Weekly (sort of) Newsletter

While classes are filling up, we still have seats available in a few disciplines. For some full classes, we're already making our way through our internal waitlists--we generally see a lot of movement between now and January, as students make changes to their schedules.

We're dealing with an unusually high volume of calls/emails since we opened the registration request form on the 6th. We're working diligently to answer your queries, but it may take us a bit more time than usual.

Questions? Contact honors@austincc.edu

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Sign Up for ACC Transfer Tour to TXST

Please join ACC Transfer Services on a tour and information session of Texas State University.

Registration required. Space is limited so please register early!

Date: Friday, December 5

Location, departure and arrival times for each campus are below:

Hays Campus: arrive by 8:30 a.m., estimated return is 1:30 p.m.

Highland Campus: arrive by 8:30 a.m., estimated return is 2:00 p.m.

Round Rock Campus: arrive by 7:30 a.m., estimated return is 2:30 p.m.

South Austin Campus: arrive by 8:00 a.m., estimated return is 2:00 p.m.

***Dual credit and Early College High School students are not eligible for this trip.***

Trip will include:

Transfer Admissions Info Session
Campus Tour
Lunch at a Texas State dining hall

For questions please contact Marisa Rodriguez Serrano at mrodrig6@austincc.edu

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Screening of Dead Man: Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities Forum: 11/13 & 11/17

The Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities Forum presents a screening of Jim Jarmusch’s sparse and powerful Western, DEAD MAN, on November 13 and 17 at 7pm at Austin Film Society. Details are here.

The November 13 screening will be followed by a post-film discussion with Austin Community College professors Antonio Ramirez and Matt Kliewer from the Department of PRH, moderated by Prof. Jean Lauer.

*November 17th screening only (no discussion)

$4 discounts to both screenings available for Faculty, Students, and Staff with ID at box office. (If you reserve online, the code is "4ACC.")

“A hypnotic and beautiful black-and-white Western … simultaneously a mystical, highly poetic account of dying; a well-researched appreciation of Native American cultures; a frightening portrait of modern American violence and capitalist greed."

—The Chicago Reader

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Swarthmore College Info Session: HLC, 11/13 (Hyflex Room reserved)

Remember I was telling you to consider schools like "Little Ivies," since they often provide a lot of financial aid? Check out the upcoming transfer info session with Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Ranked #4 Liberal Arts College in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, it's one of the nation's most diverse colleges, and the administration is committed to meeting 100% of determined financial need. In a rare opportunity, the Vice President and Dean of Admissions Jim Bock--who happens to be an Austin McCallum HS grad--will be meeting ACC Honors Program students in person at 4:00 pm on Thursday, November 13th at HLC. (Register here.) Bring your questions about transfer and financial aid.

Details about Swarthmore from Jim: Swarthmore is a residential liberal arts and engineering college of about 1,700 students located 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia. We offer more than 40 majors and minors in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences—plus pre-med, pre-vet, and pre-law advising. To make Swarthmore affordable for all students regardless of their socioeconomic background, we meet 100% of determined financial need through loan-free financial aid awards. In addition, Swarthmore is a cash-free campus, which means there are no extra fees for things like laundry, printing, concerts, and movie nights. We also provide free SEPTA train passes for all students to access the Philadelphia area, directly from the train on campus. For more on our community and admissions process, please view our website at https://www.swarthmore.edu/ or visit our transfer admissions page at https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/apply-a-transfer-student.

When: Thursday, November 14th at 4:00 pm

Where: HLC building 1000, Room 2414 or via Zoom

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Bat Chats x Honors Program: HLC, 11/13

As you may know, Student Life asked us to partner with them to host an Honors-themed Bat Chat (sort of like a TED Talk, but with snacks). The coordinators reviewed a number of applications by Honors Program students and ultimately selected Brandon Choi, who will be presenting "Yeoyu: Finding Happiness Through Space in the Mind,” a discussion of the Korean idea called yeoyu—which means “spare space”—changed the way he thinks about happiness.

Designed with ACC Honors students in mind—and grounded in a uniquely Korean cultural perspective—this talk will offer practical tools for avoiding burnout and sustaining a healthy, balanced sense of ambition. (Also, if you're interested in presenting your own "Bat Chat X Honors Program" in order to satisfy the leadership requirement for the Honors Scholar tier, it'll be helpful to see one of these in action. Full disclosure: the Student Life coordinators select the candidates, not me or any Honors faculty or staff.)

