Start Strong: Fall 2026

Everything faculty need to prepare for the semester ahead.

This fall, Academic Affairs and faculty-facing partners across Austin Community College (ACC) are offering professional development opportunities, tools, training, and resources designed to help faculty prepare for the semester ahead.

Whether you are refining your courses, exploring new technology, building accessible learning experiences, or connecting with colleagues across the College, there are multiple ways to engage this fall. Use the sections below to explore opportunities aligned with your needs and goals for fall 2026.

You can also explore additional opportunities throughout the semester on the faculty events calendar.

What’s New This Semester
Start Here
Tools & Technology
Connect & Engage
Important Deadlines
Learn at Your Own Pace
Get Connected

What’s New This Semester

Recent Updates for ACC

Community Assistance Resources and Empowerment (C.A.R.E.) Network Faculty Toolkit

Help students connect with essential resources through the new C.A.R.E. Network Faculty Toolkit. The toolkit includes presentation slides explaining the C.A.R.E. Network, sample syllabus language, and an FAQ to help faculty understand the Network and connect students with resources for basic needs and mental health support.

Lighthouse Updates for Fall 2026

Lighthouse and the master syllabus template have been updated to support faculty preparation for fall 2026. Updates include clarified expectations aligned with the master syllabus template, automatically populated information in Lighthouse, and links to College policies. The master syllabus template has also been reorganized to improve usability and better align with Lighthouse, with no new sections or requirements added. Updated resources are now available for faculty to review, including a Gemini Gem to help faculty develop their course AI policies. The Gemini Gem:

  • Guides faculty through questions to help clarify when, how, and under what circumstances AI will or will not be used in their courses.
  • Draws on suggested AI policies developed by ACC’s first AI working group, as well as guidance provided on the College’s website.
  • Helps faculty develop a draft policy, while making clear that faculty are responsible for reviewing and determining the final policy for their course.
  • Is available only to users signed in with an ACC email address.

Transition to a “School of” Structure

ACC is transitioning from an “Areas of Study” structure to a “School of” structure to create a clearer, more consistent way to group and communicate academic programs. The new Schools will align with existing Dean areas, while department structures, reporting lines, programs, courses, and curriculum requirements will remain unchanged. Implementation will take place in phases throughout the 2026-27 academic year. Read the latest feature on the new School names for Adult Education and Continuing Education, and look for more features throughout the semester.

ACC Website Redesign Update

ACC is continuing work to redesign its website and improve how faculty, staff, and students find information online. Additional updates about the website redesign will be shared as the work progresses.

District-Wide Bike Security

Riding to campus can be a cheaper, healthier, and more sustainable way to travel. ACC Police now offers bike registration and locks for riders who have forgotten theirs. Visit your campus ACC Police office for assistance.

Start Here

Prepare Your Courses and Teaching Resources

Semester Prep

Get ready for the fall semester with our Semester Prep resource, a one-stop guide to essential faculty tasks, course preparation, teaching support, and student resources. Review important updates, complete your pre-semester checklist, and find resources for accessibility, Blackboard, syllabi, testing, student support, and more.

Accessibility Series

Explore practical strategies for creating accessible course materials through the Accessibility Series:

  • Blackboard Ally: Your Friend in Accessibility – Sept. 11
  • Google Workspace Accessibility – Oct. 9
  • PDF Accessibility – Nov. 13
  • Microsoft Office Accessibility – Dec. 4

All sessions are held virtually from 11 a.m. to noon.

ACC Wayfinding Resources

Find classrooms, offices, and other locations across ACC with interactive indoor campus maps. Faculty can also copy direct location links to include in course syllabi, email signatures, or event invitations to help students find their classrooms or offices. Watch the 5-minute video walkthrough.

Connect With a Faculty Librarian

ACC faculty can work with a faculty librarian to strengthen research and information literacy in their courses. Librarians can help design research assignments, customize library resource guides, identify databases and other resources, evaluate Open Educational Resources (OER), and provide library instruction sessions for your class. Connect with a faculty librarian or request a library instruction session.

