<p>From the Daily Texan, 6/6/08
VIEWPOINT
"University of ACC"
By Leah Finnegan, Editor in Chief</p>
<p>Like many UT students, I signed up for a class at Austin Community College this summer for a number of reasons, namely the price tag - as an out-of-state student, I would have had to pay $3,600 to UT to take what appears to be virtually the same U.S. Government class that I'm taking for $900 at ACC. I had attempted to take the course twice before at UT, but dropped both 200-student sections three weeks into the semester- the first time because the professor kept using the word "sexified" and the other because the professor liked to scream his lectures. When it comes to my education, I don't like to sacrifice my health and sanity. Needless to say, I didn't have high hopes for my third try at government,but I figured that at least it wouldn't cost me as much mentally, physically and financially at ACC. </p>
<p>It turns out that the long-standing open secret is true: summer school at ACC is like UT, but better and cheaper. At least two-thirds of my class of 36 students is from UT, as is the well-spoken professor, who wasted no time in calling us out on making the calculated decision to attend ACC for the summer rather than paying more and studying harder at UT. Because here's the catch: for UT students, academic performance at ACC is almost an afterthought. In order for ACC credit to transfer to UT, a student only needs to pass his or her course. The grades do not transfer; regardless of whether a UT student earns a 66 or a 99 in an ACC class, their UT GPA will remain intact and the credit will count toward graduation.</p>
<p>Seems like a dream come true - UT-quality classes (or even higher-quality) for half the fuss and half the price. ACC is indeed a clever channel through which to navigate - and evade - portions of the UT bureaucracy. ACC doesn't keep track of how many UT students tread its halls each summer, but there's a strong summer influx of UT students trying to eliminate bothersome requirements as painlessly as possible. And ACC welcomes these students with open arms. "We're glad we can offer them an opportunity to meet their education needs," said Dean Jones, the school's senior communications director.</p>
<p>ACC lacks the glittery prestige of its big brother to the north, and the school knows this - a decorated bulletin board at the Rio Grande campus encourages ACC students to "transfer to their future" by applying to UT, St. Edwards, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. And of course, ACC's humbling motto is "start here, get there." Perhaps UT should think adopting a similar motto: "start here, go there, graduate here." For the price, I'd almost rather stay there.</p>