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From the VC:

Stronger Support,

Anytime You Need It

Riverbats,

In times of rapid change and uncertainty, one thing remains constant: our commitment to your well-being. As we navigate transformation together, supporting you—our employees, faculty, and staff—remains a top priority. That’s why I’m excited to share an important enhancement to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), ensuring you have access to expanded resources and holistic support whenever you need it.

Our EAP provider, AllOne Health (formerly Deer Oaks), is bringing new features and an upgraded member portal designed to make accessing care easier, more personalized, and more powerful than ever before.

I encourage each of you to explore these enhanced offerings and take advantage of the tools designed to help you thrive, personally and professionally. If there’s one thing I want you to know, it’s this: You are supported. You are valued. And we are here for you.

Thank you for all that you do to make ACC an incredible place to work and grow. Let’s take care of ourselves, and each other. 💜

Regards,

Kelly Torrico

Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

Loving Students to Success Starts with How We Lead

Kelly puts her boss -- Executive Vice Chancellor Neil Vickers -- on the spot TODAY at this month's Ask Me Anything. The theme is Leadership, but we'll also ask some fun, get-to-know-them questions, too. Everyone is invited!

Dates Set for Tuition Reimbursement Applications

The Tuition Reimbursement program is one of the most valuable perks offered to ACC employees.

Applications will be accepted February 17-28.

Watch for further details, coming soon!

About the Tuition Reimbursement Program

Exciting HR Leadership Announcements

We are thrilled to announce four key leadership appointments within our HR team, strengthening our commitment to operational excellence, collaboration, and employee support. Not only do these individuals excel in their respectives areas of responsibility, they are all current ACC HR employees. We're proud to be able to offer them opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Social Security Fairness Act Becomes Law

With bipartisan support, the Social Security Fairness Act has become law. This important legislation will help protect Social Security benefits for millions of Americans. It represents a signficant step toward fairness and equity in the Social Security System.

TRS to Hold Retirement Session

All ACC employees considering retirement in the 2024-25 school year are invited to an in-person benefits presentation hosted by TRS which includes the opportunity for hour-long 1:1 counseling sessions.

The event will be held Saturday, March 1, at TRS headquarters, 1000 Red River Street, Austin.

Registration is required and is on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP by February 21 by calling the TRS Counseling Center at 1-800-223-8778.

IRS Announces New 2025 Contribution Limits

Contributing to your workplace retirement plan is a great way to start your savings journey. Additionally, pretax contributions to an employer-sponsored tax-deferred plan can help reduce your current taxable income, while saving for retirement with dollars that would otherwise be spent on taxes. The IRS has announced the updated contribution and compensation limits for retirement plans for the 2025 tax year, offering a prime opportunity to maximize your savings through the ACC Voluntary Savings Program.

Go Paperless for Prizes

You can support ACC‘s Zero Waste efforts by electing to receive your W-2 and 1095-C digitally instead of by mail!

The IRS doesn‘t need you to include this health verification form in your tax filing but it may help you prepare your taxes. If you change your election in Workday by FEBRUARY 14, you can enter to win some cool prizes! Learn how to make the change here.

After you switch to paperless, enter this drawing for some sweet ACC swag!

"It's scary to disclose."

Samantha Thomson

Transformation Coach

"Transformation," a key part of Samantha Thomson's job title, fits Samantha as much as it fits her students.

Samantha started at ACC about 10 years ago as a part-time night clerk on the Cypress campus. She eventually earned a bachelor's degree in Special Education and a master's in Austism Spectrum Disorder. She's now a Transformation Coach, and has been supervising five GROW associates for two years.

Those degrees, along with her own experience with neurodiversity, has made her a champion

for both students and staff who share similar challenges.

Whether or not you're a supervisor, there's something to be learned in this exceptionally candid and enlightening interview with Kelly. Samantha tells us how to recognize when a neurodivergent coworker is struggling, and offers some tips for managing conversations.

Before the Zoom-based interview started, Samantha warned Kelly we might hear from her very vocal bird in the background. Indeed, we heard a couple squawks, so Samantha introduced us to Avatar. You can meet him, too, in the clip linked below. ADD PICTURE OF AVATAR

What is the difference between the Hiring Manager and the Hiring Chair, and how do I set that up?

The Hiring Manager is responsible for filling and overseeing an open position.

The Search Committee Chair organizes and supports the recruitment process from start to finish including, but not limited to, screening candidates, setting up committee interview teams, coordinating interviews, conducting reference checks, etc. The Chair is required to be assigned for all job requisitions. Often, the Hiring Manager also serves as the Search Committee Chair.

Creating Search Committees JOB AIDS:

Staff

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty