|
|
In the November 24, 2025, edition of HappyHR:
- Where to go when you need an ear
- When students need more than education
- How a free class could save a loved one's life
| | |
Grateful. Grounded. Here for You.
A Holiday Note of Support
As we enter this season of reflection, gratitude, and (hopefully) rest, your HappyHR team wants to take a moment to acknowledge all we have to be thankful for, both individually and collectively.
In a world where many face deep uncertainty about their jobs, housing, or access to healthcare, our community at ACC continues to build something extraordinary. We are a values-centered institution with stable employment, strong public investment, and a mission that connects our daily work to the future of our students, families, and region. That is no small thing.
“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” — Kristin Armstrong
| | | | | |
And yet, the holidays are not easy for everyone. If you're navigating grief, stress, family dynamics, financial strain, loneliness, or if you're simply running on empty, you are not alone. There’s support for you, and it’s here year-round.
Support Is Always Available
ACC’s third-party Employee Assistance Program (EAP) includes eight free, confidential virtual counseling sessions per issue per year for employees and household members, plus:
- Legal and financial consultations
- Elder care and child care referrals
- Discounts on local and national services
- Wellness, nutrition, and personal coaching
| | | |
Another great resource for immediate support:
Text HOME to 741741
to reach the Crisis Text Line - 24/7, free, and confidential.
| | | |
The data in this graphic is troublesome. We want to change that at ACC and beyond. Prioritizing your wellbeing doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise. And it makes you a better colleague, leader, parent, partner, and friend.
A Personal Note of Thanks
This holiday season, I want to express my deep gratitude to those who live in service to students and each other. Our work is not always easy, but it is always meaningful. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t change lives, individually and collectively.
I’m especially thankful for those who go out of their way to show up for others, whether it’s someone who brings you joy or a total stranger who simply needs a moment of kindness.
If you're looking for a way to give back, the Employee Emergency Fund accepts donations to provide grants or loans to ACC colleagues in times of need.
A Holiday Wish
Whether your plans involve celebration or solitude, stillness or service, we hope you take this time to rest, recharge, and reconnect with what matters. You deserve it. And the world needs the best of you, not just what’s left of you.
Wishing you peace and joy,
Kelly & your HappyHR Team
| | |
Cara Crowley Tackles AMA and Basic Needs at ACC
Austin Community College has made one thing very clear: meeting students’ basic needs is central to their success. Research consistently shows that when students have stable access to food, housing, childcare, and mental-health support, they stay enrolled at higher rates and are far more likely to complete their programs. That’s why ACC invested in building a coordinated, student-centered Basic Needs team, and why we’re excited to introduce the person leading that work: Cara Crowley, the Chancellor’s Special Advisor on Basic Needs.
Cara joined ACC two years ago and has quickly become a catalyst for turning ideas into action. Her focus is simple but ambitious: remove the everyday barriers that make it hard for students to stay in school. That includes everything from helping students access a reliable meal, to increasing childcare support, to expanding wellness resources.
What Her Team Is Working On
Cara’s team leads several initiatives that directly impact student persistence and wellbeing:
Food Security Programs
- ACC continues expanding on-campus food pantries, grab-and-go snack stations, and community partnerships so students don’t have to choose between attending class and meeting basic needs.
| | | |
Childcare Support
- As shared in her recent Ask Me Anything session at South Austin, 156 students were awarded childcare scholarships this fall, with the average scholarship equaling more than $6,000.
Housing and Emergency Assistance
- The Basic Needs team manages rapid-response funds for students who face unexpected housing, utility, transportation, or financial emergencies. The goal is immediate stabilization so a temporary setback doesn’t become a semester-ending crisis.
Wellbeing and Mental Health Coordination
- Working with ACC’s mental health professionals, Cara’s team helps normalize and simplify access to counseling and wellness resources. They’re also integrating wellbeing check-ins into more parts of the student experience.
| | | |
Data-Driven Outreach
- The team uses student-need data to guide resource expansion and identify where supports are most needed. The result is a more proactive, equitable approach to student success.
Why This Matters for ACC
Basic needs work is about removing friction from the student experience. It aligns directly with ACC’s values: compassion for students’ realities, courage to address systemic barriers, a commitment to equitable opportunity, and creating spaces where learning can actually take root.
Cara often emphasizes that you can’t separate academic success from human needs. When a student is worried about childcare, food, or shelter, school becomes secondary, not because they lack motivation, but because life is demanding something more urgent.
By embedding basic needs support into the college experience, ACC is redefining what it means to serve students holistically. And Cara’s leadership is helping move that vision from intention to impact.
| |  | | | |
Holiday Pay Days
Mark your calendars: that 2-week break we all enjoy at the end of December means adjustments to our pay dates.
| | | 💵 The last paycheck of 2025 will come on December 18. 💵 | |
| 💵 The next paycheck will be deposited January 30. 💵 | | ➳ That's 43 days between paychecks instead of the normal 30 or 31. Budget accordingly! ➳ | |
2026 Contribution Limits
Contributing to your workplace retirement plan is an excellent way to build your long-term financial security. With the IRS announcing updated contribution and compensation limits for defined contribution retirement plans in 2026, now is a great time to maximize your savings through the ACC Voluntary Savings Program.