Come see us at the Make It Center on November 13th, or plan to join via Zoom! Register here.

November 13th | 2:00-4:00pm | Highland Campus - Make it Center (Building 2000, Room 2429)

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HSO Symposium: Take Control of Your Money, 11/18

The Honors Student Organization (HSO) is hosting a workshop with ACC's money management team; come learn strategies to beef up your financial skills.

Tuesday, November 18 2025 at 3:00 PM

Highland Campus Building 2000 Room 1410

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Southwestern University Virtual Transfer Info Sessions, 11/18 & 11/21

Discover Your Next Step: Transfer to Southwestern University

Virtual Information Sessions – November 18 and November 21

Are you planning your next move after ACC? Join us for a virtual information session to learn how you can transfer to Southwestern University—a nationally recognized liberal arts university where small classes, personal connections, and hands-on learning lead to big opportunities.

During this session, you’ll hear directly from our Transfer Admission team about:
· How to make a seamless transfer to Southwestern University
· Scholarships and financial aid available to transfer students
· The Paideia approach to education that connects what you learn in and out of the classroom
· Student life, campus involvement, and what makes the Southwestern experience unique
· And much more!

Register today to reserve your spot:
· Tuesday, November 18 at 4:00 PM (Zoom registration here)
· Friday, November 21 at 12:00 PM (Zoom registration here)

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The Honors Student Organization (HSO) Is Seeking New Officers

Are you a member of the HSO yet? You should be. Here is their call for officers:

Are you hoping to fulfill your Honors Scholar leadership requirements or looking for a way to get more involved in the Honors community? The Honors Student Organization (HSO) has an exciting opportunity for you! We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for two officer positions for the Spring 2026 HSO Officer Team:

Secretary
Officer of Service Projects

These positions are a great opportunity to jump into leadership, gain experience, and help shape the direction of HSO. You’ll work alongside a dedicated officer team to organize events, support fellow Honors students, and strengthen our community across campuses.

Election Timeline

Deadline for Nominations: Monday, November 17, 11:59 p.m.
Voting Period: Friday, November 21 – December 5, 11:59 p.m.
New Officers Announced: Thursday, December 11 at the HSO White Elephant Party
(Official email announcement sent Friday, December 12)

Requirements & Details

Must have a minimum GPA of 3.25
Must have completed or promise to complete at least one Honors course within one academic year of election
Officers serve for at least one semester (President serves for the full academic year)
Must attend regular member meetings and officer meetings, and assist with planning and hosting HSO events

Position Descriptions

Secretary
The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit copies to organization members upon request. They will handle all organization correspondence and upload copies to the HSO MySL “Documents Tab” for reference. The Secretary also maintains membership records for the organization.

Officer of Service Projects
The Officer of Service Projects coordinates and leads volunteer and service events that allow members to earn Honors Program service hours. This officer works closely with Student Life, the Honors Program, community partners, and other campus organizations to provide meaningful opportunities aligned with HSO’s values of leadership, community, and academic engagement.

How to Nominate

If you’re interested in running for one of these open positions, nominate yourself using the Spring 2026 HSO Officer Self Nomination Form.
You may nominate yourself for more than one position, but please complete a separate form for each role.

Each nomination must include a short video (1:30–2:00 minutes) introducing yourself, your qualifications, and why you’re the best candidate for the position.

Videos should be recorded in a quiet, well-lit space.

If you have any questions about the nomination process or officer responsibilities, please contact HSO Advisor Jana McCarthy at jana.mccarthy@austincc.edu.

Why Get Involved?

Becoming an officer is a rewarding way to network across ACC campuses, work closely with faculty and peers, and develop your leadership skills. You’ll help foster community, contribute to meaningful projects, and carry on the legacy of excellence that defines HSO. We look forward to welcoming new officers who will continue to build on our mission of service, leadership, and community in the semesters ahead.

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Student Input Needed

SGA (Student Government Association) needs your input on the kind of transfer event you'd like to see; please fill out this short form with your preferences.

ACC has recently approved an inclusive, quiet space that students can use for meditation, reflection, and prayer. Student leaders are gathering student input on a welcoming, neutral name; here is the survey.

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College and Career Mentorship Experience

College Contact is partnering with high schools across Texas to provide one-on-one college and career guidance — and they’re looking for ACC students to serve as mentors! This role is a great way for students to gain professional experience, earn income, and make a positive impact on their community. Mentorships are 100% virtual, with flexible hours, a guaranteed semesterly stipend, and bonus opportunities. Here’s a short video and the link to apply.

