April 12, 2010 MOACAC Conference

1. Helping Students Shuffle the Deck of College Choices: A Near Peer Access ModelBecca FallonBrandon Guthrie April 12, 2010 MOACAC Conference

2. Helping Missouri Students Go To College

3. MU and the National College Advising Corps • MU – Missouri College Advising Corps • $1M grant over 4 years • 1 of 10 inaugural members • First advisers placed in fall 2008 • UNC at Chapel Hill - National headquarters: • 269 college advisers since inception of program: • 112,000 students • 153 high schools in 95 districts • 22 community colleges

4. Unique College Access Program • Near-peer model • Full-time advisers • Immersed in the school setting • 100% focus on college planning • Headquartered at postsecondary institutions • Intensive pre-service training

5. MCAC is Unique Among Corps • 2 urban core settings • Rural settings • High schools • 3 geographic clusters • Institutional support

6. 2010-11 Advising Team

7. Objectives • Help Missouri students and their families see college as an attainable goal • Inform students and their families about college application and financial aid processes • Increase college enrollment/graduation among high-ability, low-income students

8. 2010-11 Partner Institutions • Partner Schools: • 6 in Kansas City • 4 in St. Louis • 3 in South Central Missouri • 11 high schools: • 2 new partner high schools – Ritenour and East • 8,524 students • 60% Black • 10% Hispanic/Latino • 2% Asian • <1% Indian • 27.8% White

9. Students Served by MCAC • 9th – 12th graders • 60-78% are first-generation • 89% in 7 urban and 69% in 11 total partner high schools are ethnic minorities • 73% are free and reduced lunch-eligible

10. Program Growth

11. MCAC Outcomes Advising Sessions Held Since Program Inception

12. MCAC Outcomes

13. A Little About Myself Name: Brandon Guthrie Hometown: St. Louis, MO Degree Earned: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, August 2009 What I enjoy besides working with my students: SPORTS!!! Especially college football & basketball (Go Tigers!) Why I wanted to be a college adviser: To help students and their families navigate the college-going process.

14. Soldan International Studies High School Demographics • Student Population: 681 total students Percentages: • Male: 42% • Female: 58% • Black/African American: 79% • White: 11% • Hispanic/Latino: 7% • Asian: 3% • Native American/Indian: <1% • 85% eligible for free or reduced lunch

15. How I Settled Into the School • I attended the professional development days held the week prior to the first day of school, where I introduced myself to faculty, staff and administration • I met students and family members while volunteering with student registration and orientation • My office became more and more popular after I went around the school doing classroom presentations to the English classes about the A+ Program. More students found out who I was and how I was available to help them.

16. A Day in the Life… • I’m available before school starts so that students have a chance to ask questions or seek advice without missing valuable classroom instruction. • I start my day by reading and replying to e-mail correspondence and organizing a plan to complete my “to-do” list. • I meet with students individually in my office, I make classroom presentations about various college related topics, and I get stopped countless times in the hallways and asked questions.

17. Where to Find Me My Office Guidance Counselor Office Guidance Counselor Office Guidance Counselor Office

18. Availability • Before school- I arrive around 6:30am • During school- Open door policy • Lunch time- 10:30am-12:30pm • After school- I don’t leave until 2:30pm

19. College Going Culture • Increase the number of students applying to and enrolling in colleges/universities after completion of high school. • Underclassmen see and hear about their peers going to college and it makes them want to go also. • Gets students to think past May of their senior year.

20. College Adviser Impact • Comfort level • Recent college experience • Positive influence

21. A Little About Myself Becca Fallon Hometown: Tampa, Florida Degree: Bachelor of Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communication, May 2010 Hobbies: reading, going to the movies, arts And crafts, watching Mizzou football Why I became a college adviser: Being a first- generation college student, I want to help make sure students know they have options when it comes to their future. There are plenty to choose from, but students and families must be informed of them. I got this help in high school, and I want to make sure everyone else has the same opportunity.

22. Bourbon High School • Home of the Warhawks! • Student Demographics: • 313 total students • 309 White; 3 Hispanic; 1 Asian • 70 seniors; 78 juniors; 73 sophomores; 91 freshmen • 163 are free/reduced lunch eligible (52%)

23. Becoming a Warhawk • New in school: first full-time college adviser • Fitting in: face time and PR • College-going culture: time for a change

24. Availability • School hours: 8:05am—3:10pm • My hours: 7:30am—4:00pm • Individual meetings • Group meetings/classroom presentations • Before and after school availability • Busiest times: during lunches and “Channel One”

25. Location, location, location!

26. A Day in the Life…

27. Impact and Success • Students eager for more information • Learning from them • Excitement about getting into college • Near-peer model helps us help them

28. Questions and Answers • Thank you!