Higher Education September 2007

Higher Education September 2007

Written by Beth Wade and Grant Fuller Friday, 07 September 2007

A look at ACC's Cypress Creek campus and the upcoming move for Concordia University

ACC students begin classes in new building

by Beth Wade

Students at Cedar Parks Cypress Creek campus of Austin Community College are taking classes in a recently completed building that added 70,000 sq. ft. and doubled the campus size. “We have added 57 additional courses, and they are spread out across the disciplines,” said Linda Haywood, campus operations manager. “That roughly translates into about 900 more students that were able to serve.”

The new building is the result of a $25 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2003. “A major part of this expansion was to provide much-needed space to existing student support programs here,” Bruce Davis, ACC project manager, said. “This was our most efficient campus, but that means it has the least amenities per student. So, from an efficiency standpoint, it looked great, but you had people sharing offices. A lot of the growth out here has been to address what I would consider substandard facilities in the original building.”

The new building’s design and an open mall area between buildings enhances the college campus feel for students, Davis said. Also added was more room for the nursing program, increased space for computer labs, a tutoring center, a testing center and an additional 5,000 sq. ft. of library space.

“A lot of our students never dreamed that they might go to college someday. It’s truly something they never planned,” Haywood said. “They have experienced college life, they have experienced success academically and they are ready to roll. So UT isn’t so scary; Texas State or a four-year college isn’t a big step for them after this.”

New center, new opportunity

Students in Leander can take core courses at the Leander Center, ACC’s answer to the growing population, which opened with classes in January 2007. The center offers courses in the evenings at Leander High School, including English composition I, U.S. government, speech and psychology.

The program has an enrollment of 142 students and is anticipated to grow rapidly, said Luanne Preston, executive director of early college start and college connection.

“Leander is a rapidly growing area, and we want to offer opportunities for the students there,” Preston said.

Leander's ACC future

ACC has recently completed an 18-month facilities master plan study, which included recommendations for campuses in Round Rock and San Marcos. The study also indicated, however, that the college should consider pursuing land acquisitions in four areas, including Leander, Burnet County, the Hays/Dripping Springs area and Manor, said Steve Kinslow, ACC president.

“The board and the college have not made a commitment to building a campus [in Leander]," Kinslow said. “We don’t want people to be misled from other people’s enthusiasm.”

The Leander City Council’s interest in the project was spurred by council member Vic Villarreal who spearheaded a campaign with the help of mayor John Cowman and economic development director Kirk Clennan. Villarreal compiled a survey that he used as a catalyst for the college to include Leander for land banking.

“The Leander Center is a good sign. But I need to stress that everyone in Leander and Cedar Park needs to support the Cypress Creek campus and fill it up,” Villarreal said. “They need to make it their first choice for ACC classes, and that will help us in the future.”

Concordia University Texas prepares for campus move

by Grant Fuller

After 80 years near the heart of downtown Austin, Concordia University will move northwest in 2008, giving itself plenty of extra breathing room.

The new campus will be located on 385 acres of land off RM 620 near Anderson Mill, an area that dwarfs the current 23-acre downtown location. However, about 65 percent of the university’s new acreage is untouchable for development because it is part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, a new asset that Concordia hopes to leverage for enhancement of its Environmental Science program.

Confined by space limitations at the current campus, the Board of Regents decided in 2005 to begin the search for a new home in Central Texas. After considering an $80 million option of sinking parking underground and building on top, the time came to look elsewhere.

“We started exploring if we could sell our property to help us buy something else, maybe we could pull off a relocation and get more land out of it in the end,” said Rev. Dr. David Kluth, vice president. “Our thought was we might be better off to just simply start over.”

The small private school, formerly known as Concordia University at Austin, recently changed its name to Concordia University Texas to better reflect the system’s statewide presence through non-traditional and adult education programs, and it also adopted a new logo. But the campus move is a greater concern for Kluth at the moment.

“I think once we got over the physical move hurt, other changes have not been as painful,” said Kluth, who has already moved his office to the new site. “I’m sure there will be a few people that will never forgive us for moving, but I think in a decade, the school will be flourishing, probably double the size, and I would hope that in retrospect, people will say it was a really good decision.”

Concordia will move into six existing buildings on the heavily wooded property at the head of Bull Creek, which was formerly used as a research and development facility by Schlumberger, an international oilfield services company. The current structures will be converted into two adjacent classroom and office halls, a fine arts center, an administration building, a cafeteria and a library. The campus will be divided into four villages: student learning, student life, student living and athletic. Further expansion is planned over the next 30 years.

Concordia’s president, Thomas Cedel, is pleased with the condition of the existing buildings and is thinking about changes that will begin to take shape after classes start on the new campus next fall.

“We’ll let the dust settle and let everybody get comfortable from that, and then step back and look at some of the things we can do differently,” Cedel said. “How do we integrate into the community? How do we integrate into the school districts?”

While Kluth and Cedel both say the Northwest Austin community has reacted positively to the news of Concordia’s arrival, the drastic change in location should present an interesting new challenge.

“It isn’t as visible, certainly, as IH 35 and the baseball field and the upper deck,” Kluth said. “I think we’ll have to work much harder than we have in the past making ourselves continually felt within the community through expanded academic programs and different public relations efforts.”

A developer plans to raze the downtown campus as soon as Concordia faculty and staff clear out sometime next July. Many of the old buildings are beloved by alumni, and the historic change will be a bittersweet moment for many of those involved. The university does plan to salvage items of historical or sentimental value and find a place for them at Concordia’s new home.

