Austin Community College 'Community Conversations' Set

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Community College District will host a series of Community Conversations to share information and get feedback about the future of its Pinnacle Campus in Southwest Austin, officials announced on Monday.

The conversations will take place at Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 U.S. 290, across from the Pinnacle Campus. The college is exploring what a future campus on the Pinnacle Campus property will look like. ACC will share information about the district-wide Campus Master Planning process and invite the community to share ideas and provide feedback.

ACC Pinnacle Campus Community Conversations

Monday, Dec. 2 | 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 | 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“Our role as trustees is to serve as a conduit to our communities,” Gigi Edwards-Bryant, ACC Board of Trustees chair, said in a prepared statement. “I’m pleased that we’re engaging with stakeholders who live, work, and play here. It’s a powerful opportunity to learn about their unique needs.”

The college is exploring what a future campus on the Pinnacle Campus property will look like. ACC will share information about the districtwide Campus Master Planning process and invite the community to share ideas and provide feedback. There are 46 acres of current green space at Pinnacle that are designated for future college development.

“Our campuses are a reflection of the communities they serve," added Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO. "This is an exciting opportunity to step back and examine what the southwest Austin region lacks when it comes to higher education. We want to learn about the business and industry needs, explore growth trends, and take a thoughtful and collaborative approach as we move forward with a state-of-the-art learning environment that will serve the southwest region for years to come.”

The Pinnacle Campus building itself closed in summer 2018 for evaluation of needed repairs and renovations. In April, ACC’s Board of Trustees declared the building and its nine adjacent acres as surplus property that no longer met the standards and mission of the college and would be too costly to repair or renovate. Trustees hired a real estate firm to gauge interest in the building and its immediate nine acres. In November, Trustees reviewed bids and dismissed all current offers.

The Community Conversations are free and open to the public. For more information, visit austincc.edu/pinnaclenextsteps.

A map of the ACC Pinnacle property (approximately 55 total acres). The portion highlighted in red includes the Pinnacle Campus building and its nine adjacent acres. The remaining property (46 acres) is designated for future campus development. Courtesy of Austin Community College.

In related news, Austin Community College announced its upcoming events scheduled in the coming days through Nov. 10:

• ACC Fest — Find your path into the hottest jobs in Central Texas: Manufacturing, Engineering, and Health Sciences are just some of the industries in Central Texas where supply isn’t keeping up with demand. ACC invites current and prospective students to explore these careers through ACC Fest, the annual fall college and career exploration fair. The event is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at ACC Highland, Building 4000 (6101 Highland Campus Dr.). Representatives from ACC’s 100+ degree programs will meet one-on-one with visitors to discuss opportunities and host live demonstrations, including drones, mock surgeries, and virtual reality. For more information and to register, visit austincc.edu/accfest.
• Get your exclusive fabric at the Silk Road Fabric Market: Hundreds of yards of silks, including hand-marbled, charmeuse, chiffon, habotai, and lamé donated to ACC will be available to purchase 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, at the ACC Fashion Incubator (6101 Highland Campus Dr.). There will also be a large selection of hand-rolled silk scarves, silk ties, select silk camisoles, and leather goods.
• Cook your way into a solid career in Culinary Arts: Register now for spring 2020 courses in Culinary Arts at austincc.edu/spring. ACC offers an Associate of Applied Science: Baking and Pastry and Associate of Applied Science: Culinary Arts. The program recently expanded to offer two introductory culinary classes on Saturdays at Round Rock Campus to accommodate busy schedules. Students practice their skills through the college’s student-run restaurant and interact with real customers. For more information, visit austincc.edu/culinaryarts.
• Building Bridges | Title IX and College Compliance: ACC’s Office of Community Engagement invites students, staff, faculty, and the community to the monthly Building Bridges Event, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 8, at 1709 E. 12th St. ACC’s College Compliance Officer Austin Wood will host the conversation on Title IX and College Compliance. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit austincc.edu.