Key Changes for 2026
401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans:
- The annual contribution limit increases to $24,500 (up from $23,500 in 2025).
Age-Based Catch-up contributions (Age 50+):
- The catch-up contribution limit increases to $8,000 (up from $7,500 in 2025), allowing a total contribution of $32,500 in 2026.
Special Catch-up for 403(b), 457(b), and 401(k) plans (Ages 60-63):
- This special catch-up contribution remains the same at $11,250 in 2026.
Annual compensation limit:
- The compensation limit increases to $360,000 (up from $350,000 in 2025).
Want to learn more? View the Annual Retirement Benefits Guide located in the Forms Section on the US Omni and TSACG Compliance Services site. If you're already participating, review your current contribution strategy and consider increasing your contributions to take full advantage of the new limits for 2026.
| | |
Learn Lifesaving Skills
The Heartsaver First Aid and CPR AED course is now available at no cost for all ACC Employees!
The Heartsaver First Aid course trains participants first aid basics for the most common first aid emergencies, including how to recognize them, how to call for help, and how to perform lifesaving skills. The Heartsaver CPR AED course trains participants to give CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner.
After completing the four-hour course, Participants will receive a nationally recognized certification card from the American Heart Association, valid for two years.
Classes are held the second Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
| | |
Redeem Buena Vida Bucks Before They Expire!
It's time to spend all those Buena Vida BuckS you collected by taking the annual health assessment, completing an annual preventive visit, and downloading the Wellness at Your Side app! These activities are worth up to $99 in rewards value annually, which can be redeemed for items in the online rewards store.
More than 5,000 participants have already claimed rewards like step machines, Beats earphones, Fitbit Inspire 3, Ninja’s Nutri-Blender Plus and more.
But act fast! All Buena Vida Bucks earned in 2025 will expire on December 31, 2025. Buena Vida Bucks won't roll over into the next year, so be sure to redeem them before the deadline.
| | | Shining a Light on What Great Looks Like | |
Dr. Laurie Dillon
Professional Nursing Program Department Chair
Describe the work you do each day in Health Sciences.
No two days look the same, but every day is grounded in the same goal: creating an environment where students can become confident, compassionate healthcare professionals. We lead with our whole heart. My work ranges from overseeing program operations and ensuring regulatory compliance to collaborating with faculty on curriculum, clinical placements, and student success initiatives. Much of my time is spent problem-solving, anticipating needs, and removing barriers so our teams can focus on education and patient-centered learning. I also work closely with campus partners, community healthcare organizations, and ACC leadership to ensure that our programs remain aligned with workforce needs and the highest standards of academic excellence.
Your org chart shows you managing a large number of employees. How do you manage to be available for all of them?
I stay available by being intentional, organized, and present. Even with a large team, I believe people should never feel like they are “competing” for support. I set aside times for check-ins, keep an open-door communication style, and prioritize responsiveness—whether that means talking through a concern, celebrating a success, or removing an obstacle. I also tell them they don't have to wait, I am always a text message or a phone call away. I also rely on strong faculty leads and coordinators who help maintain clear communication channels and share leadership responsibilities. Ultimately, my goal is to ensure that every employee knows their work is valued, their voice matters, and they have someone in their corner whenever they need guidance.
How do ACC’s values influence your work? Does one of the values speak to you more than others?
ACC’s values guide nearly every decision I make. Student success is at the heart of what we do in Health Sciences/Professional Nursing, and it shapes how we design programs, support faculty, and build partnerships in the community. The value that resonates with me most is care for the whole person. In healthcare education, we don’t just teach skills—we develop future nurses and clinicians who will care for our community at its most vulnerable moments. That requires compassion, integrity, and a commitment to equity. I try to model those values in my leadership, and I encourage our teams to do the same. When we lead with care, everything else—quality, innovation, and success—naturally follows. These achievements are all grounded in our values courage, compassion, joy and yes with a side of belonging.
How did a community college in Austin, home to a major university, become the top provider of healthcare education in our area? And what is ACC doing to meet the demand?
ACC became the leading provider of healthcare education because we respond quickly to community needs, we maintain strong relationships with our clinical partners, and we remain deeply committed to expanding access to high-quality, affordable nursing training. While major universities play an important role in the region, ACC offers the scale, flexibility, and workforce-driven approach needed to meet the demands of a rapidly growing healthcare market. Our students come out of our program with the skills they need to be ready to work.
To meet ongoing and increasing demand, we continue to expand program capacity, strengthen simulation education, invest in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and hire expert faculty who bring real-world experience into the classroom. We work closely with hospital systems and community clinics to ensure our graduates are prepared for the realities of modern healthcare. As Central Texas grows, ACC remains focused on innovation, collaboration, and ensuring that every qualified student has a pathway into a meaningful healthcare career.
| |
Don Your Dancin' Shoes!
There are a FEW tickets still available for the ACC Holiday Party, happening Friday, December 19, at the Hyatt Regency Austin.
If tickets sell out, email accholidayparty@austincc.edu to join the waitlist.
And if you have tickets but your plans change, please let us know at accholidayparty@austincc.edu, so we can swap your tickets with someone on the waitlist.
| | | |
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! |
| Past happyhr newsletters can be viewed on our website here! | | | | |
