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In the May 21, 2026, edition of HappyHR:
- A reflection on three years as HRVC
- How Nina Almasy turned a mistake into a career
- A new way to save for retirement
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Three Years In
A message from Kelly Torrico, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources
Last month, I passed my three-year anniversary as Vice Chancellor of Human Resources at ACC.
Three years is long enough for a role to stop feeling theoretical. Long enough to experience moments that challenge your assumptions, sharpen your perspective, and deepen your understanding of people, leadership, and institutions.
And these last three years have certainly done that for me. This role has grown me both professionally and personally, not because I arrived without values or perspective, but because leadership at this level asks you to live those values consistently in the middle of complexity, competing priorities, imperfect information, and real human emotion.
It has reinforced for me how much communication matters. How much presence matters. How important it is to stay grounded enough to respond thoughtfully instead of reactively, especially when the stakes are high and the pressures are real. I’ve learned that strong leadership is not about having every answer. It is about being willing to stay engaged, stay clear, and stay connected to people while navigating difficult decisions and constant change.
And there has been a great deal of change.
At times, the work has felt incredibly complex. Like many institutions, ACC has faced moments where everything seemed urgent at once, where different people had different ideas about what needed to happen, and where every decision carried tradeoffs.
What I’m most proud of is not perfection. It’s the progress we’ve made together in learning how to navigate that complexity more collaboratively and more intentionally.
Through the Theory of Change, through difficult conversations, and through the willingness of people across this College to continue showing up and engaging, I believe ACC is becoming more aligned, more thoughtful, and more capable of moving important work forward together.
Not because we always agree. But because we are getting better at listening, communicating, and staying committed to solutions. That matters.
Because culture is not built through slogans or presentations. It’s built in everyday interactions. In how we treat each other during moments of stress. In whether we communicate clearly. In whether we follow through. In whether we make space for accountability and humanity at the same time.
Going into my fourth year as Vice Chancellor, I believe this next chapter at ACC is an important one.
We have spent significant time building alignment, redesigning systems, and clarifying expectations. Now we have an opportunity to continue turning that work into daily practice through stronger leadership, clearer communication, greater consistency, and the courage to continue growing together.
At the same time, I hope we never become so focused on the work that we lose sight of the people doing it.
ACC is a special place because of the people here. The care people show students. The resilience teams continue demonstrating during difficult seasons. The moments of humor, connection, generosity, and support that happen quietly every day across this institution.
Those things matter too.
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I feel genuinely grateful to be part of this community and privileged to help lead during such an important moment in ACC’s evolution.
We still have a great deal of work ahead of us. But I’m hopeful about where we’re going and proud of how far we’ve already come.
With appreciation,
Kelly Torrico
Vice Chancellor of Human Resources
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A New Way to Save!
We are excited to announce a new retirement savings option for all ACC employees, the Roth 457 Plan.
Beginning June 1, 2026, ACC employees will have the opportunity to make after-tax contributions to a Roth 457 account as part of their retirement planning strategy. Unlike traditional pre-tax retirement contributions, Roth contributions are taxed upfront, allowing for tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement.
Why participate?
- Build retirement savings that can provide tax-free income in retirement
- Contribute up to $24,500 in 2026*
- Enjoy a simple, flexible enrollment process through payroll deduction
- Update your contribution amount at any time
- Access expert guidance and retirement planning resources
*Employees age 50+ may contribute an additional $8,000 annually.
How do I enroll?
To open an account, create a salary reduction agreement, or simply review information about your retirement savings options, visit US Omni & TSACG Compliance Services.
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Classification and Compensation Update
What’s new this month
Members of the Compensation & Classification Workgroup, which includes representatives from each of ACC's employee associations, got their first look at the new Salary Placement Tool, a product of Classification and Compensation work. It included recent enhancements, functionality updates, and the equity review component incorporated into the process.
These efforts are intended to support greater consistency, transparency, and long-term sustainability in how ACC structures and administers compensation practices.
Because of the significant volume of work and frequent tweaks, details won't be released to the whole College until all the work is done. At that point, a Compensation Manual will be distributed, including guidance materials, presentation resources, the Salary Placement Tool and the rationale for its use.
EPMO Project Manager Erika Vasquez presented a rough draft Project Charter for feedback from the Workgroup.
These efforts are intended to support greater consistency, transparency, and long-term sustainability in how ACC structures and administers compensation practices.
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Join Us for a PEP Talk!
Don't let it sneak up to you; PEP will be here before you know it. The PEP season has been extended two weeks to give managers a chance to get a head start on evaluations and still have four full weeks to meet with staff members.
PEP season always brings up questions about who's eligible, who evaluates whom, and the difference between "redefines expectations" and "exceeds expections." Whether you're a manager or employee, we invite you to learn more about PEP at our Say Yes! to Excellence webinar.
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Say YES! to Excellence for Anyone
June 10 at 10 a.m.
Zoom Link
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Become an Agent for Change
June 15, 2026, is the deadline for joining the Theory of Change Network.
The Network is open to all employees except those who are currently on an active Theory of Change Design Team.
