Round Rock ISD – Parents Meeting
Austin Community College - Update
September 29, 2005
Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow
President, ACC
Round Rock ISD – Parents


Thanks for inviting me.
Appreciate the opportunity for dialog…
ACC/Community Goals




Increase transition of high school graduates
into higher education
Increase education & training opportunities
for adult population
Enhance “Closing the Gaps” Initiatives
Expand Higher Education Opportunities to
Include COMPREHENSIVE ACC Offerings



Workforce Programs
Continuing Education
Adult and Continuing Education
ACC Snapshot



Over 65,000 people served annually
8th largest community college district in
America
1st choice for entering college



Over 50% of all entering students begin at a
community college
More area high school students go to ACC than
any other local institution
ACC is the primary trainer and re-trainer of
the local workforce
About Community Colleges





Offer two-year Associate Degree and one/two
year Certificate Programs
Funded differently than four-year
colleges/universities
Same accreditation standards as four-year
colleges/universities
As community colleges grow, so do four-year
colleges/universities in the area
More than half of all freshmen now begin at a
community college
About Community Colleges

HALLMARKS
Open Door Admissions Philosophy






Responsive to the Needs of the Local Community
Innovative, High-Quality Instruction
Assistance to Those Not Yet “College-Ready”



Commitment to Accessibility
Commitment to Affordability
Commitment to Diversity
Foundation Skills/Access Programs
Developmental Education
Strong Student Support Services
Service Area Map
August 2005 Annexation Election


“All-of-Austin” Election Successful
Brought all of City of Austin into ACC taxing
district

@25% of RRISD (portion within Austin) now in
ACC’s district



Receive lower in-district tuition of $39 per credit hour
Receive free Early College Start program
@75% of RRISD out-of-district


Pay higher out-of-district tuition of $102 per credit hour
Pay for Early College Start program
ACC & Round Rock



Since 1980 ACC has offered classes in Round Rock
Round Rock enrollments increase each year (over 6%
of ACC Total)
Fall 05 enrollments: 2207





78664 78681 78717 78729 -
888
544
278
497
Fall 05 Early College Start Enrollments:
 125
Round Rock Center




Opened Fall 2005
ACC has day classes in Round Rock for
the first time
ACC will continue to offer evening
classes (since 1980)
Limited offerings – primarily general
education transfer courses
RR Center



ACC will offer very few workforce
education programs
Lack of specialized facility, funding
necessary to offer many high-demand
programs such as nursing
ACC will not offer sciences

RRC facility does not have science facilities
RR Center
Important To Know:

Texas State will offer select programs



ACC will offer Freshman/Sophomore level courses





Junior/Senior level toward some B.A. degrees
Some graduate level courses/programs
Limited to select general education courses
No sciences due to lack of science facilities
Very limited workforce education programs
No access programs
The RRC will not offer everything available at Texas
State in San Marcos, nor will it offer everything ACC
is approved to teach
RR Center
Important To Know:
The RRC will evolve into something different:
 Initially, Texas State and ACC will jointly
occupy



ACC will offer freshman/sophomore level
Texas State will offer Junior, Senior, and Graduate
courses
Both Texas State and ACC enrollments will
grow

As Texas State enrollments grow, ACC will be
displaced from RRC
RR Center
Important To Know:

Limited window for the community to
address the original goals of having
expanded 4-year and expanded 2-year
higher education and training
opportunities.
RR Center
Important To Know:
Texas State and ACC are funded differently
 4-year colleges/universities funding:



Tuition (one rate for all Texans)
State allocations for operations and facilities
2-year community colleges



Tuition (different rates for tax payers/non-tax
payers
State reimbursements
Local taxes expected to pay for facilities
Big Question

How will Round Rock secure a
comprehensive community college?


How will it get needed workforce education
programs?
How will it get the other types of programs
provided only by community colleges?
Why Join ACC?

Increase Access


Over 50% of high school graduates begin at a community college
Over 50% of adults begin at a community college

Closing the Gaps (State Initiative) warns that if more Texans

State Must Increase Minority Participation Rates
do not enter higher education our state will not remain
economically competitive



Goal to increase enrollment in higher education by 600,000 by
2015
“College-going” rate lags among minority populations
Participation rates of minorities need to be proportional to
population figures for the State to improve quality of life and to
maintain State economic advantage
Why Join ACC?
SOCIAL EQUITY:


Education has always been the great
“equalizer” in American society
Generally, the more education one has,
the more money one earns, the more
local tax bases expand
Why Join ACC?
GAIN MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS &
SERVICES:
 ACC brings ADDITIONAL and UNIQUE
education and training to the local community
 ACC is the primary trainer and re-trainer of
the local workforce


Important factor in attracting and retaining local
business
ACC growth strengthens enrollments at Texas
State University at San Marcos and UT Austin
Why Join ACC?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT:



The more educated the community, the more local tax bases expand

Helping to spread tax burdens over a larger base

Helping to lower social service costs
Research shows that community colleges contribute to the local
economy – tax investment is returned to the community through higher
wages, economic development, and reduced social services costs.
Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Associate degree is the fastest
growing workplace credential

32.0% increase in jobs requiring Associate’s Degree

22.5% increase in jobs requiring Bachelor’s Degree

23.4% increase in jobs requiring Master’s Degree

12.4% increase in Specialized work training
Why Join ACC?
COST ADVANTAGE: INCREASES ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION

Out-of district residents now pay more than twice
what in-district residents pay

Out-of-District


$102 tuition per credit hour
In-district

$39 tuition per credit hour
Example: 3 credit hour course
(Fall 05)
$348 Out-of-District Tuition & Fees
$159 In-District Tuition & Fees
$189 MORE
What Would It Cost To Join ACC?
Financial Information


ACC tax rate is currently $0.09 (9¢) per $100 assessed property
valuation (Increase requires voter approval).
 There is a $0.01 (1¢) tax for retirement of facilities bonds.
Examples of ACC tax on average-priced Round Rock home of
$173,818 less standard $5,000 homestead exemption:

2006 M&O tax rate of 9¢ ($151.94) plus 1¢ for
facilities bonds ($16.88) = $168.82
Note for homeowners over 65 or disabled: Homestead exemption is $80,000; therefore, taxes
would be $84.44, plus $9.38 = $93.82.
RRISD In-District vs. Out-of-District
PROPERTY TAXES
Appraised
Property Values
2006 M&O
Rate
2006 Debt
Service
Rate
Tax Revenue
RRISD In-District
$4,825,739,200
$0.09
$0.01
$4,825,739
RRISD Out-of-District
$9,797,712,922
$0.09
$0.01
$9,797,713
RRISD Total
$14,623,452,122
$0.09
$0.01
* Conversion of Out-of-District students to the In-District tuition rate will result in
Net Tax Revenue of $11,032,452.
$14,623,452 *
Property Tax Comparisons
Average Tax Amounts by Entity
$3,500.00
$2,916.94
$3,000.00
Tax Amount
$2,500.00
$2,000.00
$1,500.00
$1,000.00
$648.21
$643.25
$500.00
$167.30
$0.00
Taxing District
Round Rock
Williamson County
Round Rock ISD
ACC District
Joining ACC – Process*


Local residents form Steering Committee
Steering Committee





5% of registered voters sign Petition




Educates public about the effort
Develops strategies/timelines regarding process
Develops election campaign strategies
Partners with Friends of ACC
Petition submitted to ACC Board of Trustees – verifies
ACC publishes Service Area Plan
ACC holds public hearing
ACC calls election (May or November)
* Summary
THANKS…


Q&A
For more information


www.austincc.edu
[email protected]