your leg
and you need extra time to make it to class.
They can make sure that you work with your professors
and get those accommodations in place.
Time management for studying.
It's very important to realize that you're gonna have to take your time
outside of the classroom to be successful in college.
You can't leave things at the door when you leave the classroom.
In order to be successful in college, you're gonna have to spend additional
times and hours depending on how many courses you're enrolled in.
The chart shown here will show you what is recommended.
Although it is a lot of additional hours suggested, the main takeaway is that
we want you to realize, in order to be successful in your academic career,
you will have to spend a lot of time outside of the classroom
to manage your assignments.
Academic standards of progress.
In order to maintain good academic standing at Austin Community College,
you must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA. If you receive all Cs or higher,
you will be able to maintain that recommended required GPA.
If your GPA falls below a 2.0 for the first semester, you will go into
academic warning. This basically is just warning you of your status so that you
can work on that next semester to raise your GPA.
If your GPA falls below a 2.0 for a second semester,
you will then be placed on academic probation.
At this point in time, you will be required to meet with a counselor.
You will be given a specific set of classes and how many classes
that you are able to take in order to focus on raising that GPA.
If you fall below a 2.0 for a third semester, you will then reach
academic suspension. At that point, you are unable to take any classes
at ACC for two back-to-back semesters. The only exception is that we do allow
students to take basic study skills classes during suspension.
Course withdrawals.
Withdrawing from a course is discouraged, and can negatively affect you.
For example, financial aid eligibility requires that you maintain a 67%
completion ratio. If you continue to withdraw from classes, you will clearly
drop your completion ratio and therefore put your eligibility for financial aid
in jeopardy. This also affects your money. If you have any refunds due to you,
or balances due by you, you may have to repay some of your financial aid
if you withdraw from your courses.
Texas also has a six-withdrawal limit, meaning you are only allotted six total
withdrawals in your undergraduate career. That's while you're here at ACC,
and if you plan to pursue an undergraduate program.
ACC also has what we call the Third Course Attempt, or Rule of 3.
If you attempt a class for a third time or more,
you will be charged additional tuition for that class.
The main reason for this is not to punish students,
but really to encourage them to be academically prepared
for the courses that they are registering for.
If you're an international student here on an F-1 visa, you may affect your
visa status and your immigration status by withdrawing from courses.
The main thing we want students to focus on when it comes to course withdrawals
is that it's highly recommended to come in and talk to an advisor and counselor
before you withdraw from classes.
If you're also receiving services from financial aid, veterans affairs, or the
International Students office, we recommend you talk to them before
withdrawing from classes as well.
Scholastic Achievement Awards are given for semesters in which you complete
a minimum of 12 credits. Notification appears on your grade report and
transcript for each fall-spring semester, as well as on your diploma, if your
cumulative GPA qualifies for any of the mentioned achievements on this slide.
At ACC, we have advisors and counselors that can both help with academic course
planning and transfer services. The difference between an advisor
and a counselor is that a counselor can help you when you have problems that are
keeping you from being successful that are outside of the classroom.
They can also help you if your GPA falls below a 2.0, or if your completion
percentage falls below 67 percent.
Program advising degree and career planning can be something that your
faculty advisors, your faculty can help provide.
Remember that faculty support is not limited to the ones who teach your classes.
There are other faculty in your area of study who you can also connect with.
Your faculty representative here today is a good example.
You may never have a class with them, but they are now someone you know
and can turn to.
Your college education is a huge investment,
so knowing how you will fund that investment is extremely important.
There are many types of aid you can receive to help finance your education—
some, like loans, that you have to pay back;
others, like grants and scholarships, that you don't.
Begin by filling out the FAFSA.
We will discuss financial aid in further detail on the next slide.
ACC also has a Student Money Management office that provides seminars and
workshops you can attend to learn more about financial literacy.
Managing your money; making a budget; long-term financial planning—
these are the things you will learn at these workshops.
ACC supports and provides assistance to students who would benefit from
additional assistance to overcome challenges and complete their education,
such as financial assistance for child care, textbooks, and connecting students
with community resources outside of ACC that may be able to help students.
Note that you must be eligible for financial aid
to access Support Center services.
