ACPA/NASPA Joint Meeting

1. ACPA/NASPA Joint Meeting April 2, 2007

2. College ConnectionDreams to Reality: A CommunityCollege—High School Enrollment CollaborativeDr. Magdalena de la Teja Dean, Student ServicesAustin Community College

3. Learning Outcomes Identify Texas’ “Closing the Gaps” enrollment goals Understand a successful approach to bringing college enrollment services to high school campuses Learn how the College Connection program empowers underrepresented students to enroll in college Become aware of how to use technology to engage the Millennial student Recognize the financial and personnel resources required for College Connection Identify the steps to setting up a College Connection program

4. Texas: “Closing the Gaps” Case Study Dr. Steve Murdock, Texas State Demographer, has said “As Texas goes, so goes the nation.” Visit txsdc.utsa.edu for the demographic trends in Texas and a greater understanding of the national significance of Dr. Murdock’s work.

5. What is “Closing the Gaps?” • Texas 2000 initiative to increase college enrollment, especially of underrepresented students • Other states also have a similar initiative http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/48/28/4828.pdf • Learn about the national college degree attainment gap and what needs to be done about it: http://www.makingopportunityaffordable.org/wp-content/file_uploads/Hitting_Home_030107.pdf • Too few high school graduates entering college • Rapidly changing population increases among traditionally underrepresented groups • By 2025 Latinos and African-Americans will account for more than 55.4% (16.4 million) of Texas population • Latinos have the widest gap in educational attainment • College-going rate lags among minorities • In 2002 Latinos and African-Americans in Texas accounted for 51% of the age group 15-34 population, but only 36% of college and university enrollments

6. Closing the GapsEnrollment Goals • Texas must increase college-going participation rates by 2015 • Goal to increase overall enrollment in higher education by 630,000 by 2015; increase overall college-going rate from 5.0% in 2000 to 5.7% by 2015 • College-going rate lags among minority populations, particularly Latinos, 3.7% in 2000; African-Americans, 4.6% in 2000 • Goal is to increase college-going rate for Latinos by 2010 to 4.8% and to 5.7% by 2015 and for African-Americans to 5.6% and 5.7% respectively so as to improve quality of life and to maintain Texas economic advantage

7. Closing the GapsProjections • Closing the Gaps warns that if more Texans do not receive college degrees by 2030, the State could lose up to $40 billion in annual household income • Most students (over 50%) will elect to start at a community college, especially Latinos • Austin Community College in Austin, Texas expects 15,000 more students by 2015

8. Goals for Improving High School to College Transitions • Create a culture/expectation that “college is in everyone’s future” • Improve/increase percentage of high school graduates who enter college • About 54% college-going rate in Texas1 • Improve/increase number of high school students who earn college credit while in high school - About 6% are dual enrolled in Texas2 1 – Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports 2 – Source: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/hsinit/papers/dual.pdf

9. Improve “College Readiness” • Reduce high school drop-out rates • Reduce number of students who need developmental/ remedial education before entering college credit • 54% of Latinos and African-Americans vs. 34% of Whites are underprepared in Texas1 • Enhance science and math education 1 – Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board – Developmental Education: Statewide Data Profile

10. Steps to a College Connection Initiative • Identify school districts/schools in service areaand data about college-going rates • Designate high-level college administrator to take the lead for the College Connection program • College administrator (lead) meets and discusses College Connection with superintendents of the school districts • Participating school personnel invited to meet with the college administrator lead and a team of Student Services and other college representatives to plan the various high school senior student activities (complete the Activity Grid)

11. College-Going Rates

12. College-Going Rates • Average Rate – 50% for 26 school districts1 • Range – 30% in Luling ISD (124 Seniors) to 72% in Dripping Springs ISD (234 Seniors) • Compared to 54% college-going rate for Texas 1 – Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports

13. District Service AreaACC: A Critical Regional Resource Black = In-district Green = Out-of-District

14. Hispanic 217,406 32% Black 50,289 White 7% 373,753 Other 56% 34,748 5% ACC Service Area Ethnic Distribution 18-44 Population (2005)1 1 – Source: Austin Community College Fact Book 2005-2006

15. ACC Student Ethnic Distribution (Fall 2005)1 1 – Source: Austin Community College Fact Book 2005-2006

16. May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in College ConnectionEthnic Distribution1 Total Students Served 6,803 1 – Source: Austin Community College Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

17. May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in College Connection Enrolled Fall 2006 At ACC Ethnic Distribution1 Total Students Enrolled 1,200 1 – Source: Austin Community College Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

18. Steps to a College Connection Initiative • The College administrator lead and data analysts obtain senior students’ testing scores and other data from the district • College Student Services leads in admissions, financial aid, assessment testing, academic advising, counseling, and recruitment go to the school campus and provide services • Completion of the Admissions Application is usually in the fall • Financial Aid services are provided in the spring to give students adequate time to gather income tax forms. Parents are invited to be a part of this process • Assessment Testing is usually in the spring • Online pre-advising (orientation) is then completed at the high school during class time or during advisory periods • One-on-one academic advising is completed at the high school with a college advisor/counselor in the spring

19. College ConnectionPrograms & Activities

20. College Connection Program • Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating. • Austin Community College provides hands-on, one-on-onesupport to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process. • During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College.

