Support for Belonging & Connection
Austin Community College (ACC) acknowledges the importance of belonging and connection in teaching and learning as one of the pillars of our new Theory of Change.
The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) offers different opportunities through specialized training, workshops, and programs to enhance knowledge of teaching practices grounded in our new framework – “Love Students to Success.”
These are the focus areas of our work:
- Be Kind
- Practice Civility
- Show Grace
- Foster Peace
- Nurture Engagement
- Create a sense of Place
- Honor Voice and Identity
And these are the various opportunities available to nurture and ensure belonging and connection with our students and our colleagues at ACC.
Programs and Offerings
Accessibility
Accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also the law. Support is available to help you make your course materials accessible and how to integrate technology into your teaching with accessibility in mind. Workshops are also offered throughout the year to learn about accessibility.
Conflict Transformation Academy
The Peace & Conflict Studies (PACS) Center offers professional development opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to learn and practice conflict transformation skills. The PACS Center training takes the approach that conflict can be a catalyst for social change and places primary emphasis on the question of social justice. The training includes an exploration of how identity and power imbalances affect the development and resolution of conflict.
These workshops will cover the core skills of conflict transformation. Participants will learn and practice skills related to understanding the roots of conflict, identifying their own and others’ emotions, interests, and positions, and facilitating collaborative problem-solving.
Cultural Mosaics
Aligned with ACC’s work on Culturally Responsive Teaching, TLED has been developing Cultural Mosaics to promote the rich and beautiful tapestry of cultures that make up our college community by bringing together college-wide efforts into a common online presence. These college-wide celebrations not only nurture a sense of belonging but link to the many academic disciplines of our students.
Faculty Development’s Fall Workshop Series
Each fall the Office of Faculty Development develops a themed series of workshops. Each workshop is carefully designed to address current educational trends and the specific needs of our faculty. Participants engage in hands-on activities, collaborative discussions, and expert-led sessions. The series aims to enhance teaching practices, foster professional growth, and build a vibrant learning community.
The 2024 theme is “Empowering Minds, Inspiring Hearts.” During the Faculty Development’s Fall Workshop Series, you can choose several professional development workshops on topics like nurturing mental well-being, global perspectives, and healthy communication in the classroom.
First Day Access
First Day Access is a program by which students receive a digital-only version of their course textbook, provided immediately on the first day of class, through their Blackboard course. In partnership with instructional departments and Academic Technology, Barnes & Noble negotiates on ACC’s behalf with textbook publishers to obtain the best possible price making textbooks more accessible and affordable.
Open Educational Resources (OER) at ACC
Open Educational Resources (OER) are low-cost or free resources in the public domain that are used for teaching, learning, and research. Typically, OER can be combined or adapted by the faculty member to suit their teaching needs and methods and can also help lower the cost of education for students, thereby increasing access.
The widespread adoption of OER at an institutional level began in 2016. Training and additional resources to help ACC faculty explore and implement OER are available.