Providing Access to Educational Opportunities in Rural Communities:
The Role of An Urban Community College

Speaker:

Ron Brey
Associate VP, Instructional Resources & Technology
Austin Community College
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78752
512-223-7795
512-223-7797
rbrey@austincc.edu

Barbara Mink
Member Board of Trustees
Austin Community College
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78752
512-223-7613
512-223-7598
bmink@austincc.edu

Luanne Preston
Director, Early College Start
Austin Community College
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78752
512-223-7354
512-223-7895
luanne@austincc.edu

Collaboration among rural and urban communities is a common occurrence. This collaboration extends to providing access to educational opportunities. Although many urban colleges offer classes in rural areas, their rural communities often do not have equal access to the educational opportunities available in urban areas. This presentation will discuss how Austin Community College (ACC), through a deliberate and comprehensive process, is responding to this challenge throughout its eight county service area. This includes five rural counties, with the farthest community 75 miles from the closest campus. The presentation will describe how this goal is reflected in ACC's Vision and Mission Statements, Board Policies and Administrative Rules, the programs that implement these goals, the technologies that make it possible, and its impact on economic development. The ACC model can provide guidance to RCCA conference attendees on ways urban community colleges can help meet the educational and economic development needs of rural America.
 
 
Presentation