Weekly (sort of) Newsletter

 _______________ 

Summer Registration/Advising

The registration request form will open on March 24th (you'll go to this page to fill it out), and college-wide registration for Summer ’25 starts on March 31st. ACC uses a staggered system based on the number of hours in progress/completed. On Friday, April 4th, all students are eligible to register, so that is when we will begin filling requests. Waiting until the 4th ensures that all requests will be honored, and students who have fewer hours than others will not be at a disadvantage if a particular class fills up quickly. After April 4th, we’ll resume our normal registration process.

If you'd like some help planning your schedule, our dedicated Honors advisor Jana McCarthy (jana.mccarthy@austincc.edu) would love to talk with you. This is your opportunity to speak with an ACC Master Advising Specialist about your Honors course planning, transfer goals, and more. Feel free to set up an appointment here. 

Full course list (Check out our brand new Fall '25 Honors Biology courses!)

_______________ 

Info Session/Lunch at HLC with the Honors College at the University of Texas-Dallas, 3/28

I mentioned in last week's newsletter that we are currently working on a transfer agreement with the University of Texas-Dallas Hobson Wildenthal Honors College. What this means is that ACC Honors students who have completed certain requirements will be granted automatic admission to the UTD Honors College, and they will also be eligible for generous transfer scholarships.

In anticipation of the upcoming transfer agreement, UTD Honors College representatives will visit ACC and share details about their program, transfer scholarships, and more. (These aren't run-of-the-mill college reps--they work in the Honors College.) This is your chance to ask questions, explore opportunities, and enjoy some free pizza. There are many things I did not know about UTD Honors College--such as the fact that they try to provide all students with at least one (paid) study abroad experience--so it should be a very illuminating discussion.   

We'll be hosting UTD on Friday, March 28th from noon-1:30 pm at the Highland Campus Welcome Center, Building 1000 (Room 2350), so please register here to attend in person. Attending remotely? (Zoom link is here.)

_______________ 

Interfaith Iftar, 3/7

The Muslim Student Association (of which our own Honors student Raghad Alhussein is President and Co-founder), is celebrating Ramadan with an interfaith Iftar at the Highland campus. Join here. 

Iftar is the meal that marks the breaking of the fast at sunset, often beginning with dates and water, followed by a communal dinner. This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Ramadan, experience Iftar, and engage in meaningful interfaith dialogue. It’s also a great chance to connect with and better understand the Muslim students here at ACC—their experiences, traditions, and contributions to our campus community. Whether you’re familiar with Ramadan or new to the tradition, we welcome you to join us in an evening of learning, connection, and shared experiences.

• 5:30 p.m. – Welcome & Introductions

• 5:40 p.m. – Guest Speaker: Imam Anwer. The significance of Ramadan, fasting, and the role of MSA in college life. Exploring the intersectionality of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity and the importance of religious identity in society.

• 6:10 p.m. – Q&A & Open Discussion

• 6:30 p.m. – Iftar (Breaking of the Fast) & Prayer Observance, followed by a Mediterranean dinner

Imam Anwer is the Director of Religious Affairs at Nueces Mosque, located near the University of Texas at Austin. He is a highly accomplished scholar who holds advanced degrees in both Islamic studies and the sciences. He completed the ‘Alimiyyah Program in Islamic Scholarship at Qalam Seminary, followed by a specialization in Islamic Law and Legal Verdicts from Al-Salam Institute in London and Cambridge Islamic College. Additionally, he earned a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) with honors from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences and holds dual undergraduate degrees in Biology (B.S.) and History (B.A.) from Stony Brook University. Imam Anwer has served as an educator and religious leader in multiple institutions, making him an insightful speaker on faith, knowledge, and student life.

_______________ 

The Red Bench Dialogue Event, 3/25

The Teaching and Learning Excellence Division's Office of Experiential Learning, in collaboration with Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), invites you to The Red Bench Dialogue Event, an on-campus conversation event on the topic "Courage!" The event will take place at the Austin Community College (ACC) Rio Grande Campus (RGC) on Tuesday, March 25, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

ACC employees, students, employers, and the community are invited to attend this free in-person event. Dinner will be provided. Registration is required.

• Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

• Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

• Location: ACC Rio Grande Campus, Building 3000, Room 3340

• View the RGC Parking Map

• Who's Invited: ACC employees, students, and the community are invited to attend this free in-person event. Dinner is included.

