Weekly (sort of) Newsletter

Apply Now for the UT LBJ School Policy Immersion Experience on 10/16

UT's LBJ School is a top-ranked (#11 in the nation) graduate school for Public Affairs, and beginning this semester, they are offering a Bachelor of Public Affairs degree. The school will be open to transfers in 2027.

To position ACC Honors students so that they can learn more about the bachelor and graduate degrees, we have collaborated with the school to design opportunities for those who are considering careers in public service (these might include various government agencies, court systems, hospitals, schools and colleges, city and state government, work with nonprofits, energy and environmental policy, international affairs, etc.) To that end, the LBJ School has designed programming for ACC Honors students that will dovetail into their regular open house programming on Thursday, October 16th. I realize Thursday is not ideal for many of you who have classes. If you need to miss class to attend, you can always refer your professors to me (athomas2@austincc.edu), and I'll be happy to explain the uniqueness of the opportunity. 

This one-day program offers students a unique opportunity to explore the world of public affairs and global policy at the LBJ School. Through workshops, panel discussions, and an admissions overview, participants will gain invaluable insights into the degree programs, career pathways, and opportunities for creating positive change:

9:00 am-12:00 pm: A curated experience just for ACC Honors students, which starts with a guided tour of the LBJ Presidential Library, followed by a lecture on leadership and lunch provided by ACC.

At noon, students will join the regular open house schedule, which features a student panel, a mock class, an admissions overview, and a résumé session. In the late afternoon/evening, participants will have the option to join "Policy Connect," a social and networking event catered by the LBJ School. 

Location: LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, 2315 Red River St

Date: October 16th, 2025

Parking is free in the LBJ Presidential Library Parking lot

Interested? Then apply here by Sunday, September 28th. We can take up to 25 students.  To be considered eligible, you must have taken (or be taking) at least one Honors course.

Five ACC Honors students attended the LBJ PPIA Public Service Weekend for the very first time in 2024, and in Summer 2025, they invited six additional students. LBJ plans to make this opportunity available to ACC Honors students again in Summer 2026; we'll be announcing those applications in the spring.

About those six students: Three are current ACC students, two have transferred to UT (with one actively planning to get her Master's degree in Public Affairs at LBJ), and one now works at the LBJ Presidential Library, while he earns his degree online from the University of Pennsylvania's College of Liberal and Professional Studies. All found the experience transformative, and you can read about one participant's experiences here.      

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Big Ol' Honors Party! HSO Welcome Reception, 9/29

Student Life's Honors Student Organization (HSO) is putting on a party, and they want y'all to come! (If you're new to Honors, this is an excellent opportunity to connect with other Honors students and learn about the HSO.) Also, the HSO serves much nicer food than the Honors Program does (alas!) Here is your formal invitation:

The Honors Student Organization cordially invites you to their second annual Honors Welcome Reception with Special Guest Keynote: ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. This networking social is open to all ACC Honors Program students, Phi Theta Kappa members, members of The Scholarship Society, students aspiring to reach higher levels of achievement, as well as Honors Program faculty and staff, and ACC Academic and Student Affairs leadership. Come celebrate the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, meet others in your programs, and network with ACC faculty and staff. You will also have the opportunity to mingle with Honors Ambassadors to ask your questions about the ACC Honors Program and meet the 2025–2026 HSO Officer Team. 

Food and refreshments sponsored by the Student Affairs Office of Student Engagement & Academic Success and ACC Associate Vice Chancellor, Dr. Willie Martinez. *Business Casual attire recommended and RSVP is required.

*Dr. T aside here: if you don't have business casual attire, come anyway!

Date/Location:

Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, 5:30pm-7:30pm at ACC Highland Campus, 

Building 2000, Presentation Hall and Mural Space (Rm 1550)

 6101 Highland Campus Dr, Austin, TX

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Fall Transfer Week, September 15-19

ACC’s Fall Transfer Week is taking place September 15–19.

What is Transfer Week?

• Transfer Week includes events hosted by ACC’s Transfer Services team in partnership with several four-year universities designed to help students explore their future, understand transfer options, and prepare for their future transfer.

• Sessions include both in-person and virtual events, university info sessions and recruitment visits, and highlights other ACC events that help students continue on their academic journey and meet their transfer goals.

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Bat Chats x Honors Program (Get a Leadership Credit)

After Zoila Walston's successful Bat Chat in Spring 2025, Student Life has once again invited eligible Honors students (must have taken or be enrolled in one Honors class) to create an Honors edition of Bat Chats. These are a lot like TED Talks, and students who participate will fulfill the leadership requirement for the Honors Scholar tier. You can form a panel with other Honors students (perhaps specific to material from a particular Honors course you've taken), or else you can conduct a solo chat. Zoila's chat was titled "Ambition without Exhaustion: Balance vs. Rhythm," a discussion that both challenged the myth of "balance" and--drawing upon Zoila's experience as a musician--proposed a new way to think about achieving our ambitions through a consideration of rhythm.

Here is the link for the application, which is due September 28th.

