First Copy Free
May 2, 2011
Volume 13, Issue 12
theAccent.org
sga violates open meetings act pg. 5 most awarded degrees at acc pg. 8 News → The Board
ACC president bids farewell
fashion for a student budget pg. 10 accent salutes president kinslow pg. 2
News → People
Dedication to education Student uses feet to accomplish everyday activities Hilary Shepherd
News Editor
Ali Halpin•Staff Photographer
SIGNING OFF — After serving at ACC since 1977, President Stephen B. Kinslow will retire this summer. Kinslow led the college through its rapid growth to more than 44,000 students and its increase in minority student involvement.
Before retiring, Stephen Kinslow recalls his term in office as college president Natalee Blanchat
Campus Editor
After 34 years at ACC, President Stephen B. Kinslow will be retiring in June. Kinslow, who was appointed as president in 2005, joined the college in 1977. He began as an associate dean, and later held the roles of vice president of school relations, dean of Rio Grande Campus, and has served on various Central Texas boards. During his time as president, Kinslow led the college during its increase in student enrollment from 31,908 in fall of 2005 to 40,248 in fall of 2010. He oversaw the master planning process as well as the introduction to annexations of several new campuses, including Round Rock Campus, and more recently the districts of Hays and Elgin counties. Kinslow said the expansion of ACC was one of the highlights of his career. “I think ACC has done a great job over the last six years by putting together a very detailed and comprehensive master plan that drives how we use our limited resources and keeps the institution focused on some core values and core priorities,” said Kinslow. “I feel good about those planning processes and think the additional annexations help other communities understand the value of being full partners with the college.” Kinslow, who was the first member in his family to attend college, said being raised in a lower-middle-class lifestyle helped drive his passion for higher education. “I know the difference education has made in my life. That’s the satisfying thing about being a part of ACC, is being able to talk to students and see the difference ACC makes,” he said. “It’s a very transformative institution in terms of helping people redirect their lives.” One memory Kinslow said he will take with him was when a former Rio Grande Campus security guard, Bobbie Herring, cut his hair in the security office at RGC when Kinslow was associate dean at the college. “This place is just filled with people who are spontaneous, fun, and creative,” said Kinslow. “It’s things like that which have made it such a pleasure to work here.” Julie Todaro, dean of library
services who has worked with Kinslow for 25 years and considers herself a personal friend, said that she recalls a time when he gave a waitress a $50 tip under the stipulation that she use it toward education. “Steve has been known to provide scholarship money from his own pocket, but that’s just the kind of thing he does; he’s very generous,” said Todaro. “He’s very compassionate and full of passion for the mission of the college as well as education for people who are first time college-goers or can’t afford a college education.” According to former Student Government Association President Joshua Bacak, Kinslow met with the organization each month in order to address student initiatives and keep students informed about the administration. “He always made it a point to have that open transparency,” said Bacak. “He was always willing to listen to proposals and meet the organization halfway on issues if it was in the best interest of the student. He is the perfect example of what leadership should be.” As far as retirement plans are concerned, Kinslow said he would love to do some traveling in Canada, Europe, and Portugal. His first travel destination will be to Spain but not before taking some time to brush up on his Spanish. “I just want to relax and have some fun,” said Kinslow. “You reach that latter part of life and you start thinking about other things. It’s not a loss of interest in community colleges, and I hope I’ll still be connected to community colleges in some ways, but I would like to have some flexibility to do other things before it’s all over.” Kinslow said he hopes that students realize how important community college is, whether they’re going on to four-year universities or going straight into the work force after obtaining an associate degree. “The great thing about our college is that we have a pioneering spirit and this embracing of change and innovation,” said Kinslow. “I hope students are proud of the college and the things that they accomplish here.”
