Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The Data Summit has arrived! Wednesday 3/27, 10am-2pm at the HEB Center in Cedar Park.  Full-time faculty are required to attend; adjuncts are encouraged to attend (there will be no livestream option).

Reminders

• RSVP if you haven't yet.  RSVP here. 

• Wear purple and dress in layers (the HEB Center is a venue with an ice rink, so it gets chilly).  

• Communicate with your students.  Classes are cancelled between 8am-4pm on Wednesday 3/27, so please make sure that your students are aware of campus closures and your expectations (especially if you have assigned asynchronous work).  

• Make transportation plans. The Data Summit event page has information about carpooling, shuttles, parking, and accessibility.

• Review the materials in the Before the Event section of the Data Summit event page

• We are going to try to sit together--as far as we are able. Chris Gardner volunteered to bring a Raven on a very tall flagpole, so look for that and come sit with the CLS Cohort!

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Deadlines! 

March 27

Data Summit (Full-time faculty required; adjunct faculty and staff encouraged)

March 29 

Nominate students for the Chancellor's Student Achievement Award

April 5 

Spring Assessment Meeting 10am-11:30am on Zoom 

April 8 

Solar Eclipse (plan for traffic in Austin and viewing ~1:30pm-1:45pm)

May 3

CLS End of Semester Department Meeting, 10am-11:30am at RGC and on Zoom

Close the Book, You're Done Party for Graduating Majors, 2 PM-4 PM, Paseo at HLC

May 31

Vertical Alignment, Content Exchange

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CLS Announcements

Call for Voting Adjuncts (AY24-25), April 1 deadline

CLS encourages adjuncts to participate in the department's governance! As the name implies, voting adjuncts attend CLS Department meetings and participate in the voting process. You also get your picture on the CLS Website Faculty Directory!  For the 24-25 Academic year, CLS needs 41 English adjuncts and 8 INRW adjuncts.  The positions will be appointed on a first-come, first served basis.  

Please submit your interest with this Google Form: Voting Adjuncts (AY24-25)  Deadline April 1st. 

(Remember, if you currently serve as a voting adjunct, you need to re-apply each year. )

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Call for Classroom Photos, ASAP

Feeling refreshed after spring break? Glowing with the possibility of these last 8 weeks of the semester? Now is the perfect time to ask students or colleagues to snap a quick pic of you in the classroom, so we can use it in the CLS Profile.  

We're looking for pictures of 

• YOU in all your teaching glory

• classroom activities/materials (whiteboard notes, in-class activities, props)

Important: you and any students that appear in the pictures need to sign ACC's Photo Consent form

We need pictures as soon as possible! Upload pictures to Classroom Shots Drive

(Seriously, though--candid shots are the BEST! And, I want to reiterate--anyone teaching for CLS should consider It. Y'all are absolutely LOVELY!)

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Major developments for our English majors!

Eli Ryder, Theo Yurevitch, Alana King and the rest of the Revitalizing the Major crew have been hard at work on a new English Degree Audit Form. This form allows anyone--you, me, the student, English-major curious folk--to audit a student's transcript and help them see how close they are to becoming an English AA.  Students can take the completed audit to their advisor. This Is totally optional and voluntary--so not a new requirement, but a really great way to get more students drinking our proverbial Kool Aid. 

Please take a peek--I've given It a try myself, and the student I worked with had NO IDEA that he was 6 courses away from his English AA. We are psyched to get more students Into our major, and COMPLETING their degree--because that's part of the new Texas House Bill that helps fund community colleges and because English majors are so very cool, well-adjusted, and successful. (Read the Norton 2022 Survey English Majors Report for evidence of that claim.) (Also, you might have noticed the on-campus literature classes have been cut over the last decade; every English major must take 3 literature classes. The more majors we have, the more demand for lit sections. EVERYONE WINS.) (Sorry for the all caps.)

Below you will see a fillable form and two videos that help you figure out how to access a student's transcript and fill out the form. 

English Degree Audit Form

How to Access Student Transcripts - YouTube Video

The English Degree Audit Form - YouTube Video

Wait, there's more! Here's  the first English Major Newsletter! 

English Major Newsletter March 26, 2024

And even MORE!!!

Sigma Kappa Delta, English Honors Society at ACC

We even have English Major Swag--tote bags and tee shirts and so on!

And for our graduating majors, we'll be hosting Close the Book, Your Done, a cookie party, May 3, 2024, 2-4 PM, in the Paseo at HLC. More on that soon!

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Chancellor's Student Achievement Nominations, due March 29

We encourage you to join us in honoring our exceptional students by submitting nominations for the Chancellor's Student Achievement Award. All ACC community members, including faculty, staff, and students, can nominate deserving individuals. Students can even nominate themselves! Remember, the more nominations, the better! 

