Diversity, Merit and Higher Education Forum

1. Diversity, Merit and Higher Education Forum March 10, 2008 Charles Ramos Director –Postsecondary Services ACT Midwest Region

2. Overview • ACT Services in Secondary Education • EXPLORE/PLAN/ACT (EPAS) • ACT and Admissions/Recruitment • Recruiting for diversity • Non-Cognitive tools/data for recruitment of minority students • Student trends • Outreach

3. ACT Secondary Services • EXPLORE – 8th/9th Grade • Assess proficiency in core subject areas • Early Intervention • Needs Assessment (student’s perceived needs) • Student coursework, educational and career plans • Interest Inventory

4. ACT Secondary Services • PLAN – 10th Grade • Assess proficiency in core subject areas • Early Intervention • Needs Assessment • High School Course/Grade Information • Evaluate course-taking patterns in light of recommended core • UNIACT Interest Inventory • Explore personally relevant career options • Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) • Providing students with access to relevant college admissions and scholarship information

5. ACT Secondary Services • ACT • Assess proficiency in core subject areas • Last minute intervention/outreach • High School Course/Grade Information • ACT Interest Inventory • Student Profile Section • Educational, vocational aspirations • Plans, Abilities, Accomplishments, Needs Assessment • Educational Opportunity Service • Providing students with access to relevant college admissions and scholarship information

6. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment • Educational Opportunity Service • PLAN and ACT EOS • Access for universities/colleges and students • Connects universities with prospective students/gives students access to colleges and universities

7. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment EOS continued: • Students enter the enrollment pipeline chiefly through sending scores and releasing their name to EOS • Sending scores and releasing names to EOS are specific student behaviors that can be tied to specific enrollment outcomes • Increasing access and participation will not be accomplished unless students enter the enrollment pipeline by sending scores and releasing their name to EOS

8. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Senior names less likely to get purchased 1-12 37% 78% 13-15 34% 71% 16-19 15% 45% 20-23 7% 28% 24-27 4% 25% 28-32 3% 24% 33-36 3% 22% Tot 10% 41% ACT Composite Jr Not Purch Sr Not Purch

9. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Junior tested students (Nationally) by race/ethnicity

10. Advantages of State Testing in Michigan ACT: Admissions and Recruitment • More total students available earlier • More minority students tested and available earlier • More middle and lower-income students available earlier

11. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Student Characteristics – Change with State Testing by race/ethnicity 0607 0506 Dif African Amer 14,899 4,847 10,052 Amer Indian 1,019 335 684 Asian Amer 2,482 1,642 840 Caucasian 78,654 41,768 36,886 Mexican Amer 2,634 926 1,708 Multiracial 2,607 962 1,645 Other 3,208 1,158 2,050 Prefer NR 5,040 1,457 3,583 Other Hisp 1,177 381 796

12. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment • Access to students comes in two ways: • Students release name to EOS • Students send scores to colleges

13. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment • Michigan Students’ Enrollment Rates by Release of Information(2006 Junior-tested)*: • No EOS release/no Score Release 80% • EOS release/no Score Release 82% • EOS release/Score release 81% * Pre ACT statewide in Michigan

14. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Compare with Illinois Junior-tested with 100% testing: • No EOS release/no Score Release 51% • EOS release/no Score Release 61% • EOS release/Score Release 68%

15. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Percent of students releasing names to EOS And sending scores: MI 06 MI 07 Scores not sent, EOS not release 6 7 Scores not sent, EOS release 13 17 Scores sent, EOS not release 16 10 Scores sent, EOS release 66 67

16. ACT: Admissions and Recruitment Score Report Data: • 350 points of data on each score report • Self reported data • Information identifies not only scores, and address – also gives insight to students needs/wants, career interests, high school grade information, demographics • Data can be used for recruitment/yield initiatives (more personalized communication) as well as more effective advising

17. ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores Through collaborative research with postsecondary institutions nationwide, ACT has established the following College Readiness Benchmark Scores: A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses. College Readiness Benchmark Score English English Composition 18 Math Algebra 22 Reading Social Sciences 21 Science Biology 24

23. Recommendations • On a national scope, encourage all students (particularly minority students) to test Junior Year • Access student information early (EOS) • Encourage students to release their names to colleges, as well as send official score reports to institutions • Take advantage of the wealth of data on score reports to personalize communications and provide information on any support and other services related to student needs/wants • Identify Outreach and Recruitment Efforts through use of Official Score Report Information

24. Thank You! Charles Ramos 319-321-9710 charles.ramos@act.org