You can also explore other options for funding such as grants, scholarships,
work-study opportunities, or other loans.
Contact an ACC Financial Aid office on any campus
if you need help exploring your options.
What are grants and scholarships? This is the free money.
This is money that you do not need to repay the government.
Loans. Loans must be repaid after earning your college credential.
Work-study. This is something you can specifically apply for through FAFSA.
This allows you to work up to 19 hours a week
on the campus where you're taking your classes.
Students who are active in the work-study program are not required to repay
any financial aid they receive.
Get connected. Student Life is a great way to get connected by getting involved
with student life. They offer activities that contribute to and enhance
your academic experience by providing opportunities for leadership and
engagement within the ACC community. You can gain valuable leadership skills;
community services; diverse awareness; you can enrich your college experience
by participating in intramural sports and recreational activities, such as
flag football, basketball (men's and women's), soccer (men's and women's),
women's volleyball, and kickball.
Student Life holds many events on all campuses all year long, such as
the Riverbat Bash every September during Welcome Week.
There are additional student clubs, organizations, student government,
honor societies that will also provide you with the opportunities to
get connected with other students who have the same interests as you.
If you're a veteran, you can visit the Veterans Resource Center,
which gives military and veteran students a central, one-stop location
for obtaining essential support services such as VA certification
and advising for VA benefits.
The center also features a lounge area where students can
connect with peers and participate in veteran-specific activities.
If you're an international student you can visit the International Student office.
They are located at the Riverside and Round Rock campuses.
They have designated advisors on each campus, and can also provide general
support for the unique challenges of being an international student
living here in the Austin area.
Study on campus. ACC offers open computer labs which are a quiet study space
that are available at every campus. These labs will give you free access
to computers equipped with internet access and up-to-date softwares to do
research or finish assignments.
At the ACC learning labs, you can also get free tutoring in a variety of subjects.
Help with homework, study spaces, and much, much more.
Libraries are also a place to go if you need books, DVDs, periodicals, copies,
laptop checkout, assistance with research, and much more.
College is another step in becoming a lifelong learner.
The learning never stops.
You will learn in your classes, on the job,
and as you encounter new experiences in your life.
There are lots of ways ACC can help you continue your education
above and beyond your program.
Transfer services can help you prepare to graduate from ACC and transfer to
a four-year school like Texas State or UT Austin.
They'll help you review transfer guides to make sure the courses you take
at ACC will be accepted for credit and toward a degree plan at the college
you plan to transfer to. We also offer reverse transfer, which allows you to
bring your classes back to ACC and potentially complete your Associate's
degree after you've transferred out.
Career Services,
here to help students develop job-search skills and locate employment.
Campus2Careers at ACC will match you with the best jobs based on
your profile so you can learn more about those best choices.
ACC also has the Continuing Education Division, which offers courses that do not
count for academic credit, but can help you develop new knowledge and skills.
Custom-designed curriculum, coursework, and valuable industry certifications
such as Microsoft certification, certified nurse's aid, project management
certification, and more are designed to enhance job skills
or to explore other interests.
Advisors and counselors are available to help you determine the best path
to complete your Associate's degree and transfer.
Start now to research your transfer schools. You can also attend transfer
events and meet university recruiters here on an ACC campus.
Consider whether to graduate before transferring,
or earn the degree after you transfer.
ACC offers a university transfer/ core curriculum and choice of
Associate's degrees, many designed specifically for students who want to
transfer and apply ACC credits towards a Bachelor's degree.
If you do intend to transfer, you can meet with your advisor to access
these transfer guides, which guarantee classes that are going to transfer out.
Career Services. Our office provides tools that help you discover your career
path and course of study. Bring your assessment results to your area of study
advisor for career advising. You'll get feedback on your career and major
findings, and learn how to connect your results to an actual degree plan.
ACC Career Services offers two options to our students and alumni searching
for jobs and internships. We have job boards to get started on your job search!
Tech tools—Degree Map.
An interactive online tool to monitor and make changes to your academic plans.
This program allows you to view degree details, your profile, explore and compare
programs offered at ACC. You can also access your advising plan and log
if you want to review older advising sessions.
