ACC helping students pay for college

Starting with the beginning of the pandemic, Austin Community College District has distributed more than $58 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, or HEERF, to more than 16,420 students, according to a press release from ACC. The money has gone to help students who struggle to pay for college. Brittany Ligon, an ACC student and recipient, said, “As a single parent, working full time and going to school, it’s helped me stay afloat as I navigate life. Everyone deserves to be able to further their education whether it be for a better career or just for your personal goals. But not everyone can afford it. These opportunities help me keep food on the table and work toward my educational and career goals.” ACC’s debt forgiveness program has also played a critical role in removing the financial barriers to higher education, by clearing small debts for more than 8,100 students who “previously owed $1,000 or less for things such as books and course fees – and their balance was wiped to $0, clearing the way for them to register for more classes.” Dr. Melissa Curtis, associate vice chancellor of recruitment, said that the college wants “to make sure those in our community can continue to not only survive but thrive here.”