ACC board: free tuition for all.

ACC Board Approves Scholarship to Pay Current Students' Last 15 Credit Hours

The Austin Community College (ACC) board of trustees has unanimously approved a new scholarship to help current students complete their degrees. The Affordability Scholarship will cover the last 15 credit hours of tuition for eligible students and is funded by a one-time $12.75 million payment from ACC's reserves. An estimated 20,000 students could benefit, according to the college's spring 2024 enrollment.

“I don't know a college in the country who's been willing to put such important financial resources and betting on their students the way this group of trustees has done. So I'm really proud of them and really proud of the college.” - ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart

The new scholarship follows the board's historic passage of a free tuition pilot program in April, which offers free tuition to eligible 2024 high school graduates and recent GED completers. The Affordability Scholarship is designed to support current ACC students, ensuring they can also benefit from tuition assistance.

Under the terms of the new scholarship, students enrolled in spring 2024 – when the free tuition proposal passed – are eligible if they complete 45 hours within two years. It covers the $87 per credit hour fee and general fees for in-district students. The scholarship will be automatically applied once a student reaches 45 hours, and they will have the flexibility to decide how to distribute the credit.

The Affordability Scholarship is another step towards Lowery-Hart's goal of expanding free tuition to all, and it was praised by ACC students who advocated for support for current students. The scholarship funding comes from ACC's reserves, and the college anticipates replenishing these funds by the end of the fiscal year.

The board also passed the fiscal year 2025 budget, which includes at least $500,000 for student emergency aid. However, the budget did not include the requested 8.5% pay raise for faculty, instead approving a 4.5% across-the-board raise.

Sources:

• Austin Community College board OKs free tuition program for current high school students
• ACC Board Approves Historic Affordability Initiatives