Eight-Week Course Design and Teaching Strategies

New to teaching an 8-week course or looking for fresh ideas? Build the knowledge and confidence to teach accelerated courses using practical strategies for course design, student engagement, and educational technology. Fall sessions are scheduled for Sept. 11 and Oct. 16.

Faculty Development Monthly Onboarding Sessions

Faculty Development Onboarding sessions help faculty build the knowledge, skills, and connections needed for a successful teaching experience at ACC. New this semester, sessions are offered synchronously online with daytime and evening options each month, along with an asynchronous option for additional flexibility.

  • Sept. 4 and 8: Connecting With Your College, Colleagues, and Students
  • Oct. 2 and 6: Faculty Evaluation and Portfolio Process
  • Nov. 6 and 10: Student Success and Resources
  • Dec. 4 and 8: Teaching and Learning Strategies

Faculty Drop-In Consultations

Teaching online this fall? Join virtual drop-in sessions Aug. 17–21 for support with Blackboard, course planning, and effective teaching strategies. An instructional designer will answer questions, share practical guidance, and help faculty prepare for a successful semester.

Explore Tools & Technology

Discover New Teaching and Productivity Tools

Digital Learning Instruction Series (DLIS)

The asynchronous, self-paced Digital Learning Instruction Series fulfills one of the training requirements for ACC instructors teaching distance education courses. Faculty must complete DLIS before teaching any distance education course to meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) requirements.

Digital Learning Self-Paced Training

Explore flexible, self-paced training opportunities designed to strengthen digital teaching skills. Courses focus on accessibility, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Blackboard Ultra, and Quality Matters (QM) course review practices.

Digital Learning Symposium

The Digital Learning Symposium will take place virtually Nov. 5–6, bringing together faculty, instructional designers, student support professionals, administrators, and innovators to explore practical strategies for strengthening student success in digital learning environments. Registration opens Aug. 31. Faculty and staff interested in presenting should submit a proposal by Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m.

Remote Recess Rewind

Remote Recess Rewind offers online, self-paced courses that allow faculty and staff to revisit Remote Recess sessions, explore tools and technologies, complete a short quiz, and access additional resources. Professional development credit is automatically awarded in Workday after successful completion. Here are some of the available offerings. Search ‘Remote Recess Rewind’ in Workday for more:

Connect and Engage

Collaborate With Colleagues and the Community

ACC Library Services & Austin Public Library Partnership

ACC Library Services and Austin Public Library will continue their partnership this fall with an ongoing panel series exploring artificial intelligence. The series will give ACC faculty opportunities to engage with the broader community and explore timely conversations around AI.

ACC Teaching and Leadership Excellence Awards

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to nominate faculty for ACC awards recognizing excellence in teaching, leadership, innovation, and service. Awards include the ACC Leadership Awards, ACC Teaching Excellence Awards, DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, and E-Faculty of the Year Award. Recipients will be recognized at the ACC Annual Awards Celebration in spring 2027.

Business Management Welcome Back

The Business Management Department will welcome faculty back for the fall semester on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Business Classroom at Northridge Campus.

Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI) Campus Office Hours

FCLI is bringing its office hours to campuses across the district this fall. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on select Tuesdays, faculty can stop by the Teaching and Learning Center at a different ACC campus to connect with FCLI members. Campus locations and dates include:

  • Sept. 1 – Cypress
  • Sept. 15 – Eastview
  • Sept. 29 – Elgin
  • Oct. 6 – Hays
  • Oct. 13 – Highland
  • Oct. 20 – Northridge
  • Oct. 27 – Rio Grande
  • Nov. 3 – Riverside
  • Nov. 10 – Round Rock
  • Nov. 24 – San Gabriel
  • Dec. 1 – South Austin

Fall FCLI Innovation Exchanges

FCLI will offer fall Innovation Exchange sessions via Zoom, providing opportunities to explore Generative AI, Universal Design for Learning, and Belonging, Purpose & Connection with faculty colleagues. Sessions will offer hands-on practice, collaborative discussions, and a low-stakes space to experiment with teaching strategies and educational technology.