“There’s going to be some strong emotions that are going to surface next spring when we call it quits, and we’re going to have to do a really good job when we bring people out here to acclimate them into this setting,” Kluth said. “I think they’ll love it, but there is probably a sense of loss. The reality is that the school is staying the same, but it’s moving to a different spot that can serve students better.”

The Cypress Creek Campus of ACC recently completed additions, including the white-roofed building. Photo courtesy of Austin Community College

Postgraduate education options for high school graduates

Austin Business College

• 2101 IH 35 South • Austin
• Programs: Associate degrees in accounting, legal office management, medical office management/office technology; certifications in office/administrative/legal/medical specialist.
• Program length: Depends on program, up to two and a half years, including externships.
• Earn: Certifications or Associate of Applied Science degree.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: ABC offers career services to aid in the job hunting process after graduation.
• Phone: 447-9415

Austin Community College

• Cypress Creek Campus
• 1555 Cypress Creek Road • Cedar Park and other Austin area locations offering a variety of classes and degree options.
• Programs: Transferable credit for core classes at many universities and colleges, automotive mechanics, film, writing, computer science and phlebotomy.
• Program length: One semester to two years depending on program or classes desired.
• Earn: Transferable credits, certification and associate’s degree.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: ACC night classes are offered at Leander High School. For more information, contact ACC Center Supervisor Janet Martin at 435-8006.
• Web site: www.austincc.edu
• Phone: 223-2000

DeVry University

• Austin Center Stratum Executive Center
• 11044 Research Blvd., Ste. B100 • Austin
• Programs: Undergraduate programs include business administration, game and simulation programming, technical/accounting/financial management. Graduate degree programs include accounting, financial management and business administration. Graduate certificates in accounting and business administration.
• Program length: Depends on degree or certification.
• Earn: Bachelor’s, Master’s degree or certification.
• Financial aid: Scholarships available.
• Other: DeVry offers night and weekend classes.
• Web site: devry.edu
• Phone: 231-2500

Everest Institute, part of the National Institute of Technology

• 9100 US 290 Ste. 100 • Austin
• Programs: Day and night programs available in medical administrative assisting, dental/medical assistance, pharmacy technician, residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
• Program length: Seven months plus an externship set up through the school to complete real world training.
• Earn: Diploma, certifications.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: Career counseling is available to find a career to match interests and personalities.
• Web site: www.everest.edu
• Phone: 888-741-4270

ITT Technical Institute

• 6330 US 290 East, Ste. 150 • Austin
• Classes: Day, night times and online available.
• Programs: Information technology, electronics technology, drafting, design and business.
• Program length: Two years.
• Earn: Associate Degree of Applied Science.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: Student activities including clubs, contests and open houses; online courses to earn an MBA or Bachelor of Science are available.
• Web site: www2.itt-tech.edu
• Phone: 467-6800

Lauterstein-Conway Massage School

• 4701-B Burnet Road • Austin
• Program: Massage therapy courses.
• Program length: Depends on program.
• Financial aid: Loans and scholarships available.
• Other: Offers a variety of schedules and classes.
• Web site: www.tlcschool.com
• Phone: 374-9222

Nuvani Beauty School

• 14005 N. US 183 Ste. 1200 • Austin
• Programs: Cosmetology, nail technician and esthetician.
• Program length: Three to ten months depending on program.
• Web site: www.nuvani.com
• Phone: 707-7939

Texas Workforce Commission

• Texas Workforce Commission of Williamson County 3010 Williams Drive Ste. 113 • Georgetown
• Services: Employment services, referrals to apprenticeship programs and access to adult education.
• Other: Services are also provided through the Rural Capital Area Workforce.
• Web site: www.twc.state.tx.us/ or www.ruralcapitalworkforce.com
• Phone: 863-4826

Paul Mitchell the School

• The Academy at Austin • A Paul Mitchell Partner School • 15635 Vision Drive, Ste. 107 • Pflugerville
• Programs: Cosmetology training, esthetician training.
• Program length: Day courses take 15 months to complete, night courses take two years.
• Other: Technical tools, books and core cutting materials are included in the tuition.
• Financial aid: Payment plans are available.
• Web site: www.theacademyaustin.com
• Phone: 251-1644

Texas Culinary Academy

• 11400 Burnet Road, Ste. 2100 • Austin
• Programs: Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts training, baking and pastry arts training.
• Program length: Students must complete externship for the Culinary Arts program.
• Earn: Associate Degree of Applied Arts and Sciences for the Culinary Arts program, baking and pastry arts leaves students with skills and abilities for entry level careers as a pastry chef.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: The academy offers career placement assistance.
• Web site: www.austin.chefs.com
• Phone: 672-0802

Vogue College of Cosmetology

• Vogue Beauty College
• 4631 Airport Blvd., Ste. 101 • Austin
• Programs: Nail technician training, cosmetology school, permanent make-up school and esthetician school.
• Program length: Approximately 10 months.
• Earn: Certifications.
• Financial aid: For those who qualify.
• Other: Vogue Beauty College has two Austin locations and several others throughout Texas and New Mexico.
• Web site: www.voguebeautycollege.com
• E-mail: voguebeautycollege@yahoo.com
• Phone: 1-800-861-3636

Work Source in Austin

• Work Source Career Center, North
• 6505 Airport Blvd., Ste. 101A • Austin
• Programs: Pre-employment training courses, resumé help, courses on the work place.
• Other: WorkSource offers a wide variety of job related assistance on their Web site.
• Web site: www.worksourceaustin.com
• Phone: 454-9675