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Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education 2007 Conference

Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education 2007 Conference February 2, 2007 College Connection: A Closing the Gaps Initiative Dr. Maggie de la Teja, Dean of Student Services Dr. Richard Armenta, Assoc. VP, Student Success Austin Community College

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Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education 2007 Conference

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  1. Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education 2007 Conference February 2, 2007

  2. College Connection:AClosing the GapsInitiativeDr. Maggie de la Teja, Dean of Student ServicesDr. Richard Armenta, Assoc. VP, Student SuccessAustin Community College Empowering Latinos to Seek Higher Education

  3. What is “Closing the Gaps?” • Too few high school graduates entering college • Rapidly changing population increases among traditionally underrepresented groups • By 2025 Latinos and Blacks will account for more than 55.4% (16.4 million) of Texas population • College-going rate lags among minorities • In 2002 Latinos and Blacks accounted for 51% of the age group 15-34 population, but only 36% of college and university enrollments • Texas 2000 initiative to increase college enrollment, especially of underrepresented students

  4. Closing the Gaps • State must increase Latino 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 • Goal is to increase college-going rate for Latinos by 2010 to 4.8% and to 5.7% by 2015 so as to improve quality of life and to maintain State economic advantage

  5. Closing the Gaps • 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 expects 15,000 more students by 2015

  6. 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

  7. Improve “College Readiness” • Reduce high school drop-out rates • Reduce number of students who need developmental/ remedial education before entering college credit • 60% of Latinos are under prepared in Texas1 • Enhance science and math education 1 – Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board – Developmental Education: Statewide Data Profile

  8. 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)

  9. College-Going Rates

  10. 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

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

  12. 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

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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. College ConnectionPrograms & Activities

  18. 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.

  19. 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 • 100% high school senior participation • Formal acceptance to college for every high school senior

  20. 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

  21. Students Receive Servicesat the High School:

  22. 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 • FAFSA • Teletour on Internet • Pre-advising (101) on Internet

  23. Mobile Go Center The ACC Mobile Go Center stops at schools, shopping malls, community centers, and other locations to bring college-related information, motivation, 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.

  24. Participating School Districts

  25. College Connection ProgramParticipants 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

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

  27. 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

  28. College Connection Program Works

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

  30. 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

  31. College Connection Results for Austin Community CollegeFall 2005 • 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

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

  33. College Connection Expansion

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

  35. 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

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

  37. “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

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

  39. College Connection Website

  40. To see a copy of this presentation, please go to this link: http://www.austincc.edu/isd/tache/020107.ppt

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

  42. 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

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