The link to view the current and future semester course listings
is located in the top-right corner of our home page.
We offer a variety of teaching sessions that range from
16-week to 12-week to as little as eight weeks.
It's important to understand the difference between these sessions.
Understanding your learning style will help you determine which
teaching session is best for you.
A short eight-week session is intense, but it covers the same amount of material
that you would normally cover in a 16-week session.
So you've gotta be very disciplined and determined to get that done.
Classes and waitlists.
It's important to understand how to read the course schedule.
On this slide, let's take a look at arrow number one.
It's pointing towards a section that has three seats available.
The information in the brackets helps understand what this means.
The first number, 33, is the number of currently enrolled students.
The next number, 36, is the number of maximum seats.
And then the third number is the number of people on the waitlist.
If you look at arrow number two, it starts off with a capital C.
This indicates that this section is full.
That means it's closed for any registration and there is no waitlist available.
The third arrow points to a section that has one C.
What this indicates in the brackets is that 35 seats out of 36 have been taken,
and nobody's on the waitlist.
The fourth and final arrow indicates that there's a capital X.
This is an indication that this section was canceled by the institution,
either due to low enrollment or no faculty available to teach this section.
Schedule building. As I mentioned before, it's important to understand your
learning style because this will help dictate if you're gonna enroll in a
16-week session, 12-week session, or a short, intense 8-week session.
Make sure you weigh the pros and cons,
especially when it comes to distance learning.
Distance learning sessions mean that you're teaching yourself to a book
and access to a professor via email.
When selecting classes, make sure that you pick those that you can
and will attend. If you're not a morning person, please don't enroll in a class
that starts at 8 A.M. in the morning.
Balancing your schedule is also just as important.
Please know that we offer classes as early as 7:30 in the morning,
and the last one could potentially end at 10:20 at night.
But we also offer Monday/Wednesdays, Tuesday/Thursday classes, and then
Friday/Saturday-only classes.
So understanding those options will also make a big difference
in picking out a schedule that is well balanced.
You should also be aware of any special notes or instructions
about particular course sections.
These can be found on the course schedule right underneath the section itself.
Tech tools. Another tool that you can use to help complete your registration
is called Self-Service. This tool allows you to create course schedules,
plan and register for classes, manage your financial aid, view your grades,
track your degree progress, and also receive notifications about any
registration holds that you may have.
Almost there!
Let's talk about your next steps to getting registered and starting your classes.
Register and pay.
Remember, you will use Student Planning to register.
You can use online tutorials, or if you need help, come in and see an advisor.
Tuition and fees can be found on the ACC website. You have until your tuition
deadline to pay your bill in full, or your classes will be dropped.
ACC's payment plan can help if you can't pay your full tuition by the deadline.
You may pay via Online Services,
or go to any campus' Cashier's Office to pay in person.
Parking and transportation.
Use the online system to order your parking permits; green car tags, which
are for special parking spots designed for environmentally friendly cars;
carpool passes; and/or the green pass, which is good for CapMetro on both
the bus and the train system.
You'll be responsible for getting your own textbooks; however, we will provide
a list of the ones you are required to purchase based on the classes
you're signed up for. You can go to your online services, under "Academic Profile,"
and click "My Textbooks." Select the correct term in the drop-down menu.
If you need to, you can contact the instructional department if your textbook
information is not available.
Important! It is very important to note you are not required to purchase your
textbooks from the ACC bookstore. You can search online, or in a used bookstore.
You can also rent textbooks at a much cheaper price.
Pay attention to the edition of the book, as these can vary from one to the next.
Also be careful about books with online components.
The previous owner may have used the access code for your online resources,
and you may not be able to access them.
Get to class!
Always print out your class schedule through your Online Services.
Make sure you know where your classes are located,
what campus, building, and room number;
make sure to note when they begin and end in addition to the session start time;
also note whether a class has been canceled.
Congratulations on completing your area of study information session!
You are officially a Riverbat.
If you have any questions following this session,
or would like to schedule an advising appointment,
you can access the ACC area of study advising website at austincc.edu/advising.
You can then select the appropriate advisor
based on your area of study and/or home campus.
Gooo Riverbats!