Parents & Families

Emergency Communications

ACC Emergency Alerts – Make sure your student activates their ACC Alert Emergency notifications. ACC Emergency Alert is the system that sends safety and security-related notifications via email and text message. ACC Emergency Alerts advise students, faculty, and staff of threats on campus, certain crimes that were reported, impending weather, and campus closures.

• Students may register up to three phone numbers to receive ACC Emergency Alert notifications.
• Family members may also text ACCFamily to 78015 to have ACC Emergency Alerts sent to their devices.

ACC Parent & Family eNewsletter

At ACC, we strive to keep parents and families informed and connected to the Riverbat experience. We encourage family members to sign up for the ACC Parent & Family eNewsletter, which shares relevant and timely information on how family members can support their student. Questions or Comments? Email us at [email protected].  

Conversation Calendar

Want to stay connected with your student, but not sure what to talk about? Check out the Conversation Calendar to guide your next chat – whether by phone, text, or at the kitchen table. View the Conversation Calendar here.

TSI Assessment

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-required assessment of reading, writing, and math skills to help determine which courses you are eligible to enroll in.  All entering students must take the TSI test before enrolling in classes unless the student is exempt or complete. Here’s what you need to know.

Meningitis Requirements

The Texas Legislature requires that all incoming Texas college students must receive a vaccination or booster against bacterial meningitis, unless exempt. Here’s what you need to know.

Residency Requirements

ACC’s service area encompasses 7,000 square miles. Residents located within the In-District boundaries pay the in-district tuition rate and receive expanded access to programs and services in exchange for contributing to the district tax base. Students residing in Out-of-District areas are subjected to a higher tuition rate, although the College’s Board of Trustees does everything possible to keep the tuition rates as low as possible. Here’s what you need to know.

Is my student in-district?

The following areas are considered “in-district.” Residents in these areas receive the reduced, in-district tuition rate and expanded access to programs and services in exchange for contributing to the district tax base. Austin ISD, City of Austin (including portions of Eanes ISD and Pflugerville ISD), Del Valle ISD, Elgin ISD, Hays CISD, Leander ISD, Manor ISD, Round Rock ISD. Learn more about ACC District areas for Central Texas.

What campus should my student attend?

Students can attend any of our 11 campuses as long as the course is offered at that location. Certain courses are only offered at specific campuses.

Where should my student’s transcripts be mailed?

You can submit your official transcripts in one of the following formats:

Digital/Electronic

Important: Scanned and emailed copies are not acceptable.

This method is ONLY for institutions that use any of the following methods for sending transcripts:

• Parchment
• Credentials Solutions Inc.
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Scrip Safe
• Speede Partnership
• If the service asks for an email address, the transcript must be sent to [email protected]. It can take 24-72 hours for transcripts to be received.

Physical/Mailed

Important: Open transcripts are NOT accepted for admissions purposes. Transcripts must be in the original, unopened, sealed envelope.

Austin Community College
Admissions & Enrollment
P.O. Box 15306
Austin, TX 78761

What test scores does my student need?

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a state-required assessment test to determine college-readiness in reading, writing, and math. All entering students must take the TSI test before enrolling in classes unless you are exempt or complete.

• The following tests can be used to exempt your student from one or more parts of the TSI Assessment. Tests must have been taken within the previous five years. 
• SAT (March 2016 and later) 480 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, 530 Math
• ACT 23 Composite with 19 English 23 Composite with 19 Math
• TAKS 2200 ELA (English Language Arts) with 3+ Writing sub-score 2200 Math
• STAAR 4000 on the English III (EOC) 4000 on the Algebra II (E0C)
• GED 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) Exemption. 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning
• HiSET 15 on the Reading subtest, a minimum score of 15 on the Writing Subtest with a minimum score of 4 on the essay, for English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) Exemption 15 on the Mathematics subtest Math Exemption

What if my student needs help with a class or needs a tutor?

Tutoring is FREE and is available in-person and online. Our tutors are faculty and expert professionals who offer assistance with academic and workforce courses.

Who should my student talk to about choosing courses?