• Topic: The Spring 2025 conversation topic is "Courage." ACC Director of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center, Dr. Khayree Williams, will frame this issue for participants, who will then be invited to share their own experiences through empathetic and structured table conversations.

For the full details, visit the Red Bench Dialogue Event website.

_______________ 

Nonprofit Education Paid Internship

From our friends at ACC's Center for Nonprofit Studies:

E3 Alliance is piloting a new paid internship program this Spring - the Susan Dawson Fellowship. The fellowship "will be a 10-week, hands-on, engaging experience for students to gain insights and exposure to career opportunities in nonprofit education data, including data research, data visualization and storytelling, and data utilization to improve outcomes."

They are currently looking to fill 2 positions this Spring 2025 semester, and any interested students can apply here.

_______________ 

L'SPACE Applications Open: Summer '25

ACC Honors alum Theodore Courtois is now Program Coordinator for the NASA L'SPACE Program at Arizona State University, and he wanted to make sure that you all knew about the next opportunity for this wonderful program. See his message below:

Applications for the NASA L'SPACE Program Summer 2025 academy opportunities have now opened! The program received a record number of applications for the Spring semester and after opening applications yesterday, we have already received over 200 applications for the Summer programs. This means it is important that any students interested in participating for the Summer 2025 semester submit their application as early as possible for consideration - don't wait until the deadline! Both of these 15-week academies are fantastic opportunities for Honors Program students interested in a future in the space industry. The academies are open to students from all majors as they are placed in interdisciplinary teams for the duration of the program. Students should expect to spend 6-10 hours per week participating in program activities and completing related work.

Mission Concept Academy (MCA):

Participants in the Mission Concept Academy will learn space mission development skills by developing a preliminary mission concept that follows the NASA mission life cycle. Students will have the opportunity to learn from NASA and industry professionals while developing a foundation in mission design, technical writing, and NASA review procedures. By the end of the academy, students will have developed a complete Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for their mission concept that can be used to showcase technical skills in internship and job interviews.

NASA Proposal Writing & Evaluation Academy (NPWEE):

Participants in the NASA Proposal Writing & Evaluation Academy will work in a team to develop innovative solutions to NASA pain points. Students will learn how to formulate a new technology proposal while competing for $10,000 in funding to develop their team's proposed idea. Previous winning NPWEE teams have gone on to secure additional NASA funding of up to $200,000 and several winning proposals are being considered for inclusion on upcoming space missions. Let this inspire, not intimidate - multiple ACC students have worked with winning NPWEE teams!

I hope that Honors Program students at Austin Community College will continue to take advantage of these free NASA workforce development programs - Riverbats belong in aerospace! My participation in these programs has been instrumental in my understanding of the complex challenges of the space industry and the knowledge and skills that I gained from these academies and my continued involvement with the NASA L'SPACE Program have been an incredible catalyst to my space industry career. If students have any questions related to these academies, they are always welcome to reach out to me directly via email at tcourtoi@asu.edu.

_______________ 

Center for Government and Civic Service Leadership Credit, 3/10

Are you looking for a way to fulfill the leadership requirement for the Honors Scholar tier? We've teamed up with ACC's Center for Government and Civic Service at the Rio Grande Campus to provide students with new opportunities. They'll be running their second leadership simulation on March 10th, and any student can join this environment of experimental learning, expert mentorship, and fun role-play.  

More info and registration for the workshop: https://forms.gle/LcgtnBhund4x74zL6 

**Did you participate in the first simulation in November? If you participate in three of these simulations (taking on at least two primary roles), you'll receive the Honors Scholar leadership credit.  

_______________

Submit to the Hothouse Literary Journal (UT)

Hothouse Literary Journal, the official literary journal of UT's Department of English, is currently requesting submissions. Last year, Honors student Genevieve Kent Elbaor published a poem in the spring edition. From Editor-in-Chief Charlie Sharpe: 

Dear undergraduates,

We're happy to announce that the official literary journal of The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of English, Hothouse, is accepting submissions for the 2024-2025 print edition! We accept submissions from undergraduate students all over Texas. We are looking for fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Though we accept submissions on a rolling basis, you must submit your work by March 15th, 2025 to be considered for the print journal.

If you would like to review the full guidelines, including how to format your writing, you can find them on the Hothouse website, https://hothouselitjournal.com. 

