
Austin Community College
The college district’s Career ACCelerator Program in June received a $250,000 boost in funding that the district hopes will translate into 100 professionals in the information technology sector.Career ACCelerator combines instruction with financial assistance, support services and paid internships to help adults—particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed—train for high-demand occupations.
The program focuses on addressing Central Texas’ growing information technology sector. More than 9,000 area job openings require computer or IT skills, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. JPMorgan Chase & Co. donated the funds, which will be used toward scholarships for adults entering the program.
“It’s important that we expand the pipeline of skilled workers in our region,” ACC president and CEO Richard Rhodes. “By joining our efforts and resources through community partnerships and the support of organizations like Chase, we can help more Central Texans transition into promising careers.”

The University of Texas at Austin
Students can enroll in a new bachelor’s degree program in communication and leadership beginning this fall.The degree seeks to prepare students for careers in public service, philanthropy, nonprofit and nongovernmental organization administration.
“As a former senior official in the federal government, I know firsthand that communication training and interdisciplinary perspectives are essential to developing leadership skills and the ability to address complex social problems,” said Jay Bernhardt, dean of the Moody College of Communication. “Our new communication and leadership degree will provide students with the practical, theoretical and ethical frameworks needed to serve as leaders in civic advocacy and public service sectors—ultimately enabling them to make a range of meaningful social contributions.”
Curriculum for the degree track will be interdisciplinary, with students taking courses from various departments within the Moody College. For more information on the program, visit http://moody.utexas.edu/comm-leadership.