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Past Bat Chats Titles & Descriptions

• Sample Bat Chat Topics

• Honors Program Topics for the Application:

  • Topics on subject matters they are discussing in their Honors classes

  • Discussing why they became an Honors student and how it has impacted their ACC career

  • Panel of Honors Program students discussing the program 

• BATCHATxHonors Program will be held on Thursday, November 13th at the Highland Campus Make-it-Center. Once the host is selected, they will pick a two hour timeframe between 12-4pm to hold their presentation.

When completing the form, make sure to select the “Honors Program” option to ensure your application is associated with our program.

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Great Questions Community Seminar, 9/17

Honors Government Professor Ted Hadzi-Antich is planning a recognition of Constitution Day on 9/17 with a community seminar and a variety of special guests:

What is an American? 

On Wednesday, September 17, please join members of our community for this special Great Questions Community Seminar where we'll ask this timely and important question. Guided by the text of the Declaration of Independence and the perspective of individuals like Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Barbara Jordan and Gloria Anzaldúa, we'll be joined by state and local elected officials in exploring the unique nature of American identity in our unfolding political experiment. This event is in partnership with Student Life and ACC's Government Affairs Division, and is in recognition of Constitution Day.

After small group discussions moderated by ACC students and faculty members, we'll hear what elected officials from the State, County and City governments took away from their experience as participants. Expect to engage with lawmakers, judges and county officials. Please join us for this special event at HLC on Wednesday, September 17. Those who RSVP here will be emailed the exact location. 

Here is the general schedule: 

• 6pm - 6:45pm: Pizza served, participants eat, gather, hangout and check out tables from SGA, PTK, and other student organizations. 

• 6:45pm - 7pm: Great Questions Community Seminar Introduction and Goals <-- We Get Started Here

• 7pm - 8pmish: Small group discussions

• 8pm - 8:45pm: Panel of students and elected officials from State, County and City governments

• 8:45pm - ?: Participant engagement with panel.

Please remember to complete the reading assignment before attending the event. You can find the reading and some questions here.

This event has the potential to be meaningful if everybody does the reading. Please help us make it meaningful by reading the text selection before you attend. 

Please arrive right at 6pm if you want to ensure your opportunity to pizza; we're expecting many participants. 

Special Guests include:

• Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes

• Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin

• State Representative John Bucy

• State Representative Lulu Flores

• Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard

• Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea

• 419th District Judge Catherine Mauzy

• Travis County Court at Law Judge #3 Bianca Garcia

• Justice of the Peace Raul Gonzalez (Pct. 4)

• Justice of the Peace Tanisa Jeffers (Pct. 5)

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ACC Peace Day Event, 9/19

Celebrate International Day of Peace with ACC’s Center for Peace & Conflict Studies! We will explore how social, economic, and environmental sustainability contribute to a safer and more peaceful world and how each of us can participate. Connect with organizations across the college representing a wide range of interests including, STEM, business, and communal and individual well-being, and more. Participate in activity stations, engage with panelists and Q&A sessions, and discover how your local actions contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RSVP here

Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Time: Refreshments & Social hour starts @ 5 PM
Programming starts @ 5:30-7:15 PM
Location: RGC 3340

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Star Party with the Astronomy Club, 9/20

The ACC Astronomy Club invites you to come out for a relaxing evening of space, stories, and s’mores with us—no astronomy experience needed! 

When: This Saturday, September 20th | 8:00 PM –11:00 PM

Where: The Nature Conservancy

Meeting Spot: We'll be meeting at the bottom of the stairs from the parking lot—turn right when you see the sign “Barton Creek Habitat Preserve–The Nature Conservancy” and you will see an open graveled road to park in.

What’s Happening:

• Stargazing with telescope tutorials

• A short talk on the autumn equinox & the Titan shadow transit across Saturn

• Campfire + classic s’mores

• Bring a friend, a blanket, your telescope, and bug spray!

Join the ACC Astronomy Club Discord server to learn more: Discord

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HSO Fall Calendar

Curious about the HSO? 

Here’s a quick overview:
The Honors Student Organization is a student-led group for ACC Honors students and those who consider themselves high-achieving. We host monthly member meetings, success symposiums, volunteer opportunities, and LOTS of fun events. You can think of HSO as the social side of the Honors Program, where you’ll meet like-minded students and also connect with Honors faculty and staff.

This semester the HSO team is going full force, and we want to let YOU know what we have coming up so far. Want to get involved? Join here. 

Upcoming Events

• 9/13 – Volunteer Opportunity at Community First! Village
  
  

• 9/23 – Symposium: Defining Success as a Student Leader
  
  

• 9/25 – HSO Monthly Membership Meeting: Let’s Talk Honors!
  
  

• 9/29 – The Second Annual Honors Welcome Reception
  
  

• 10/19 – COTA Service Day at F1
  
  

• 10/23 – Día de los Muertos Event
  
  

• 10/30 – Ghostly Gala

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HSO Success Symposium, 9/23

The HSO is kicking off the semester with  a success symposium; RSVP here and see details below.

This workshop will give participants an opportunity to explore their own definition of success and learn about the many available resources at ACC that can help highly motivated students meet their individual goals. Come join us for some real talk about how to navigate the pressures of success when it’s not just about GPA! 

