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 resources designed to support students’ daily needs directly.

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 June, the basic need being highlighted is Culture & Connection.

Culture & Connection

We’re committed to ensuring every student has the support they need to thrive. Addressing culture and connection is essential to fostering a sense of belonging, especially for students who may feel isolated or underrepresented. This month, we are highlighting efforts led by the ACC Pride Committee and college-wide initiatives from within TLED. These efforts are instrumental in creating inclusive spaces, affirming student identities, and building a campus culture rooted in care and community.

Pride Committee

The ACC Pride Committee fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff through advocacy, programming, and visibility initiatives. Their work plays a vital role in strengthening campus connections and celebrating identity across the district.

“I think it’s more important now than ever to extend compassion and support to individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community. People in the LGBTQIA+ community are people. They matter. How they feel matters. Now isn’t the time to be quiet, but to stand with our friends in the community and give them support that’s visible because they deserve it.” – Caroline Gregory (Hoang), Chair, Pride Committee

Teaching & Learning Excellence Division

TLED leads programs and initiatives that celebrate cultural identity and promote inclusive teaching practices. Faculty-focused initiatives such as the Cultural Mosaic series spotlight heritage and awareness months while encouraging reflection on history, representation, and belonging at the College.

Many ACC students struggle with stress, anxiety, and isolation. Creating a supportive, inclusive environment helps all students thrive. Our vibrant campus community enhances education through cultural events and networking opportunities, fostering a sense of connection and value. The Cultural Mosaic websites, aligned with ACC’s Culturally Responsive Teaching, celebrate our community’s rich cultures. The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center builds cross-racial relationships and promotes inclusion. Student Life offers year-round programming, including Riverbat Annual Programming, Welcome Week, Finals Week, Riverbat Bash, and student organizations to help students connect and belong. By promoting inclusivity, ACC ensures every student finds their place in our vibrant community.

Resources to Share With Your Students

  • Cultural Mosaic Websites: Promotes ACC’s rich cultural tapestry and links to relevant resources and events in collaboration with cultural and international program partners across campus. Faculty are encouraged to use these mosaics as opportunities for engagement and cultural learning within their curriculum.
  • Student Life Programming: Year-round activities for connection and belonging, including Riverbat Annual Programming, Welcome Week, Finals Week, and Riverbat Bash. 
  • Student Organizations: Student Organizations enrich students’ educational experience and encourage them to pursue personal, professional, and academic development through membership, leadership, and active participation. 
  • Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center: Builds cross-racial relationships for healing and transformation. Regularly hosts panel discussions, events, and other opportunities for engagement and belonging.

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 web page 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.