Meet the candidates running for the Austin Community College board – KUT

Meet the candidates running for the Austin Community College board  KUT

Board members serve six-year terms and represent ACC's taxing district. Elected members have to navigate funding declines and the future of the college's free tuition pilot program. Three of nine seats of the Austin Community College board are up for election this fall. Board members serve a six-year term representing residents of the ACC taxing district, which includes eight Central Texas independent school districts. Unlike school district board members, ACC trustees represent the area at large, not a specific region. ACC enrolls more than 43,000 students each semester, and that number has been growing, mainly through the free tuition pilot program which gives free tuition and fees to high school graduates in the college’s service area.

ACC has set a goal to achieve a 70% completion rate by 2030. In 2025 the rate was 47%. Board members are in charge of creating policies that encourage continued growth in enrollment and higher completion rates. They also have to manage a budget of $583 million for the 2027 fiscal year, while navigating less funding from tax revenue and from the state, due to changing formulas. Incumbent Dana Walker and Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia are running for Place 1. The candidates for Place 3 are Nan McRaven, who has served on the board for almost 25 years, and Trevor Hale. Place 2 is uncontested with