Here's a rundown of eligibility requirements: 

• Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA

• Attended ACC for a minimum of two consecutive semesters

• Graduating in the semester you are nominating/applying for this award

• Must be in good standing with the college – this will be verified by the Office of Student Life

Here's the Nomination Form (Spring 2024) 

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Please Promote: Student Essay Contest, deadline April 1  

The Texas Association of Community Colleges is accepting student submissions for Pathways to Success:  Texas Community College Essay Contest.  Students can choose from a series of prompts that aim to highlight "how their experience at a community college is shaping their journey toward a fulfilling and financially rewarding career." 

The contest is open to traditional and dual credit students.  Find specific prompts, guidelines, and submission instructions at the Pathways to Success: Essay Contest webpage. 

The top ten essays receive cash💲prizes!

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INRW Co-req Registration form (Summer 24)

Registration for Summer 24 starts on April 1. 

Students with 0-14 credit hrs AND who require an INRW coreq can register for co-reqs on Friday April 5.

If a student contacts faculty requesting enrollment in their coreq, please provide this link: Summer 24 Coreq Registration Form

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Spring Assessment Meeting (+Peer Dialogue!), April 5 

When: April 5, from 10-11:30am, via Zoom (link coming soon)

What: Spring Assessment-Focused Meeting

Agenda: Rebekah Starnes will report on this year's Assessment Report findings. After that, attendees will break into groups and contribute thoughts and observations to a shared Google doc. (This can count towards your peer dialogue!)  

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Please Promote: Honors Info Session, April 5

Please share with students!

Curious about the Honors Program? The Spring Honors Info Session will be held on Friday, April 5th, at the HLC Welcome Center from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided, and the plan is to cover courses, scholarships, internships, specialized advising, transfer opportunities, and some of the programs we've developed for Honors students (UT YCS Fellows Program, INRW peer tutoring, etc.) Students who can't make it in person can join via Zoom; event information is here.  

Thanks!

Anne-Marie

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AFA Adjunct T-shirt Fundraiser, through April 5

From Amber Luttig-Buonodono, Adjunct Faculty Association

Show your adjunct spirit by sporting one of our beautiful new T-shirts! By purchasing a shirt from our fundraiser, you can make a tangible difference in the lives of Austin Community College employees. All funds raised will be donated to the ACC Employee Emergency Fund, providing crucial assistance in times of need. 

Join us in supporting this fantastic cause while showing your commitment to our community and pride in your profession and/or peers. The Fundraising Campaign will run through Friday, April 5. Estimated delivery of your shirt will be April 23, 2024. 

The shirt orders can be placed at this link. Thank you for your support and for everything you do as an adjunct!

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Recorded Debrief from Amy Cunningham: NACEP Summit for Dual Credit

Our colleague Amy Cunningham attended a Summit for Dual Credit, hosted by the National Alliance on Concurrent Enrollment Programs (NACEP).  She shares her experiences and takeaways in this 35 minute video: NACEP Debrief with Amy Cunningham.  Amy says,  "It's eye opening to hear this perspective from an like a national level." This is a really Important discussion of cutting edge Information about Dual Credit! Thank you for putting It all together, Amy!

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CLS Public Comments Meeting Summary

On Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 from 6:30-7:30 PM, CLS held a school-board style meeting online; its purpose was to allow faculty to express their concerns about comments and ideas heard at our the recent Town Halls. The need for this CLS meeting stemmed from a sizable number of concerned faculty who individually reached out to CLS Department leadership. A summary of the comments made are available If you missed the meeting. 

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Prepare for the ☀ Solar Eclipse ☀ April 8 

As the April 8 total solar eclipse gets closer, please make sure that you have a plan for your classes as well as your general well-being.  

Currently, ACC is remaining open on April 8, but the CLS department encourages faculty to consider switching to virtual classes for the day and delaying any major assessment or in-class projects (or extending the due date) since students may have difficulty getting to class on time due to traffic. In addition, if your DLS or face to face class corresponds with the timing of the eclipse, you could consider a break in the classwork to encourage students to experience this event. (Remind them to use special glasses and not to look directly at the sun.)

Here's additional information to help you make a plan:

• Many ISDs in our area have decided to close, which affects our students and their dependents.  If you teach on a high school campus or have ECHS students in your ACC classrooms, please verify the ISD's plans for the eclipse.  Additionally, keep in mind that school closures can affect parents and caregivers. This KUT.org article includes a list of ISDs that are cancelling classes on April 8.   

• Travis County is preparing for increased traffic and encouraging residents to have a plan in case of emergency; find tips and info at Eclipse|AustinTexas.gov.  Travis County has also declared a state of emergency, which means "Travis County can take actions necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors and position itself for aid and assistance as needed." (Read more at KXAN)

• According to Visit Austin:  "The eclipse will be visible throughout the Hill Country from 1:32 pm - 1:41 pm CST on April 8, 2024. Austin locals and visitors will experience about 1 minute and 46 seconds of the total solar eclipse at 1:36 pm CST." The entire eclipse takes about 2 hours.

• ACC students and employees can pick up solar glasses 😎 at any ACC campus Student Life Office on Monday April 1.  You will need your ACC ID.  Limit three per person. 

And do be careful!!!!!

"These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide; in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked ‘twixt son and father." Gloucester, King Lear