The workshop will be hosted by Jana McCarthy, Honors Student Organization Advisor, who has over 15 years of experience in Student Success and Student Support at the college level. Her research interests focus on supporting high-achieving students, and she has most recently published an article in the TEXAAN Journal on this topic. Jana is also an Honors graduate herself, earning an AA in History with Honors from Lone Star College–Kingwood in 2009, a Bachelor’s in History and a Bachelor’s in Psychology with Honors Thesis and University Honors, and an Honors Minor in Creative Work from the University of Houston in 2012. She completed a Master’s in Higher Education Administration in Fall 2022 from Sam Houston State University.

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ACCTV Casting Call: 9/23 & 9/24

Executive Producer Carrye Glazer of ACCTV is looking for talent, and she is inviting *Honors students to participate in a casting call: 

I wanted to make sure you knew about ACC’s Casting Call that will be happening at the Highland Campus in a couple of weeks.   We would love your help spreading the word with your amazing students!  

We are looking for students to shine on ACCTV programs, in commercials, social media features, testimonials, or even suit up with the ACC Mascot Team.  All opportunities will be paid.
 

Dates: September 23 and 24

Times: 9-4 PM

Location: ACCTV Studio in Highland Building 4000 (above the bookstore)

Get all the details: austincc.edu/talent

*Of course, from my point of view, having Honors students in the mix can only reflect well on the program. So really it's your duty to participate. 😁

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UT LBJ School Latino Policy Research Symposium, 9/26

UT's LBJ School is excited to welcome you to the 3rd Annual Latino Policy Research Symposium on September 26th: 

Titled Desde la raíz - Building Generational Well-Being, this free and open-to-the-public annual event brings together thought leaders, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to explore strategies that drive equitable progress for Latino communities nationwide.

The 3rd Annual Latino Policy Research Symposium will feature keynote speakers, engaging angels, and networking opportunities. This year’s event will focus on building generational well-being and address critical topics such as housing and education equity.

Location: LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, 2315 Red River St

Date: September 26th, 2025

Time: 8:00-5:00 pm

Lunch will be limited to the first 100 RSVP's, and parking is available. To RSVP and for more details about the day's agenda, go here.  

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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. Students who are on track to fulfill the requirements are eligible to apply for the Honors Program scholarship--it is not necessary to have completed all of them to apply. See details below. (If you are applying for the scholarship, please first register your intention to become an Honors Scholar at honors@austincc.edu.) For an explanation of the kinds of leadership and service activities required, visit the Honors Scholar page. 

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Honors Program Scholarship Is Open: Deadline 11/1

The ACC Honors Program Scholarship is open, and applications are due by November 1st. This scholarship is awarded in the spring only, and we will award at least 5 scholarships of $1000 each. 

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must 1) have taken or be currently taking at least one Honors course, 2) declared your intention to become an Honors Scholar with honors@austincc.edu (just email us and say you'd like to become one), and 3) have at least a 3.5 GPA. That does not mean that you must have fulfilled all of the Honors Scholar requirements at the time of application; you just need to be heading in that direction. (The idea is that the scholarship money can help you to complete your remaining requirements by paying for additional courses.) Students who have already received a $2500 ACC Foundation Open Scholarship for 2025-2026 are not eligible to apply, unfortunately.

What is the purpose of the Honors Scholar tier? We wanted to provide students with an "Honors portfolio," of sorts, which will make them even more competitive transfer/job applicants. Right now, everyone who takes an Honors course has that course designated as Honors on their transcript, but if you become an Honors Scholar, you'll receive what is known as an endorsement on your transcript (basically a fancy stamp that signifies completion of a special initiative/program of study). You will also receive a digital badge that you can use for LinkedIn, transfer applications, etc. The endorsement demonstrates a level of rigor and involvement that university admissions committees tend to find very attractive--especially when paired with an application essay that highlights your leadership and service activities as an Honors Scholar. Also, admissions offices are familiar with this kind of tier; Honors Scholars are common at many community colleges and universities.

Here is where you'll go to fill out the general application--make sure you check the box that asks if you are in the Honors Program--and here is the scholarship itself. You will not be competing with the entire ACC population; you'll be competing with Honors students who have registered their intention to become Honors Scholars only. (That's a relatively small pool! Seriously, we only had 18 eligible applicants last year!) The applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of Honors faculty and the HSO advisor. To register your intention to become an Honors Scholar, please contact honors@austincc.edu. You'll receive instructions about how to proceed.

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NEW Honors Courses in Spring '26

• ARTS 1403, Art History I, "Loot! Stolen Masterpieces in Ancient Art History" (Kristina Elizondo, HLC/Hybrid) 

• SAPN 1412, Spanish II: "Ritmos del Caribe: The Music, Slang and Culture of the Caribbean" (Marcel Pons Ventura, HLC)

• BIOL 1406, Cellular & Molecular Biology: "SEA-PHAGES Genome Annotation" (Kisaaou Tchedre, EVC)

We also have plans to add A&P II (BIOL 2402) at EVC and RRC. This schedule is not yet finalized because it does not include all of the additions, but it's helpful nonetheless.

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