Will the one-time payment be added to an employee’s base salary?

No. It is a one-time payment that is separate from the annual raise that is effective on September 1, 2026. Conversely, annual raises are added to base salaries and pay rates for eligible employees.

Will employees working less than full-time receive the full $1,700?

No. The $1,700 amount assumes 100% full-time equivalence (FTE). Employees with less than 100% FTE will receive a prorated amount. For example, an employee at 75% FTE would receive $1,275.

Are adjunct faculty eligible?

Yes. Adjunct faculty who taught during the Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 semester are eligible. Adjunct faculty with 15 or more LEH receive $750. Adjunct faculty with fewer than 15 LEH fall into the “All Other Eligible Employees” category and receive $400.

What period of time is being used to tabulate an adjunct’s LEH?

The 2026 Fiscal Year (Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026) will be reviewed to tabulate each adjunct’s LEH. But please note: if an adjunct faculty member did not teach in the Spring 2026 semester or during the Summer 2026 sessions, they will not be eligible for the one-time payment.

Are hourly employees eligible?

Many hourly employees are eligible. To qualify, hourly employees must have worked 250 hours or more during the period from 01/01/2026 through 07/31/2026.

Eligible hourly employees receive $400.

Are grant-funded hourly employees eligible?

No. Grant-funded hourly employees, such as those paid through Federal Work-Study, are excluded from the one-time payment.

Can an employee with multiple positions qualify for more than one payment?

Yes, but do note that no employee will receive a total payment more than the $1,700 maximum, regardless of the number of their positions.

What about hourly employees who work multiple hourly positions, but one or more of those positions are grant-funded?

If the employee totals 250 or more hours worked across all hourly positions, then they will be eligible for the $400 one-time payment, even if one of those positions is grant-funded.

What if an hourly employee only works in a grant-funded position(s)?

If the only type of position(s) an employee is assigned to is/are grant-funded (like Federal Work-Study), then the employee is not eligible for the one-time payment.

Are former employees eligible?

No. Employees who are no longer employed by ACC and are not on the August payroll are not eligible for the payment. Please note: employees who are terminating employment by August 31 will not be eligible for the payment, even if they are receiving a paycheck in August.

Why did ACC choose this payment structure?

College leadership explained that the approved compensation plan balances employee support with current budget realities. The one-time lump sum will be paid from the FY26 budget. This approach was intentionally designed to benefit and maximize the positive impact on ACC’s lowest-paid colleagues while maintaining the College’s long-term fiscal stability.

If you have questions about your individual eligibility or payment amount, please submit a TDX ticket to HR.

Thank you for everything you do for ACC and our students.

Kelly Torrico

Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

Austin Community College District