The 2024 Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) Print Wall Calendar, with the theme “Empowering Students by Meeting Basic Needs,” is now out! Each year, the calendar is designed to inspire faculty to take a deep dive into higher education issues, and this year’s edition is no different. Each month, the calendar will highlight 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 the basic needs of students 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 a variety of 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 have access to comprehensive services and opportunities within the wider community.

The goal of this calendar is to ensure faculty are informed about the essential resources available for students. We hope this will help create an educational environment where all students can succeed. For the month of September, the basic needs being highlighted are School Supplies & Technology.

School Supplies & Technology

We’re committed to ensuring that every student has the tools they need for success. Director of Academic Technology (OAT), Matthew Evins said:

“One of the most common basic needs from ACC students in the area of academic success is access to reliable technology and technical support. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, OAT created Student Technology Services, a team dedicated to ensuring that students have both access to technology as well as ways to obtain technical support. More information about technology checkout and technical support can be accessed at the Student Technology Services website.”

In addition to this, each of our campus libraries offers a school supply pantry stocked with essential supplies like blue books, scantrons, pens, highlighters, and more—available to all students, no questions asked. Our technology support extends to providing iPad kits on loan, which include iPads with cases, Bluetooth keyboards, and all necessary charging equipment. This initiative is designed to bridge the digital divide and support our students in their educational pursuits, whether in the classroom or through online learning. 

Resources to Share With Your Students

• iPad Loan Program: iPads equipped with cases, keyboards, and chargers are available for student use through the Office of Academic Technology within TLED.
• School Supply Pantry: Available in all ACC libraries, stocked with essential school supplies.
• Student Technology Access/Tech Support: On-campus support for all technology loaned by ACC through Student Technology Services, ensuring students can stay connected and effective in their studies.
• Alternative Text and Media Services: Alternative Text and Media (Alt Text Media) specializes in providing classroom materials to students with print disabilities. To access support, email sas@austincc.edu or contact a Student Accessibility Services Advocate.

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 of the 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 now available for pick-up at all ACC campus libraries and Teaching & Learning Centers (TLCs).