Weekly (sort of) Newsletter

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Communication Skills Webinar Hosted by Active Minds, HSO, & PTK: 11/13

Join us for a presentation by ACC's Mental Health Counseling team all about the power of communication, and how we can strengthen our connection to one another and overcome conflict. This webinar will feature ACC's own Licensed Professional Counselors, Andrew Silver and Mike Gibbs, to introduce us to concepts that help us in relationships, from bids for repair to cultivating trust, and how to lean into vulnerability. We will also explore how our internal narratives shape our interactions, and learn practical ways to avoid miscommunication and create better understanding.

This event is hosted in partnership with Active Minds, Honors Student Organization, and Alpha Gamma Pi (ACC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter). 

RSVP here: https://austincc.campuslabs.com/engage/event/10683338

Wednesday, November 13th, 9:30-11:30 am (online)

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Join the "Little Ivy" Swarthmore College Info Session: 11/15, 1:00 pm

If you find yourself hankering to leave Austin and transfer out-of-state, check out the transfer info session with Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. 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. The Vice President and Dean of Admissions--who happens to be a McCallum HS grad--will be meeting virtually with ACC Honors Program students next Friday the 15th at 1:00 pm. Bring your questions about transfer and financial aid. 

Link: 

https://swarthmore.zoom.us/j/82305440692

Friday, November 15th, 1:00-2:00 pm

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Leadership and Service Opportunities with the Center for Govt. & Civic Service

The Honors Program is teaming up with ACC's (new!) Center for Government and Civic Service at the Rio Grande Campus. They'll be running their first civic leadership simulation on November 22nd, during which students will have the opportunity to respond to a city-wide health crisis by inhabiting a wide variety of roles (mayor, health officials, conspiracy theorists, etc). Participation in three of these simulations will satisfy the Honors Scholar leadership requirement. Another leadership opportunity--the Open Government Partnership with the city of Austin--is described below, as well as two separate service activities. Check it out and get involved!   

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Fall Transfer Tour to UT

Transfer Services is providing a tour and information session at the University of Texas, and they will transport you there!

IMPORTANT: If you applied to be a UT YCS Fellow, the College of Education is hosting a luncheon/reception for all new YCS Fellows on December 6th from 12-2 at the Highland Campus Welcome Center, and they will also bring UT advisors. They would like all new fellows to attend, so please don't register for this tour if you are a new fellow (which you will learn on November 18th). 

Date: Friday, December 6

Time: Arrive at Highland Campus by 9:30am. Estimated return to the Highland Campus is 3:00pm.

Departure Location: Bus will depart and return from the ACC Highland Campus

Tour will include:

• Transfer Admissions Info Session

• Tours of the Communications and Cockrell Engineering buildings 

• Lunch at a UT Dining Hall. 

There is limited seating for this tour. Only complete this registration if you are sure you can attend.

Register Here

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Spring '25 Honors Registration and new Service-Learning Class

Are you hoping to fulfill the Honors Scholar requirements and need a service opportunity? Professor Louisa Spaventa's "Queer Writings" ENGL 1302 (Composition II) course will be a designated service-learning class in the spring. Students will collaborate with Talk About It Texas.

You can see all of the Spring '25 Honors courses on the college's course schedule page. Registration is now open; Please fill out the registration request form to ensure your spot in the courses offered. Remember, only Honors Program staff can register you due to the restricted nature of these courses. If you need some guidance about what courses to take, our Honors advisor Jana McCarthy can help you out: jana.mccarthy@austincc.edu.   

For general questions about registration, please contact honors@austincc.edu. Our support staff members Professor Melissa Foote and Professor Marcel Pons Ventura are eager to help.

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Fireside Chat with Alejandra Campoverdi: 11/15

ACC is excited to announce a special event featuring Alejandra Campoverdi, a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, bestselling author, and former White House aide to President Barack Obama. Alejandra will join ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart for a fireside chat. She will share her inspiring journey as a first-generation American and college student and insights from her memoir, “First Gen: A Memoir.” This event is a fantastic opportunity to engage with a leader committed to improving healthcare access for underserved communities.

Date: Friday, November 15

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Highland Campus, Building 2000, Presentation Hall

RSVP: bit.ly/3BLZ4uC

Following the chat, there will be a special Q&A session and a book signing, with copies of “First Gen” available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Transportation Survey: We Need Your Input

CapMetro is asking for feedback on their current transit lines as they prepare to plan for upcoming route changes based on interest, usage, and need. They would like ACC students’ voices to be heard in this process.  Remember that your input directly affects how well CapMetro can meet your travel needs. Go here to get started!