Encourage your student to speak with their advisor. Students are assigned advisors based on their Area of Study. Advisor information can be found in their MyACC account.

Where can my student use a computer?

There are many options:

• Student Technology Services (STS) provides open computing spaces, known as Computer Centers, to students on 8 campuses.
• The ACCelerator is on of ACC’s most innovative learning spaces with computer stations, academic and career coaching, learning lab tutors, study rooms and classes.
• Research computers at ACC libraries are available for college-related activities or work

Does ACC have mental health resources?

Austin Community College Counselors are here to support our students’ success efforts. We offer services and programs across the district to foster life balance, develop personal and academic growth, and help maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.

Does my student have to have a parking pass for each campus?

No. While students are required to register their vehicle(s) with the ACC’s Parking and Transportation office, the electronic parking permit is valid on all ACC campuses. They may need separate parking permits if they attend other educational institutions such as a high school. 

What if my student doesn’t have transportation?

ACC students can ride Capital Metro Services for FREE! The Green Pass offers unlimited rides to class, work, and anywhere else on the Capital Metro transit system for one semester. Green Pass riders must show an ACC ID card upon request. Capital Metro just launched a new local rideshare option called Pickup. With the Pickup App (iPhone / Android) and the ACC Green Pass, you can arrange on-demand transit service from and to anywhere within one of the Pickup Service Zones for free! Eastview, Northridge, and San Gabriel Campuses are located within a Pickup zone.

Can I see my student’s grades?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (PL93-380), commonly referred to as FERPA, provides that all records pertaining to a student that are maintained by the college must be open to inspection by the student and may not be made available to any other person without the written authorization of the student. Your student can access their grades by logging into MyACC.

Can I contact my student’s profesor?

We understand that parents and family members want to support their students and relieve some stress for them. However, whenever possible, let your student be the one to contact an office, reach out to their professor, ask a question, give feedback, and determine the best course of action. Students will be more successful when they develop relationships with faculty and staff themselves and learn to navigate, not only the physical space of campus, but the policies and procedures in place. You can encourage real-world problem-solving skills by advocating that your student do the work and relationship building themselves. 

A good place to start is with the Student Affairs Help Desk or by scrolling down to the bottom of the ACC directory and searching for the appropriate department. Students may also call 512-223-4636.

What is FERPA?

FERPA stand for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The Parent and Family Engagement Office provides information and resources to help guide family members interested in supporting their student. This support does not include providing detailed information about a student’s enrollment status, grades, attendance, course schedule, or other personalized data. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 provides that all records pertaining to a student that are maintained by the college may not be made available to any other person without the written authorization of the student. FERPA gives parents certain rights concerning their children’s student records. These rights transfer to the student when they reach 18 years of age or attend a school beyond the high school level. Click here to learn more. A student may authorize another person to act on their behalf, according to College guidelines by completing the Student Proxy Authorization form found here. A new form is required for each new transaction.

Can I pay my student’s tuition?

Students may authorize another person online access to their account by setting them up as an authorized user. Setting up an authorized user online does not grant ACC staff permission to discuss a student’s account record with the authorized user. The Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law which protects the privacy of a student’s educational records. The college is unable to release information to others without the student’s written permission.

Can we tour the campuses?

We offer General Tours of the Round Rock, Highland, and Riverside campuses which last up to 90 minutes. Tours are limited to 25 students at a time and include an overview of student services, student resources and application assistance. You can request a tour of our destinations campus and explore our our other campuses via photos and videos.

Are there alert systems for emergencies and campus closure information?

ACC Emergency Alert is the system that sends safety and security-related notifications via email and text message. ACC Emergency Alerts advise students of threats on campus, certain crimes that were reported, impending weather, and campus closures. Family members can text ACCFamily to 78015 and sign up for emergency alerts from ACC campuses.

Does ACC have resources or support for students with disabilities?

If your student received special education in K-12, has a documented 504 or IEP plan, or has a disability (that includes mental health diagnoses), they may be eligible to receive academic accommodations here at ACC. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at ACC provides accommodations for adult learners that may look different than in K-12, but support and resources are available.