National Community College Month
To celebrate all the contributions that community colleges make to our region and the country, Alvin Community College will join other institutions of higher learning in celebrating Community College Month this April.
Community colleges provide a wide array of benefits to the communities they serve by offering affordable education to students, fast tracks to a career, training for first responders and providing a flexible alternative for workers who want to improve their skills.
Nationwide community college students account for 39 percent of all undergraduates, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. On average community college costs roughly 40 percent of the amount needed to attend the average public university.
“American community colleges like Alvin Community College have a distinctly critical role in the higher education arena,” said ACC President Dr. Robert J. Exley. “We, as comprehensive community colleges, provide the key to open the door to a powerful future for all individuals. From my thirty plus years in community college education, I sincerely believe that there exists no more valuable investment than one’s community college education. We are high quality learning that translates into success with transfer to universities and/or entrance in the world of work.”
Throughout its nearly 75-year history, ACC has played a strong role in our community, allowing students to start their college education while also providing career training to those looking to enter the workforce.
ACC has accomplished several milestones along the way including its placement among the top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute six times.
The college’s Allied Health programs are among the best in the region. The Licensed Vocational Nursing program has posted a 100 percent pass rate on its licensure exams for the past 10 years. The Associate Degree Nursing graduates pass rates are consistently above the state and national averages.
The Psychology online program has also been ranked the best in the state and third in the nation.
ACC was the first community college in Texas to begin offering courses to Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmates. The college was chosen by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the Second Chance Pell program for inmate students.
In 2016, ACC was named a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. Participation in the program allows for more educational opportunities for Hispanic students as well as at-risk students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields.
In addition to the milestones, ACC also provides many programs that offer students a chance to enter a promising career. The Continuing Education Workforce Development Department has several options in the medical and industrial fields with increasing job growth including Dental Assisting, Welding, Medical Assistant, CNC Machining, Truck Driving and more.
One of the college’s fastest-growing programs is the Dual Enrollment program. Students in the program have increased dramatically since ACC's first dual degree grad, Thomas Schuenemann, in 2008. Dual Degree graduates earn their associate degree three weeks before graduating from high school.
The number of students in the Dual Enrollment program has increased 35 percent in the past five years.
With all it has to offer, ACC is also a more affordable source for higher education. Attending one year at ACC costs approximately $3,800 compared to $11,300 at a public university.
Whether a student is looking for a way to start their education or to find a fast track to a career, community colleges such as ACC are an important key to success both for students and the communities in which they live.
For more information, visit www.alvincollege.edu.