Born without arms, 32-year-old Jose Villa said his disability hasn’t kept him from doing anything. In fact, Villa is able to successfully write, eat, get dressed, use his phone, and drive – all with his feet. “What’s the hardest task for me? Nothing,” said Villa. Villa was born with a heart condition, needing surgery at nine years old. For the procedure, Villa and his family traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah from Tenancingo, Mexico. Two years later, they relocated to Houston, Texas because he needed back surgery. From there, they moved to San Marcos, Texas, eventually settling there. Villa said he tried to get into Texas State University, but he needed remedial courses before enrolling. Instead, he attended Gary Job Corps, and with their college program, he began attending ACC in 2002. “I like ACC,” he said. “I like the teachers, and I especially like the opportunities they give us, especially for handicapped people. They’re good about accommodating.” Villa resides in San Marcos with his parents. Even though he doesn’t live by himself, Villa said he needs little assistance. “Sometimes, when I go to the grocery store, I’ll bring someone with me. But if I need to get something small, I’ll just go by myself. I’m pretty independent,” he said. For four days each week, Villa drives to Austin for his classes at Eastview and Rio Grande campuses. After five more classes, he’ll graduate with an associate degree in Computer Information Technology. Villa’s dedication to school, according to Joseph Wiseman, instructional associate of writing in the learning lab at Eastview, is impressive. “We get a lot of students who come into the learning lab,” said Wiseman, “but, honestly, the number of students who are as dedicated as Villa is very low. He’ll work at something, whether it’s a writing assignment or a computer assignment, until he gets it.” “And that’s really impressive when you get a student – any student, but especially a student without arms – putting in that kind of time.” Though Wiseman hasn’t taught Villa in any of his classes, he said the two have grown close from Villa’s frequent visits to
Dana Manickavasagam•Lead Photographer
INSPIRATION— Jose Villa uses hit foot to open his car door while preparing to leave Eastview Campus. Villa drives to Austin from San Marcos four times a week to attend classes at Eastview and Rio Grande campuses where he is studying Computer Information Technology. the learning lab. “He’s a wonderful fellow. He’s wonderful from any aspect. I’ve seen him climb up in an automobile engine and start taking it apart. I’ve seen him type at both desk level and foot level. Sometimes, I think, ‘Well, he can’t do that,’ and he just does it as a matter of fact. I think you can pretty well say that he can do anything,” said Wiseman. And the ability to do anything, said Villa, is part of the lesson he wants to teach elementary students during the motivational speeches he conducts. “I tell them about my life and the way I do things. I try to convince them to stay in school. But the number one thing I want them to know is if I can do it, they can do it,” said Villa. “Just because a person is disabled doesn’t mean he or she isn’t going
to accomplish things.” Villa said he doesn’t worry about people staring. “It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore. I guess it’s because I’m used to it.” he said. “He’s very outgoing,” said Wiseman. “I think if I had a serious disability, I would kind of withdraw, but he has a lot of friends. He’s someone who knows a lot of people and talks to a lot of people.” Villa said he doesn’t look at his disability as a disadvantage. “If I would’ve had arms, maybe I wouldn’t be in college or even in the states,” he said. “I think if I wasn’t the way I am, I probably wouldn’t be the same person that I am right now.”
News → Student Government Association
Meeting spurs concerns over activity fees Karissa Rodriguez
Editor-in-Chief
A new timeline implemented by the Student Activity Fee Advisory Committee (SAFAC) at the April 22 meeting at Highland Business Center (HBC) calls for student clubs and organizations to submit budget proposals to SAFAC via email by May 6 so the committee can recommend any adjustments to the Student Life budget proposal that was presented at a recent SAFAC meeting, according to SAFAC Chair Sophia Downing. In the past, SAFAC met once in the fall semester and again in the spring semester. However, the April 22 meeting was the first meeting SAFAC held this year and members did not vote to recommend Student Life’s fiscal year 2012 budget that was presented by Student Life Director Cheryl Richard. Downing announced at the meeting that the committee will need to hold a second meeting before the end of the school year in order to finalize their student activity fee budget recommendations to send to ACC President/CEO Stephen Kinslow who will then review the budget before sending it to the board of trustees for final approval. The next SAFAC meeting will take place on May 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at HBC.
Richard is concerned that there will not be enough time for Student Life to plan for fiscal year 2012. “We can’t move forward, and we don’t want to interrupt service for students in the fall,” said Richard. Aside from the concerns over SAFAC’s timeline, much of the meeting was spent answering audience questions and going over budget line items from Student Life’s proposal, including the budget for first year experience and orientation and leadership. In fiscal year 2011 Student Life spent $1,701,604 and is currently proposing to spend $1,860,000 in fiscal year 2012, according to the documents Richard presented at the meeting. Richard announced that the mandatory student activity fee will remain at $2 per credit hour and explained that the increase is to plan ahead and budget for the expansion of student services and the hiring of four new Student Life employees to work at Elgin and Hays campuses once they open to the public. “When we get a new campus, we get new students, so there will be more students paying the fee,” explained Richard when asked how Student Life plans to pay for the increased budget proposal. One of the line items in the proposal is administrative fees, which include Student Life employees’ salaries and benefits.
Pete Perreault•Staff Photographer
RAISE YOUR HAND — Eileen Galvez, leadership coordinator at South Austin Campus, raises her hand during the April 22 meeting to ask the Student Activity Fee Advisory Committee a question. Downing said she was concerned that the student activity fee pays for Student Life salaries and benefits which make up $1,155,955 of the total budget. “The committee has been researching if salaries and benefits are something that comes out of the [Texas Education] Code,” said Downing. SAFAC member Neil Vickers, associate vice president of finance and budgett, said during the meeting that he felt that salaries and benefits would fall under a category of the Texas Education Code Section 54.503 that states how colleges can use student activity fees for student services. The code explains that
student services include a number of categories including “any other student activities and services specifically authorized and approved by the governing board of the institution of higher education.” SAFAC members explained that they are not seeking to abolish Student Life salaries and benefits from the student activity fee. “We are not asking that you guys don’t get paid. We are trying to figure out why [it’s coming out of student activity fees],” said SAFAC member Stacy Moreno, the SGA Senator at Eastview Campus. After completing research, SAFAC will send its recommendation.