"Intramurals helps me keep fit and gives me more energy and strength to pursue my goals."
-Laura
Programs
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Descriptions
The Campus Activities program hosts events like Welcomepalooza, Project: Build a Park, and Springtini. CAB (Campus Activities Funding Board) allocates funds out to students that request them for events or activities. The funding board is both run and funded by students.
Students involved with CAB learn to manage a budget and distribute funds. Once students apply to join CAB, they have the opportunity to learn leadership skills, compromising and consensus skills, and can attend a leadership conference in the fall for a week where they mix and mingle with other college students from all over the USA.
For the politically minded student, getting connected with Campus Governance is a way to help represent the student body’s point of view and act as a voice to ACC’s Shared Governance system. Campus Governance is divided into the Student Government Association (SGA), Shared Governance Committees, and the Student Activity Fee Advisory Committee (SAFAC).
Students can participate in SGA by running for office, voting in student elections, attending meetings, or by contacting their campus senators about concerns. Every campus has at least two senators, and other senators are appointed for other areas like the Distance Learning or the Non-Traditional Student senators. Students can visit www.austincc.edu/sga to locate contact information for each member and bring to the senator’s attention anything that they would like the administration to consider.
Clubs and Organizations helps students make connections on cultural or academic levels. Involvement in Clubs and Organizations also allows students to gain field experience when they work with a group that connects with their degree plan.
If there isn’t a club or organization that you like, you can start your own by stopping by any SL office. Starting a new club only requires three people and must include a president, secretary, and a treasurer. In addition, a faculty or staff advisor must be involved.
Austin is a cultural melting pot, and here at ACC our main mixer is the Diversity Outreach program. By teaching students about differences, Diversity Outreach also spotlights the ways in which we are all the same. Starting in the fall, the new Diversity Ambassador program will host two student created Common Experience presentations, skits and dialogues aimed at provoking thought and discussion. This year’s Diversity and Leadership Conference is targeting the dual causes of world hunger and human trafficking.
Hasani Pettiford, known as the “Date Doctor,” will be presenting a fall series of monthly videos and blog discussions through Health 101, helping students deal with their dating problems, before appearing in person at ACC just before Valentine’s Day to host a talk show on dating issues. Our nation’s diversity has long been a cornerstone of our success, so don’t be afraid to reach out to Diversity Outreach while you’re at ACC.
INTRAMURAL SPORTS AND RECREATION
While there may not be an “I” in team, playing sports and engaging in group recreation is a great way to build personal development. The Intramural Sports and Recreation program provides participants with the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, and experience friendly competition.
For the ‘09-’10 school year, the Intramural Sports and Recreation program will be organizing women’s volleyball and men’s basketball tournaments, as well as Blazer Tag outings, golf lessons, and bowling. Registration for Intramural Sports and Recreation for the fall takes place from Aug. 3 through Sept. 11.
The Leadership program at ACC has grown tremendously in the last few semesters. It gets students involved in monthly seminars that teach different avenues for choosing life and educational goals. Speakers routinely present seminars to tell their stories of success and give tips on overcoming adversity. Participation in the Leadership program also helps students develop skills that transfer into the job market and add to their co-curricular profile which helps strengthen transcripts.
So far 140 members have been inducted into Sigma Alpha Pi, the Society for Leadership and Success. To be a member, it is required to attend three Success Networking Teams (SNT), three seminars, one Leadership training, and one community service event (such as Project: Build a Park or American Youth Works) for at least five hours.
SNT is five to ten students meeting to talk about their plans for life and higher education. The other students listen and the group responds with suggestions to help plan the execution of these goals. This year three students in the Leadership program have won scholarships, and at the end of the year students can apply for scholarships in larger denominations up to $3500.
Most students’ first connection with Student Life happens before they ever take a class. Orientation is hosted by Student Life to help incoming students learn about the campus they will be attending as well as helpful information about the college like who to talk to about things such as financial aid, parking, or registration. The information is presented with interactive games to make the two-hour presentation more fun and easier to remember.
You may sign up for Orientation when registering for classes, and for those interested in becoming more involved, there is a paid internship available through Student Life.
Student Life also offers Student Assistance for students that encounter emergency situations that may get in the way of succeeding at ACC. The program assists students with childcare, textbook support, and in special cases, rent. For students with these extreme life situations, Student Assistance helps them on a case by case basis. An application is available at any SL office.
The criteria to receive help in child care and textbook payment assistance include being enrolled in at least six credit hours in a degree or certificate program and being eligible for Pell grant funding. To receive help for rent, students have to qualify for the Emergency Financial Assistance determination. Students qualify by being enrolled in at least six credit hours, have an unanticipated expense, not use these funds for tuition and fees, remain enrolled and complete the current semester. Assistance is generally limited to no more than $1,000.
There are many opportunities for students to work with the Student Life communications department at ACC. Student Media has paid and non-paid positions available for students interested in photography, Web and print design, marketing, and writing.
While working for a student publication, like the award winning Accent newspaper, students are given the opportunity to have their work put in print, build their portfolios, and gain real world skills in media fields. Students can participate in out of town trips for writing, photography, and design competitions and attend professional seminars on everything from media ethics to Web design.
For students who prefer working with the magazine format or just want some publications experience, Life4U magazine is another award winning student publication that will help bolster a portfolio and resume.