Faculty Interest Groups: Submit a Proposal

Faculty Interest Groups (FIGs) provide an opportunity for ACC faculty to come together around shared interests related to teaching and learning. Groups are faculty-led and typically meet over one or two semesters. Faculty who facilitate an approved FIG are eligible for a $500 facilitator stipend and funding for teaching and learning resources.

FCLI Fall 2026 Book Clubs

FCLI will offer three faculty book clubs this fall, featuring “UDL Playbook” from Sept. 3–24, “Advancing Online Teaching” from Oct. 9–30, and “Teaching for Learning” from Nov. 2–23. Each book club provides a space for cross-curricular discussion, collaboration, and the application of ideas in the classroom. Participants receive a complimentary copy of the featured book and can earn eight to 10 hours of professional development.

Division of Healthcare Professions Forum: Shaping Our Future Together

Healthcare Professions faculty are invited to participate in the Healthcare Professions Forum on Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon at Eastview Campus, room 8500. The forum will focus on updates about the direction of Healthcare Professions and strategic work advancing student completion and operational excellence. The gathering will provide opportunities to ask questions, connect across programs, and help shape the work ahead.

Intersectionality Center Events

The Intersectionality Center is offering several opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to connect, learn, and engage with the ACC and Austin communities this fall:

  • Pride Prep Party – Thursday, Aug. 20, noon–2 p.m., HLC 4000, 4.2205. Create posters for the Austin Pride Parade while learning about the history and meaning of Pride. Supplies provided.
  • Austin Pride Parade – Saturday, Aug. 22. ACC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are invited to march with ACC’s float. Register here.
  • Paris Is Burning Screening – Thursday, Aug. 27, 4–6:30 p.m., Highland Campus building 4000, room 4.2205, with virtual attendance available. The screening will be followed by a discussion with professor and filmmaker Shuja Uddin and activist Natalie Sanders. RSVP here.
  • A Celebration of the Life and Work of Gloria Anzaldúa – Tuesday, Sept. 22, 4–6 p.m., Highland Campus building 4000, room 4.2205. The event will feature readings and discussion of Anzaldúa’s work. To volunteer to read a short passage of Anzaldúa’s work in English or Spanish during the event, email [email protected].

The Liberal Education Advancement and Development (LEAD) Communities of Practice and Fellowships

The LEAD initiative invites faculty to participate in Communities of Practice for the 2026-27 academic year. These groups provide a supportive space to explore and transform teaching practices, share ideas, and troubleshoot challenges with colleagues. Faculty interested in going deeper can also apply for a LEAD Fellowship to redesign a course around a High-Impact Practice, with structured support, resources, and a peer cohort.

Mini Development Day 2026: Save the Date

Mark your calendar for Friday, Oct. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a virtual day of professional learning, collaboration, and practical teaching strategies. Sessions will explore topics including artificial intelligence, Universal Design for Learning, and Belonging, Purpose & Connection. Additional details and registration information will be shared this fall.

Sabbatical Information Sessions

Interested in taking a sabbatical? Information sessions will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from noon to 1 p.m., and on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 3 to 4 p.m., both online via Zoom. Sabbatical leave may be granted to staffing table employees who have worked full time at ACC for at least six consecutive years. FY28 applications open Oct. 12, 2026, and close Jan. 29, 2027.

School of Arts & Creative Industries Fall Convocation

The School of Arts & Creative Industries will hold its fall convocation on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Photography + Visual Media Studio at Highland Campus.

Second Annual Central Texas Climate Summit

Join environmental professionals and students from across Central Texas for the 2nd Annual Central Texas Climate Summit at the Center for Government & Civic Service (RGC 3000) on Friday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The student-led event will explore local actions and resources for addressing climate change through panel discussions, networking, breakout sessions, and action planning.

Spark Tank: Save the Date

On Friday, Dec. 4, ACC faculty and staff will come together for Spark Tank, a Shark Tank-style event focused on innovation, collaboration, and idea sharing across disciplines. The event provides an opportunity for faculty to pitch creative ideas and solutions designed to enhance teaching, learning, and student success.

The Red Bench Conversation on Integrity

Join ACC and Interfaith Action of Central Texas on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rio Grande Campus for an evening of dialogue, connection, and community building. Guided conversations led by ACC Social Psychology students will explore the theme of “integrity” while encouraging listening, understanding, and reflection. The evening will include a light meal and music from the ACC Student String Quartet.

Important Deadlines

Mark Your Calendar

Eco Conference Grant

Students, faculty, and staff can apply for an Eco Conference Grant to attend the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Oct. 4–6. Three students, one faculty member, and one staff member will receive all-expenses-paid travel to the conference. Applications are due Thursday, Sept. 10.

Fall 2026 Course and Faculty Evaluations

Faculty can explore several resources related to improving course evaluation rates, building a feedback culture with students, and navigating the faculty evaluation process, including:

Globalizing Curriculum Faculty Learning Community

Applications for the 2026-27 Globalizing Curriculum Faculty Learning Community are due Friday, Aug. 28. The two-semester program, offered in collaboration with the UT-Austin Hemispheres Consortium, will explore global topics through the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and provide opportunities for collaboration, guest speakers, and curriculum development. Participants will receive a $1,250 stipend for completing the FLC requirements.

Join the Committee for Faculty Innovation and Development (CFID)

Faculty interested in helping shape faculty development at ACC can apply for CFID, a faculty-driven advisory group that works with Faculty Development and FCLI. Applications are due Thursday, Sept. 17.

Theory of Change Network

Employees interested in leadership development, cross-College collaboration, and connecting with ACC leadership are invited to apply for the Theory of Change Network (TOCN). Members have opportunities to engage with Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, help vet Theory of Change initiatives, and connect with colleagues across the College. Applications for the fall cohort are due Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Learn at Your Own Pace

Flexible Professional Development Opportunities

Dual Credit Programs Faculty Training

The online Dual Credit Programs Faculty Training is available year-round for faculty interested in teaching dual credit courses. Faculty must retake the training every two years and complete the interactive video portions and assessment with a score of at least 70% to be placed on the Dual Credit Faculty List.

Faculty Growth Series (FGS)

FGS offers three professional development strands developed by ACC faculty: AI Literacy & Fluency, Belonging, Purpose & Connection, and Universal Design for Learning and Accessibility. Each course provides eight to 12 hours of professional development credit and can be completed on your own schedule in Blackboard Ultra. Participants earn digital badges as they progress through Explorer, Innovator, and Mentor levels.

NeuroSpark

NeuroSpark is a self-paced, fully online learning experience designed by ACC faculty, students, and staff to help educators create more inclusive learning environments through practical strategies, universal design, and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity in education. Completers may continue their learning through a cohort meeting and earn the NeuroSpark badge in Suitable.

Get Connected

Stay Up-To-Date and Subscribe!

Faculty Events Calendar

Bookmark the faculty events calendar to stay informed about professional development opportunities, AI workshops, and more available to ACC faculty throughout the semester. The calendar is updated regularly and allows Google Calendar integration, so you never miss an opportunity.

Faculty-Focused Social Media

The Office of Academic Affairs Communications regularly shares faculty-focused opportunities, events, resources, and updates across ACC. Follow along on social media to stay informed about daily offerings available to you across the College.

Faculty Facebook Group

Created as a dedicated space for faculty, the Teaching and Learning at ACC Facebook Group is a collaborative online space where ACC faculty can connect with colleagues, share ideas, promote events, and highlight teaching and learning opportunities happening across the College.

Teaching & Learning Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to Teaching & Learning Weekly for Monday morning updates featuring faculty opportunities, upcoming events, professional development offerings, highlights, and more from across ACC.

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