21. What is the Austin Community College College Connection? • Alignment of outreach efforts • A collaboration among various departments at ACC and with the school districts • Removal of barriers to college information/enrollment • Hands-on assistance to students • Intensive connection with high school students and staff • Goal is 100% high school senior participation • Formal acceptance to college for every high school senior

22. College ConnectionActivity Grid Sample San Marcos Lead: Chad Kelly, 512-393-6800, chad.kelly@smcisd.net Senior Count: 424 (SMHS) Cecily Moore, 512-393-6800, cecily.moore@smcisd.net 16 (Pride HS) ACC Lead: Mary Hensley, 223-7618, mhensley@austincc.edu/Luanne Preston, 223-7355, luanne@austincc.edu Admin. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, ebuzard@austincc.edu/Laurie Clark, 223-7353, lclark2@austincc.edu SHADED – Required College Connection Activities

23. Students Receive Servicesat the High School

24. Uses of Technology • Listservs to facilitate communication • Website with activity details • I-cal online calendar • Senior Assembly/Student Recruitment Presentation on Internet • Admissions Application on Internet • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Teletour on Internet • Pre-advising (101) on Internet

25. Mobile Go Center The ACC Mobile Go Center stops at schools, shopping malls, community centers, and other locations to bring college-related information, encouragement, and assistance directly to students and their families. Mobile Go Centers are part of the College for Texans Campaign to support state Closing the Gaps efforts to draw an additional 630,000 Texans into colleges and universities by 2015.

26. Participating School Districts

27. College Connection Program Participants 2006-2007 (Year 4) Austin ISD Blanco ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Elgin ISD Fredericksburg ISD Harper ISD Hays CISD Jarrell ISD Johnson City ISD Lago Vista ISD Leander ISD Liberty Hill ISD Lockhart ISD Luling ISD Manor ISD Nixon-Smiley CISD Pflugerville ISD Prairie Lea ISD Round Rock ISD San Marcos CISD Smithville ISD 2003-2004 (Year 1) San Marcos CISD 2004-2005 (Year 2) Austin ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Leander ISD San Marcos CISD 2005-2006 (Year 3) Austin ISD Bastrop ISD Del Valle ISD Hays CISD Leander ISD Manor ISD Pflugerville ISD San Marcos CISD

28. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2006-2007

29. Steps to a College Connection Initiative • A high-level college administrator participates in the high school graduation ceremony if requested; each high school senior student participant receives a college admissions letter at the same time he/she receives a high school diploma • Evaluation of the College Connection program activities occurs at the college and at the high school to improve the process for the next year • While all these activities are occurring the administrator responsible for the College Connection program seeks grant funding to expand the program and funds for student scholarships

30. College Connection Program Works

31. The ACC College Connection Program Works! Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports and ACC Office Of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

32. The Austin Community CollegeCollege Connection Program Works! Blue=Year after College Connection started 1-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0961.pdf 2-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0963.pdf 3-Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

33. College Connection Results for Austin Community College • Positive effect on fall enrollments • 28.49% increase in enrollment from College Connection High Schools from Fall 2003 to Fall 2006 • Positive effect on Early College Start/Dual Credit enrollments • 25.6% increase in enrollment from Fall 2004 to Fall 2005 • Positive effect on Tech Prep enrollments (high school students are able to take college technical courses for free and earn Tech Prep credit after the student successfully completes one college credit course at ACC) • Significant increase in number of students receiving Tech Prep credit from Fall 2004 to Fall 2005

34. College ConnectionBudget Implications • ISDs not charged—free to them • Replaces traditional recruitment/enrollment activities • FY06 Budget College Connection $100,000+additional institutional funding=$989,000 (Covers additional Student Recruitment, Admissions, Financial Aid, and Testing staff and materials) • FY07 increased grant funding—$277,000

35. College Connection Expansion

36. College Connection Related Initiatives: • Mini-College Connection for Adult Education • College Connection Scholarships

37. Other Community Colleges Adopting College Connection Program • Alamo Community College District • Coastal Bend Community College • Del Mar Community College • Houston Community College District • Temple Community College • Victoria Community College

38. Other Colleges Expressing an Interest in the College Connection Program Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (California) College of Lake County (Illinois) Jefferson State Community College (Alabama) Middlesex Community College (Connecticut) North Arkansas College in Harrison (Arkansas) Piedmont Virginia Community College (Virginia) University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (Arkansas) Wake Tech Community College (North Carolina)

39. Austin Community College College Connection Program is a 2006 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Award Winner& 2007 Bellwether Award Winner Your institution’s Next Step? Create an award winning College Connection program Steps to a College Connection Initiative

40. “Attaining advanced levels of education for disadvantaged students cannot be done without developing a college-going culture in every middle school and high school in the state of Texas...then suddenly, (going to college) changes from being a possibility to an expectation.” --Raymund Paredes Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board January 6, 2005

41. College Connection Web Sitewww.austincc.edu/isd

42. College Connection Website

43. To see a copy of this presentation, please go to this link: http://www.austincc.edu/isd/naspa/040207.ppt

44. Dr. Magdalena de la Teja Austin Community CollegeDean, Student Services 1820 W. Stassney LaneAustin, TX 78745 (512) 223-9154(512) 223-9174 (fax) mteja@austincc.edu

45. Mary Hensley, Ed.D. Austin Community CollegeVice President College Support Systems and ISD Relations 5930 Middle Fiskville RoadAustin, TX 78754 (512) 223-7618(512) 223-7895 (fax) mhensley@austincc.edu

46. College ConnectionDreams to Reality: A CommunityCollege—High School Enrollment CollaborativeDr. Magdalena de la Teja Dean, Student ServicesAustin Community College