If you have any questions about the submission process, feel free to contact us at uthothouse.editor@gmail.com.

We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

_______________

(Paid) City of Austin Internship: Youth Forest Council

For the last couple of years, the City of Austin has been recruiting Honors students to serve as student interns, and they report that the interns from Honors are some of the most engaged and involved. Here are the details from coordinator Britney Huynh: 

Our program is open to young people in Austin between the ages of 16-20. Interns get the opportunity to do service projects that support our urban forest and build professional skills, while earning $21.63/hr. Applications are due March 15, 2025. We’d love to have more ACC students apply!

_______________ 

Student Life Awards: Nominate Yourself or Another Student

Did you know that you can nominate yourselves or other students for these awards? Check it out:

Nominate an outstanding graduate for the Chancellor's Student Achievement Award by March 28 or nominate an impactful student leader for a Legacy of Leader: Student Leader Award (various categories) by March 23rd! Learn more below! 

The Chancellor’s Student Achievement Award s a highly regarded accolade bestowed upon a graduating student who exemplifies exceptional academic achievements, a strong commitment to ACC's values and vision, and outstanding service to the college and the broader community each fall & spring semester.

The award brings a $600 check, a letter of recommendation from our Chancellor, a commemorative plaque, and the honor of delivering student remarks at commencement. To be eligible, students must meet these criteria:

- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA

- Enrollment at ACC for a minimum of two consecutive semesters

- Graduating in Spring 2025

 (Student Life Staff will verify eligibility upon submission. Don’t worry about checking these yourself)

We encourage you to join us in honoring our exceptional graduating students by submitting nominations. All ACC community members, including faculty, staff, and students, can nominate deserving individuals. Students can even nominate themselves! You can access the nomination form here: Spring 2025 Chancellor Student Achievement Award Nomination Form.

Additional details and nomination guidelines can be found at austincc.edu/csaa or by contacting csaa@austincc.edu.

Each year, Student Life recognizes the excellence and efforts of student leaders and the faculty/staff that support student success within Student Life at Austin Community College. All nominees will be celebrated with a special invitation to the Student Life Legacy of Leaders event in April, where their achievements will be recognized, and the award winners will be announced.

We encourage you to join us in honoring our exceptional student leaders by submitting nominations. All ACC community members, including faculty, staff, and students, can nominate deserving individuals. Students can even nominate themselves! You can access the nomination form here: 2024-2025 Legacy of Leaders: Student Leader Awards Nomination Form

_______________

Consider Swarthmore University

Known as a "Little Ivy" and ranked #3 Liberal Arts College in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Swarthmore is one of the nation's most diverse colleges, and the administration is committed to meeting 100% of determined financial need through loan-free financial aid awards. Below are some reasons you might consider applying.  

We waive the $60 application fee for community and junior college transfer students. Students simply choose the “Community College Fee Waiver” on the Common Application or Coalition Application when they apply. Additionally, students attending four-year colleges who receive the federal Pell Grant or are first in their family to attend college may also receive a fee waiver. They can complete SwatPass to see if they are eligible.

Standardized test scores are optional for transfer students. We accept self-reported scores from students who wish to share their test results, but testing is not required.

We meet full determined financial need with loan-free aid. We practice need-blind admissions for domestic applicants and award loan-free financial aid decisions (grants and work study) that meet full determined financial need. These distinctive commitments apply to any student who is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or is undocumented and has graduated from high school in the U.S. International students who require financial aid are not eligible for transfer. Additionally, we reduce hidden fees by eliminating some of the costs of college, like tutoring, printing, laundry, and tickets to campus events.

We waive the enrollment deposit for financially eligible students. In addition, we do not ask for a housing deposit.

Transfer students benefit from our transparent credit transfer policies. Our goal is for transfer students to graduate on schedule without having to retake course material. Typically, general education courses in the liberal arts (English and humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and natural sciences) are more likely to earn transfer credit than technical, vocational, and specific-topic courses. Admitted transfer students receive credit evaluations along with their admission decision in May.

We take a holistic and contextual approach when reviewing applications, and good-fit candidates tend to be:

• Intellectually curious and enthusiastic about learning

• Generous towards others and civically engaged

• Willing to work hard and seek help when needed

• Achieving mostly A’s in a rigorous liberal arts or general education curriculum

Questions? Contact us at transfer@swarthmore.edu. 

_______________