Dear Student Affairs Colleagues, 

As we approach the end of our Fall semester, I want to share how proud I am of the work you have done this year and the progress of our Staff Coaching and Professional Development team! Nearly 200 supervisors completed our Student Affairs Supervisor Culture Reboot Training this fall. Thank you to each of you for having the courage to take part in the first steps of this training process for our entire Student Affairs division!

There is still plenty to be done, however. As I shared previously, all Student Affairs team members and leaders will participate in our Culture Reboot Training this academic year. Our Staff Coaching and Professional Development and Fellows team will be hosting these training sessions throughout the spring semester. You’ll receive more information on how to sign up, what dates training sessions will be held, and more, from that team before the upcoming Winter Break.

This Culture Reboot Training and the steps we take beyond it will help us build a culture founded on empathy and inspiration within Student Affairs, and keep our students’ well-being at the forefront of everything we do. In doing so, we will establish an environment that enables all of our staff to feel supported and equipped to help our students realize the dreams they had when they chose ACC as their educational pathway.

Timeline & Next Steps

All non-supervisory Classified, Prof Tech, or Faculty staff within Student Affairs will be invited to participate in a two-day required training in the spring. These trainings will precede the launch of our New Employee Onboarding experience for all new staff in Fall 2025. There will be multiple dates to choose from for training during both the spring and summer semesters. All Student Affairs employees are required to participate in this culture reboot training over the next year. 

The Student Affairs Professional Development Team will be reaching out to you next week with further details about their training and will provide continued updates to all Student Affairs staff prior to training in the spring semester. 

My Expectation

As we embark on this journey, I ask that we remember the ultimate goal of why we are here - our students - and that change won’t happen overnight. It will take time and effort from each of us as professionals and colleagues to continue to redefine the culture we want and we must continue to reinforce it as we move into the future as a division.

We are navigating a tremendous amount of change as a college team and will continue to do so in the coming months and years. There will be challenges and discomfort along the way, but I ask that together, we build a community rooted in our values and a culture that ensures every team member is equipped to guide our students and staff to maximum success.

Thank you for your passion and dedication. Let's continue to inspire, uplift, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve!

Sincerely,

Dr. Shasta Buchanan

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Austin Community College District