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College Connection: Removing Barriers, Improving Access

Learn how the College Connection program at Austin Community College (ACC) is removing barriers and improving access to higher education for traditionally under-represented students. Discover the impact of this initiative on college enrollment, student success, and creating a college-going culture in Central Texas. Explore the key partnerships with schools and districts driving growth and supporting students in their higher education journey.

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College Connection: Removing Barriers, Improving Access

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  1. College Connection: Removing Barriers, Improving Access Innovations 2010 March 29, 2010

  2. Presented by • Mary Hensley, Ed.D. • Executive Vice President, College Operations • 512-223-7618 • mhensley@austincc.edu • Melissa Richardson Curtis, Ph.D. • Director, College Connection • 512-223-7088 • mrichard@austincc.edu

  3. Agenda

  4. ACC District Overview In-District Out-of-District • 1 of 50 Texas community colleges • 8-county service area • 7,100 square miles • 30 independent school districts • 7 campuses (8th under construction) • 10 centers and 114 sites • 40,000+ credit students • 10,000 non-credit students

  5. Closing the Gaps Increasing College Participation • If more Texans do not earn college degrees by 2030, Texas could lose up to $40 billion in annual household income. • Unfunded initiative by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board The Texas Goal by 2015 • Increase student enrollment in higher education by 630,000 ACC’s Goal by 2015 • Increase student enrollment to 41,243 • Make college attractive to traditionally under-represented students

  6. ACC Has Met 2010 Goals *Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability, ACC, 2009 Fall Factbook Preview—Student Characteristics District-wide, Fall 2005-2009. http://www.austincc.edu/oiepub/pubs/factbook/preview_fall09/full-preview.pdf *THECB (2009, July). Closing the gaps by 2015: 2009 Progress Report. www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/1852pdf.

  7. College Connection • Major element of ACC’s response to Closing the Gaps • Keystone in ACC’s comprehensive P-16 Initiative • Partnerships with 25 area school districts and 57 high schools • Memorandums of Understanding signed annually • Relationships with school districts continuously supported • District administrators/superintendents • High school principals/counselors • Data sharing (FERPA compliant) • Annual planning/strategy meetings

  8. College Connection • Strong institutional commitment brought growth in resources and partnerships • Initiated through existing institutional resources • 14 school districts, first 3 years • Growth funded through multiple grants • Two Mobile Go Centers • College Connection activities and community outreach • $300,000+ • Now fully sustained with institutional resources

  9. College Connection • ACC’s Executive Vice President for College Operations is single-point-of contact for district superintendents • ACC committed at the highest executive levels • No cost to the school district • ACC Foundation offers $2,500 College Connection Scholarshipto incoming freshmen • One per school district, minimum

  10. College Connection • The college enrollment process on the high school campuses • 100 percent participation of college seniors • ACC expert staff provide one-on-one support • Letters of acceptance given to seniors at graduation

  11. Activity Grid Sample SHADE/BOLD – Required College Connection Activities

  12. College Connection Results Growth Since Inception

  13. College Connection Results ACC Applications From High School Seniors Increased by 3,635% ACC Enrollments Directly after High School Increased by 56%

  14. College Connection Impact Area High School Graduation Increased by 11% College/University Enrollments Directly After High School Increased by 21%

  15. College Connection Impact College-Going Culture is Becoming the Norm • 91% report that they plan to attend college directly after high school graduation • Of the 9% who did plan to attend college, 65% of those said they planned to go to college at a later date • Completing a college application and meeting with a college representative were ranked the top two most helpful activities for preparing for further education -- Central Texas Student Futures Project, Ray Marshall Center, The University of Texas (2009)

  16. College Connection Access and Success • College Connection enrollees are majority-minority • College Connection students persist at higher rates than ACC’s overall population • College Connection students withdraw from classes at same rate of overall population (17%) • College Connection students average 73% passing grades (C or better)

  17. Diversity of Participants College Connection Fall 2009 Enrollments by Ethnicity Overall ACC Fall 2009 Enrollments by Ethnicity

  18. Student Success College Connection Cohort Persistence *Excludes College Connection Cohort

  19. Student Success Fall 2009 Student Grade Comparison (12th Class Day Students) College Connection Students and All ACC Students *Excludes College Connection Cohort

  20. Opening Doors • “Because of College Connection and because of Austin Community College, I have been able to make smart choices about college and my future.” – LBJ High School Graduate, ACCStudent • “With the start that I got from College Connection and the support that I got once I arrived at ACC, I have learned a lot about what it takes to go to college. I have learned so much that I have been able to help my friends know what to do. One of my best friends is finally going to start at Austin Community College in the fall because I shared with her that if I can do it, she can do it, too.” – Bastrop High School Graduate, ACC Student

  21. College Connection 2+2+2 College Access Challenge Grant • $199,998 for 2009-11 • University partnerships • Texas State University (public) • Southwestern University (private) • Brings transfer advising to 5 underserved high schools • Three urban, two rural • 503 high school students served to date • Supports College Connection enrolled students’ transfer goals • Unique Transfer Academy • 480 ACC students served to date

  22. Impact on Other Programs and Partnerships ACC Fall Enrollments • 26% increase from 2004-2009 Early College Start (Dual Credit) Enrollments • 167% increase from 2004-2009 Tech Prep Enrollments • 109% increase in students collecting credit from 2003-2008 Summer Bridge • College Connection success leveraged for grant funding Major Regional Initiatives • Foundation for Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s push to increase area college applications and FAFSA completions

  23. State and National Impact • 22+ Texas community colleges adopting College Connection • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board offering planning and implementation grants • ACC provided training • Other states adopt College Connection models • Florida Department of Education: “Go Higher – Get Accepted” • Maine: Law requiring high school seniors to complete one college application • Colleges from California to North Carolina consult with Austin Community College

  24. Awards and Recognition • Awards • 2009 League for Innovation “Innovation of the Year” • 2007 Bellwether Award Winner • 2006 THECB Star Award Winner • 2006 Excelencia in Education Semi-Finalist • Media • Selections:

  25. Best Practices and Tips • Do away with thinking that school districts, schools, and students “have to come to the college” to complete college processes • Customize to meet school district needs • School districts differ from college • School districts differ from each other • Focus on what works for the school district • Start small – do what you can with existing staff and resources

  26. Best Practices and Tips • Expand – ask the school district, “What else can we do for your students?” • A successful program leads to additional success • Additional resources • Grant opportunities • Community support • New requests for partnerships • Positive media • Foundation for additional programs

  27. Best Practices and Tips • Partnerships aren’t always perfect • Tough times will happen • Famous last words – right above the signature line: • “The partnership agreement covers only the essential elements of a cooperative relationship; unexpected events may arise that require mutual understanding, communication, and trust.”

  28. Interactive Opportunity • What school district partnerships does your college currently have in place? • What stakeholders do you need to engage? • What barriers do you need to overcome? • What unique community characteristics will impact your school partnership strategies? In what way? • What is one thing you can do in the next month to engage your area high school students in college planning?

  29. For more information: www.austincc.edu/collegeconnection For copies of this presentation: www.austincc.edu/collegeconnection/presentations/3-29-10, League for Innovations Conference

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