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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Non-voting Member Nomination

Would you like to join high-level deliberations about higher education in Texas? Then nominate yourself or someone else to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board!

Qualifications:

For initial consideration, nominees must meet the following minimum criteria.

Be enrolled as an undergraduate student at ACC.
Be in good academic standing with no disciplinary/conduct infractions.
Commit to fulfill all board related responsibilities during their term of service.
Have a strong drive and self-motivation to contribute to the progress of higher education in Texas.

To Nominate click here.

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Fulbright UK Summer Institutes

Have you spent almost no time outisde of North America? Interested in studying at a university in the United Kingdom this summer? Then plan to apply to the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes when applications open on November 11th; the institute covers airfare, accommodations, tuition and fees, and some meals.

Eligibility requirements:

Be a US citizen and possess a US passport
Have had no or very little study/travel experience outside of North America
Have a minimum GPA of 3.6
Be at least 18 years old
Be able to participate in the program in its entirety
Have at least two years of undergraduate study remaining after the Institute finishes
Not participate in any other study abroad programs during the Summer of 2026.

Applications are available on this site. If you apply and are accepted, by all means let me know.

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Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Symposium at Johns Hopkins

Last year, Honors student Eva Ritchie's paper, “Good Grief! Confucius and Cicero’s Expressions of Bereavement,” was accepted for inclusion in the 2025 Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, which showcases student work across all fields of the humanities. Eva, a Government major who wrote the essay for Dr. Wendy Elle’s Honors World Literature I class, traveled to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to present it. The 2026 conference will take place on March 19-21, and the deadline for submission is December 1st.

JHU instructions: Application instructions can be found on the Apply page of the symposium website. Notifications of acceptance to the conference will be made at the end of December. Early bird registration (by January 15) will be $150. Regular registration (by January 31) will be $185.

A small number of fee waivers and travel scholarships will be available; instructions for applying for this funding will be sent along with conference acceptances in late December. More information about the conference schedule and logistics can be found on the

Attendance Information page of our website.

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Research Experiences for Community College Students Project

Honors Psychology major Soul Stough has put together a helpful website collating a number of research opportunities for community college students--which, although they do exist (and you've already seen some of your Honors Riverbat peers take advantage of them), are not as common as the typical four-year undergraduate research experience. Some of these opportunities include funding.

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Smith College Virtual Transfer Info Sessions

Did you know that ACC Honors Program students transfer to Ivy League School, "little Ivies," and top 10 public schools? In the last couple of years, we've had students transfer to Yale, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, and a wide variety of competitive public universities across the country, UT among them. So when I send out opportunities that seem to be beyond your reach, please don't immediately discount them. I'd like to see you really examine the opportunities--especially if funding is offered. This week we're featuring Smith College, a women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts that is quite generous with financial aid (and has pledged to provide free tuition beginning in Fall 2026 for those who have annual family incomes of $150,000 or less). Here are a few highlights:

Transfers can apply with 16 - 64 credits: we consider carefully each transfer's academic record on a case-by-case basis and provide a full credit evaluation at the time of admission.
We also have a program for non-traditional transfers: Ada Comstock Scholars are 24 or older and can apply with 48 to 64 credits.
All transfers are eligible for generous financial aid: We meet 100% of each student's demonstrated financial need without loans.
Unique housing system: Our 41 self-governed student houses are age-diverse and foster an immediate sense of belonging.
Five College Consortium: Our partnership in the Five College Consortium provides access to over 7,000 courses on our partner campuses plus additional clubs, libraries and special collections.

Smith will be hosting virtual transfer info sessions in October and November. Go here, scroll to "Virtual Transfer Q&A" and then click the calendar to find the links for these dates (note that the times listed are Eastern Standard Time):

Nov 13th from 6-7pm (ET)

You are also encouraged to fill out Smith's Information Request Form.

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Ready to Become an Honors Scholar?

While taking an Honors class can certainly enhance your transfer applications, becoming an Honors Scholar--a student who takes at least three honors courses, maintains a 3.5 GPA, and engages in select leadership and service activities--can set you apart from your peers in ways that admissions committees find appealing. Becoming an Honors Scholar, for example, will grant you automatic admission to the UT Dallas Hobson Wildenthal Honors College. (We should have that transfer agreement finalized by the end of the fall semester.)

Honors Scholars receive recognition on their transcripts, a digital badge, and honor stoles for graduation ceremonies. For an explanation of the kinds of leadership and service activities required, visit the Honors Scholar page.

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