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New York State Association for College Admission Counseling. Coming Together Conference Jim Miller University of Wisconsin-Superior NACAC Board of Directors. Where in the World is Superior, Wisconsin?. Superior. A Guy from Wisconsin What’s that about?.
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New York State Association for College Admission Counseling Coming Together Conference Jim Miller University of Wisconsin-Superior NACAC Board of Directors
A Guy from WisconsinWhat’s that about? • Green Bay Packers – wears a Cheesehead • Likes cows, or at least eats cheese • Rides a Harley Davidson • Walks on water, and drives on it every year
My New York Moments • LGWC • Piseco • GORE • Morris • 100 HS • QE2 • LICF • NYC
Grew up outside Lancaster, PA • Diversity meant farmers, Mennonites & Amish, mixed with those who had jobs working for small companies or who were self employed. • I had no real relationship with any person of color until college • First-generation college
College was an awakening • Late 1960’s, early 1970’s • Vietnam, Civil Rights, early environmental • Easy to be a big fish at a small college • Became politically involved • ACLU, Charter member of Common Cause • Became passionate about Social Justice issues
Get involved • Late 1960’s and 1970’s active in civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. • Worked on campaign for Walter Fauntroy, the first elected member of Congress from Washington, DC
Work both sides of the aisle Congressman Dave Obey, D-WI Congressman Tom Petri, R-WI
Jim’s jobs • 3 years as a rookie admission counselor, served as East Coast regional rep for my alma mater (Northland College) in Wis. • 5 years in business in Harrisburg & Lancaster, Pennsylvania • 20+ years as Dean of Admissions, VP & Dean of Student Development & Enrollment at Northland • 6 years at UW-Superior, as Chief Admission Officer and Coordinator of Institutional Research
Professional Opportunities • Wisconsin ACAC • ACT Council • NACAC Government Relations • In 2005, elected NACAC Vice-President for Diversity, Equity & Access
We need to change the conversation • Less emphasis on Rankings and who can’t get into the Ivys • More focus on students who are not going to college or are struggling to succeed once they get there • Our future success and prosperity is contingent upon more success among underserved populations
Many types of Diversity • Today I’ll present various data that show how we’re doing in the engagement and success of students of color. • But I’d like us to think of our work as working with all types of diverse populations.
Who are You? • Who’s here? • College-School-Community Based Org.? • Rookies-Seasoned Pros? • Public-Private? • Big City-Small Town-Rural? Upstate-Downstate? • Is your job specifically defined as having a diversity focus? • Are a first generation college graduate? • College folks, do you work for your alma mater? • Are sitting with someone you knew before arriving?
What is your role/position? • Your role may be specific, but don’t let your current role define you or your career. • Help your institution to become more diverse, in as many ways as possible • Think of the big picture. • Your future - don’t necessarily need to have a grand plan, but be open to the opportunities
Why are you here? • What drove you to become what you are? • What are your aspirations for the work you do? • Why does it matter to you? • Why should it matter to others?
Talk Among Yourselves • What drove you to become what you are? • What are your aspirations for the work you do? • What can the rest of us do to help you get there?
During this conference • Know the challenges and opportunities • Vision the possibilities • Better know yourself, as an admission counselor • Be prepared to advance your institution and your students, while preparing to advance yourself. • One at a time
Educational Attainment of 25-34 Year Olds in NYSsource: higheredinfo.org
Doing Well While Doing Good • It should be enough to eliminate achievement/attainment gaps because it’s the right thing to do • But sometimes it helps to present information that compels decision-makers through “enlightened self-interest”
Why focus on low-income students? College Graduates by Age 24: Source: NCAN & Education Trust, 2001-Admission Possible 2008
Why focus on low-income students? Low-Income Students Attend Postsecondary at Lower Rates Source: NCAN & NELS: 88, Second (1992) and Third Follow up (1994); in, USDOE, NCES, NCES Condition of Education 1997 p. 64
Who Goes Where? Percent of Total Postsecondary School Enrollment for Each Ethnic Group by Institution Type 2002 NCES. The Condition of Education 2005
College Affordability:Three Major Dimensions Tuition Levels High rate of tuition increases Greater Financial Need Median family income increases Perceptions about value of higher education