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Ivy League Info Sessions: U Penn & Columbia U General School

Interested in attending an Ivy League school without having to relocate? The University of Pennsylvania is offering a fully online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree. Register for a virtual transfer session here. Dates for the sessions are 11/12, noon, EST or 12/3 6:00 pm EST

 Students interested in exploring further can:

Review the Penn LPS online website

Request a preliminary transfer credit evaluation

Attend a live detailed virtual info session where they can ask questions or just listen

Watch a recorded general virtual session

Request more information

Schedule an appointment to talk with our admissions team (lpsonline@sas.upenn.edu)

Columbia University General School 

A number of ACC Honors students have transferred to the General School, including Marc Stoyer and Matthew Wilds. If you're interested in the possibilities, plan to attend one of their upcoming online information sessions:

GS Undergraduate Online Information Session

Wednesday, November 13, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

GS Undergraduate Online Information Session

Wednesday, December 11, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Friday Forum: Academic Interest - Humanities and the Arts

Friday, December 13, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

As always, if you apply and are accepted, let me know! We will co-host a transfer panel event with Transfer Services in February featuring Honors students who have transferred to highly competitive universities: UT's Journalism Program, Columbia University, and Brown University. 

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Upcoming Programs with Texas Law Pipeline Program

Interested in Law School? Check out UT Law School's upcoming programs:

Law School Planning Day

November 22

11:00 AM

Texas Law

All details and registration for each event can be found at: https://law.utexas.edu/pipeline-program/pre-law-events/

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NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Deadline: 11/25

We've had many Honors students join NCAS, and we'd like to see you take advantage of this one-of-a-kind opportunity, too. (You don't even have to be a STEM major to participate, as NASA needs folks from a variety of disciplines.) Check out the details here and attend one of the info sessions listed below. If you complete any of the missions, let me know. 

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NASA L'SPACE Program Applications Open for Spring 2025

Folks, these opportunities come to us courtesy of Honors Program alum Theo Courtois and Program Coordinator at the NASA L'SPACE Program at ASU. Let us know if you apply and are accepted!

I wanted to reach out to let you know that the applications for the NASA L'SPACE Program academies have opened for the Spring 2025 semester! Applications for the programs are reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested students should apply as soon as possible. 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.

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.

I hope that Honors Program students at Austin Community College will continue to take advantage of these free NASA workforce development programs. My participation in these programs has been instrumental in my understanding of the complex challenges of the space industry. 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 questions related to these academies, please let them know that they are welcome to reach out to me directly via email: tcourtoi@asu.edu.

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The Mellon Humanities Collaboratory: Fully Funded Summer Research Opportunity

Interested in escaping Texas during the summer and doing research in the Humanities? See details below! In 2023, we sent two ACC Honors students to Baltimore: Adelaide Rouech-Beard (Art History & Sociology) and Zek McCormick (Philosophy & Computer Science). We'd love to send more students this year. If you apply and are accepted, definitely let me know! Also, I have a couple of sample proposals, so touch base with me if you're interested: athomas2@austincc.edu. 

I’m writing to invite Austin Community College students to apply to a fully funded summer research program hosted by Johns Hopkins University. The Mellon Humanities Collaboratory provides emerging humanities scholars currently enrolled in community college with a generous summer stipend of $6,000 for ten weeks of full-time mentored research. On top of the stipend, travel to and from Baltimore and housing at our beautiful campus are included in the award at no cost to the student. The program will be held on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland, from May 27 through August 2, 2025.

With support and mentorship from Johns Hopkins faculty and research staff, Humanities Collaboratory participants design their own research projects in any area of the humanities. Using a student-centered, peer-modeling approach, the Collaboratory invites students to work together constructively while pursuing their individual projects. This highly successful model develops undergraduates as subject matter experts and prepares them for further study in the humanities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Our website has more information, including videos produced by previous years’ participants detailing the impact of the program.

Applications for the 2024 program are open now through December 2, 2024. Due to restrictions on the Mellon funding, the program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. The only other eligibility requirements are current enrollment in a community college and an interest in humanities research. The online application can be found here.

We are hosting a series of virtual info sessions over the coming weeks. Please share the following links with your students and encourage them to register for a session:

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