You'll be asked to attend hybrid meetings on the last Monday of every month. Meetings are from 2:30 - 4p.m. on Zoom and at HLC. Chancellor Lowery-Hart attends frequently to share his leadership vision for the college and to interact with ToCN members.
Visit the ToCN website to learn more about the cohort starting in September. Then fill out this registration form. You should hear back from ToCN organizers by the end of September.
Be a change agent for change, and join others who believe anyone can be a leader!
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The Heart of Health Sciences: Nina Almasy
“I never wanted to be a nurse.”
The comment surprised attendees at a recent Ask Me Anything session at the Hays campus. Nina Almasy, ACC’s Associate Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences, smiled as she explained how a mistake on a university entrance form in Iran unexpectedly set her on the path that would shape her life.
What began as reluctance eventually became purpose. Today, after more than two decades at ACC, Almasy leads one of the college’s fastest-growing and most impactful areas, preparing students for careers in nursing, radiology, dental hygiene, veterinary technology, and other critical healthcare professions across Central Texas.
But if you ask her what matters most, she won’t start with programs or facilities. She starts with people.
Throughout the conversation, Almasy returned repeatedly to one word: love. “It’s all about love,” she said. “It’s all about having respect for humans. We each bring our whole self to this experience." That philosophy shapes the way she approaches leadership, education, and healthcare. For Almasy, leadership begins with trust, transparency, and compassion.
“I don’t even think we need to manage people,” she said. “Build trust. Get to know them. Earn their trust.”
When Almasy joined ACC roughly 23 years ago as nursing faculty, Health Sciences looked very different. The division was smaller, the nursing program was smaller, and ACC did not yet offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Since then, the college has expanded significantly to meet the region’s growing healthcare demands and is now looking forward to the planned Health Sciences building at Hays.
Almasy also reflected on how ACC itself has evolved over the years. Early in her career, healthcare education often focused on whether students were “college ready.” Today, she says, the focus has shifted. “Now we’re all about the student,” she said. “Are we student-ready?” That student-centered mindset, she believes, has made the college stronger.
ACC's institutional growth toward a culture of culture of collaboration, transparency, and care also give her optimism.
“We have leadership that is empowering all of us to come together,” she said.
After 23 years at ACC, the nurse who never planned to become a nurse has helped shape not only healthcare education in Central Texas, but a culture rooted in compassion, collaboration, and service. And in her view, that work always begins the same way:
“With love.”
| | Important Reminders for Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Level Adjustment | | |
ACC employees pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree are reminded that the Tuition Reimbursement application window opens June 1 and closes June 21 at 11:59 p.m.
In the spirit of Courage, Yes, Compassion, and Joy, the Tuition Reimbursement application is now integrated into the Employee Voucher System, bringing everything together in one convenient place and making the process easier to access than ever before.
ACC’s Tuition Reimbursement plan is designed to support employees in their continued growth and learning journey by helping offset educational expenses.
Employees planning to apply are encouraged to prepare the following documents in advance:
- Unofficial transcripts
- Tuition and fee statement
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted, so be sure to apply early.
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Full-time faculty who earned a higher degree or completed additional graduate hours during Fiscal Year 2026 may be eligible for an Educational Level Adjustment and corresponding salary increase.
Austin Community College’s Annual Educational Level Adjustment Process is now underway for eligible faculty members who completed advanced academic work in their teaching discipline or in Education during FY26.
Faculty who believe they qualify should complete this form and arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to ACC. Official transcripts may be submitted by email to hrtranscripts@austincc.edu or mailed to HR Total Rewards at Highland Campus.
The deadline to submit the required form is July 17, 2026. While transcripts may arrive after the deadline, salary or rank adjustments cannot be processed until official transcripts are received.
Faculty will be notified of review results by August 17, 2026. Approved adjustments will take effect for the Fall 2026 semester and will be reflected in FY27 agreements.
| | | ACC is proud to invest in the professional and personal growth of its employees, and to support their continued academic achievement and professional growth. | | |
Using Workday to Find New Jobs
If you're ready to grow your career but aren't sure where to do it, consider exploring ACC's open positions.
All the information you need is in one handy corner of Workday called Jobs Hub, a single location for employees to browse open positions, set job alerts, refer candidates, and track applications.
Key Features and Capabilities
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Browse Jobs: An intuitive interface allowing employees to search and filter internal job openings based on location, job category, job type, or hiring manager.
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Job Alerts: Tools to set custom alerts so you are notified when new roles matching your career interests are posted.
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Application Tracking: A dedicated space to review current and past application statuses, as well as saved job materials.
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Internal Referrals: A quick way to refer colleagues and contacts for open company roles directly from the platform.
How to Use Jobs Hub
Type Jobs Hub in Workday's Search bar or find it in the menu of applications.
On the left, you'll see a menu of actions.
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Overview shows a sampling of current jobs available and the status of any job you may have applied for.
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Browse Jobs lists all current openings and links for applying
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My Applications shows all of your active and inactive job applications
Here's a quick video that walks you through using Jobs Hub.
Good luck!
| | | Watch this space for Workday tips, reminders, and announcements! | | |
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