Tuition and Fees: 10-Year Growth Projection $37,500 $34,760 $35,000 $32,500 $30,000 $27,500 $25,000 $20,082 $22,500 $20,000 $17,500 $15,000 $12,500 $9,364 $10,000 $7,500 $5,132 $5,000 $2,874 $2,076 $2,500 $0 94- 95- 96- 97- 98- 99- 00- 01- 02- 03- 04- 05- 06- 07- 08- 09- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 2-yr public 4-yr public 4-yr private College Board. Trends in Student Aid 2005, adapted by Bell
Tuition and Fees / Median Income 120.0% 96.8% 100.0% 84.0% 73.1% 80.0% 72.0% 57.7% 60.0% 47.3% 40.0% 26.1% 21.5% 16.9% 20.0% 14.5% 14.7% 19.3% 0.0% 94- 95- 96- 97- 98- 99- 00- 01- 02- 03- 04- 05- 06- 07- 08- 09- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 4 year Private tuition & fees as % median income Black & Hispanic 4 year Public tuition & fees as % median income Black & Hispanic 4 yearPrivatetuition & fees as % median income White 4 year Public tuition & fees as % median income White College Board. Trends in Student Aid 2005, adapted by Bell
Institutional Choice by Income Level, 1999–2000 Congressional Budget Office
Two Programs that Work • Yes Prep Public High School – Houston • Admission Possible (CBO) – Minneapolis • These are presented as examples of what can be done. I’m sure that there are equally worthy programs in New York
Yes Prep Public Schools-Houston Founded in 1998, YES Prep is a free, open-enrollment public school system that prepares low-income students for college graduation. YES’s comprehensive 6th-12th grade academic model includes a longer school day and a mandatory Saturday school and summer school program. In addition, the YES charter mandates that students must be accepted to a four-year college in order to receive their high school diploma. There are currently five YES campuses in the greater Houston area that serve 2,000 low income students:
Yes Prep High School Students • 80% of YES students are economically-disadvantaged • 95% are Hispanic or African-American • 88% are first-generation college-bound • Most students enter YES one grade level behind in math and English
Yes Prep results • 100% of YES students in seven graduating classes have been accepted to college • YES graduates have been accepted to 215 schools nationwide, including: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Yale, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Rice, University of Texas, and Texas A&M • Collectively, YES students have earned over $17 million in scholarships & financial aid • 91% of YES alumni have graduated or are still enrolled in a four-year college
Helping make college admission possible for promising, motivated and low-income students in Minnesota by providing S.A.T. and A.C.T. test preparation services and admissions and financial aid consulting.
Description of Program • ACT/SAT test preparation • Intensive assistance in preparing college applications • Help in obtaining financial aid • Support in transitioning to college Admission Possible provides students with four critical services:
Description of Program • Requirements: • 2.0 GPA, family income below median • Meet twice a week after school (160 hours/year for two years) • Provide eight hours of community service annually • Average starting ACT score in 2007-08 was 14.5 (about 10th percentile) • Junior YearSenior Year • Orientation to College Process Application Assistance • ACT/SAT Test Prep Financial Aid • Campus Visits Scholarship Applications • Summer Enrichment Opportunities Freshman Year Transition
Description of Program Admission Possible Student Profile: Of the 1200 students in the program, the average family income reported by our students is approximately $25,000, more than 40% are from immigrant families, and 60% are female. • 35% Hmong • 21% African-American • 16% African Immigrant • 8% Latino/a • 7% Biracial/Multiracial • 7% White • 5% Asian (Non-Hmong) • 1% American Indian
Results • 98% of our students have earned admission to college. From the class of 2007, 94% of our seniors earned admission to a 4-year college. • Students in our program increase their ACT scores by about 20%! Leading for-profit companies like Kaplan, by comparison, advertise average increases of 12-14%. • Nearly 80% of our students who enrolled in college are still enrolled and working toward their college degree, or have graduated! Nationally, only about 50% of all students who enroll in college graduate within 6 years. • These results were confirmed by an independent evaluation conducted by the Wilder Foundation.
Barrier: Student Contact with Colleges Challenges: • Coming on campus is scary! • Less frequent communications • Less comfort with professional communications Solutions: For CollegesFor High Schools Provide buses for group visits Arrange group visits Help them meet Practice communications-- underrepresented students role-play, draft e-emails Lack of contact doesn’t mean Emphasize the importance of lack of interest contact with college staff
Barrier: College Contact with Students Challenges: • College-ese • Technology • So. Much. Paperwork. Solutions: For CollegesFor High Schools Write in clear, simple language Help students learn to interpret Provide a checklist of all needed institutional language materials Provide checklist of common Text messages better than email application steps Source: Admission Posible 2008