Each year, the Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) Print Wall Calendar is designed to inspire faculty to take a deep dive into higher education issues, and this year’s edition is no different. This year’s theme is “Empowering Students by Meeting Basic Needs” with each month in the calendar highlighting specific essential resources, showcasing how Austin Community College (ACC) and the surrounding community address twelve basic needs through:

  • Innovative curriculum integration
    • ACC faculty have addressed students’ basic needs within their instruction, from free sewing classes to mental health workshops.
  • Supportive campus resources
    • From food pantries to technology loans, ACC campuses are equipped with various resources designed to directly support students’ daily needs.
  • Active community engagement
    • We collaborate with local organizations and initiatives to extend support beyond the campus, ensuring that our students can access comprehensive services and opportunities within the wider community.

The goal of this calendar is to ensure faculty are informed about the essential resources available to students. We hope this will help create an educational environment where all students can succeed. For January, the basic need being highlighted is Health & Wellness.

Health & Wellness

We’re committed to ensuring every student has the tools they need for success. Addressing health and wellness is critical to creating an environment where students can thrive academically and personally. This month, we are highlighting efforts led by the Dental Hygiene Program, the Health Sciences Department, and the Talk About It (TAI) ACC program. These teams are instrumental in supporting ACC students’ physical and mental well-being.

Dental Hygiene Program

“Oral health plays a crucial role in overall health. Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease, which has been linked to serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Cavities cause pain that can affect a person’s ability to eat nutritious foods and diminish their quality of life. Cavities can also progress into an infection that spreads to other parts of the body. The high cost of dental care is one of the biggest barriers to accessing routine preventive care and treatment. Fortunately, the ACC Dental Hygiene Clinic at the Eastview Campus offers diagnostic and preventive services to the public, including ACC students, faculty, staff, and their family members. The total cost ranges from $20 to $40 based on the treatment needed, and patients are never turned away if they cannot afford to pay. For more information on the services we provide, the time commitment, and how to schedule your screening appointment, please go to our Dental Hygiene Patient Information page.” – Michelle Landrum, Department Chair and Faculty, Dental Hygiene

The Dental Hygiene Program provides affordable, high-quality dental care to students and the wider community. By offering low-cost diagnostic and preventive services, the program helps students prioritize their oral health, which is essential for overall well-being. Access to professional care at a reduced cost removes a significant financial barrier, ensuring that students can focus on their academic and personal goals without neglecting their healthcare needs.

Health Sciences Department

The Health Sciences Department offers a variety of healthcare resources, including sliding-scale clinics and accessible medical services. These resources ensure that ACC students can receive critical medical care regardless of financial constraints. By meeting these essential health needs, the department supports students in balancing their studies, personal lives, and wellness.

Talk About It ACC

“Talk About It ACC is committed to providing sexual health education that increases awareness and knowledge to motivate students to seek preventative healthcare and clinic referrals. Oftentimes, for young adults, their primary healthcare need is sexual and reproductive healthcare, yet statistics continue to show that young people are often uninsured or not utilizing their parents’ insurance coverage for sexual health services. Students report that they don’t know where to go, are anxious or fearful to find care, or cannot afford proper reproductive healthcare. Talk About It ACC facilitates workshops to educate students, provide referrals to adolescent-friendly clinics, and assists in scheduling appointments so that young people feel supported and less anxious as they navigate this primary and important healthcare need. We want students to feel successful and supported as they become empowered to make well-informed decisions for their own bodies and families.” – TAI ACC Team

The Talk About It ACC program is a collaboration between the Austin Community College District and Talk About It Campus Conversations that aims to improve the well-being of young Texans through equitable access to sexual health education, contraception, and resources. Designed for individuals aged 18–29, both on and off campus, the program provides students with medically accurate information about sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, it connects students with healthcare providers in their surrounding communities, ensuring they have the support and guidance needed to make informed decisions about their health.

Accessible health and wellness services are crucial for our students who juggle academics with personal and professional responsibilities. ACC offers vital healthcare resources, including sliding-scale clinics and free medical services. Our Dental Hygiene Program provides affordable, high-quality dental care. The Talk About It ACC program offers free STI and HIV testing and comprehensive sexual health education. Our Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program provides counseling and a supportive community for recovery, with meetings hosted by the Students in Recovery Program. These initiatives ensure students’ health needs are met, allowing them to succeed academically.

Resources to Share With Your Students

Discussing and addressing these needs is essential for creating an educational environment where all students can succeed. By supporting these fundamental areas, we foster a culture of care and resilience, empowering students to focus on their goals without stress from unmet needs. This calendar aims to inform faculty about these resources, allowing them to share directly with students and address these needs in their instruction.

To learn more about all twelve basic needs highlighted in the TLED Calendar, visit the TLED Print Wall Calendar webpage and explore more essential resources.

ACC is committed to supporting every student’s basic needs. We are more than an educational institution —we are a community that cares, supports, and grows together.

“Every Need. Every Student. Every Day.”

Forgot to request a calendar? No worries! Additional calendars and sticker packs are available for pick-up at all ACC campus libraries and Teaching & Learning Centers (TLCs). Contact your campus library or TLC to confirm availability.