Austin Community College scores 'first' with program

Young said ACC officials approached him in 2006 to write a plan to create a Center for Public Policy, and when it was completed, he was asked to become its director. The Center is celebrating its first year in existence this month.

Young said the Center is committed to education, civic engagement and understanding across cultures. The Center's goal is to help ACC students get to know the processes that govern Texas and the nation. Through nonpartisan research, faculty guidance and actual hands-on experience, CPPPS enables students to develop a broad range of communication, analytical and decision-making skills.

"Most of our students will not complete their education with us," he said. "But we hope that their exposure to government through us will spur them to pursue further education opportunities at the next level."

One of the main programs at the Center, Young said, is the paid internship program.

"It allows students to get first-hand experience with city, county and state government. They get a chance to participate in the decision-making process where policy is formed. Because it is paid, they can spend more time with their internships."

There are currently 15 students participating in government internships with plans to expand the program in the next semester.

Specific goals for the Center include:

• Finding creative ways to actively involve students in all levels of the learning process;
• Conducting thoughtful and in-depth research on issues of public and community interest;
• Hosting opportunities for service learning through real-world experience and participation;
• Using the collective expertise of governmental, business and nonprofit communities to educate students as to the best procedures for public policy problem solving; and
• Developing program workshops, lectures and internships conducted by ACC's faculty, government officials, community leaders, public policy professionals and other prominent decision makers, designed to stimulate conversation and creativity, while focusing on specific problems and solutions.

The Center is organized as a nonprofit under ACC's Office of Governmental and Community Relations. It is overseen by a Board of Directors, chaired by former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd. The Center's staff members are hired and supported by the college and report to the Advisory Council for operational direction. Advisory Council members include ACC trustees, administrators, faculty, community leaders, a student and a member from the Texas Campus Compact.

Upcoming events include a Leadership Conference on Feb. 15, hosting a lecture on leadership with Student Life by Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson; a Voter Registration Drive, organized and run by students and seeking to have 1,00 students registered by October 2008; and a Regional Education Conference on "The Immigrant and Education: Historical Traditions and Present-Day Realities" in February.

"Our goal is to get students involved in the public policy process, any way we can," Young said. "We hope our efforts today will result in tomorrow's government leaders."

Austin Community College serves some 34,000 students on seven campuses in the greater Austin area.