Removing Barriers to Higher Education Texas Association of

Removing Barriers to Higher Education Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education February 15, 2008

Presenters

Doyle Valdez Past President, Austin ISD Board of Trustees doylevaldez@yahoo. com 512 -627 -7761 Leonard Rivera, Ph. D. Director, Off-Campus/College Connection Programs lrivera@delmar. edu 361 -698 -2404 Mary Hensley, Ed. D. Vice President, College Support Systems and ISD Relations mhensley@austincc. edu 512 -223 -7618

Agenda College Makes a Difference Closing the Gaps Overview College Connection How It Works Program Results Program Recognition State and National Interest in Expansion Questions and Answers

College Makes a Difference Doyle Valdez

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Strategic Plan “Closing the Gaps” Overview

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. The goal is to increase student enrollment in higher education by 630, 000 by 2015. Most students will elect to start at a community college. Austin Community College District expects 15, 000 additional students by 2015. Del Mar Community College expects 2, 900 additional students by 2015. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Closingthe. Gaps/ctgtargets_pdf. cfm? Goal=1

College Connection Overview

Education Beyond High School Increases earning potential and employment opportunities U. S. Department of Education

Improving High School to College Transitions Provide admission and pre-enrollment services to seniors on their school campuses Create an expectation that “College is in everyone’s future. ” Increase percentage of high school seniors who enter college after high school graduation.

Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Austin Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * 3, 856 1, 111 29% 737 19% 2, 008 52% Bastrop 460 105 23% 73 16% 282 61% Blanco 76 36 47% 13 17% 27 36% 319 32 10% 58 18% 229 72% Dripping Springs 240 95 40% 62 26% 83 35% Eanes 555 280 50% 59 11% 216 39% Elgin 169 45 27% 29 17% 95 56% Fredericksburg 227 88 39% 33 15% 106 47% Coupland** Del Valle Doss** *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Georgetown Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * 519 214 41% 98 19% 207 40% 46 29 63% 3 7% 14 30% Hays 559 177 32% 96 17% 286 51% Jarrell 44 14 32% 8 18% 22 50% Johnson City 45 16 36% 6 13% 23 51% Lago Vista 73 32 44% 21 29% 20 27% Lake Travis 318 144 45% 62 19% 112 35% 1, 052 371 35% 263 25% 418 40% Liberty Hill 120 46 38% 24 20% 50 42% Lockhart 219 62 28% 36 16% 121 55% Harper Leander *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * Luling 87 24 28% 9 10% 54 62% Manor 131 26 20% 16 12% 89 68% 65 12 18% 9 14% 44 68% 964 319 33% 234 24% 411 43% Round Rock 2, 158 765 35% 373 17% 1, 020 47% San Marcos 448 98 22% 56 13% 294 66% Smithville 125 31 25% 28 22% 66 53% Wimberley 146 44 30% 45 31% 57 39% Mc. Dade** Nixon Smiley Pflugerville Prairie Lea** Total 13, 021 4, 216 32% 2, 451 19% 6, 354 49% *Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

Del Mar Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Agua Dulce ISD Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * 27 6 22% 4 15% 17 63% 219 60 27% 30 14% 129 59% Port Aransas ISD 40 16 40% 5 13% 19 48% Aransas Pass ISD 107 17 16% 27 23% 63 59% Banquete ISD 50 19 38% 7 14% 24 48% Bishop CISD 78 37 47% 7 09% 34 44% Calallen ISD 307 128 42% 81 26% 98 32% Aransas County ISD Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

Del Mar Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Total High School Graduates Corpus Christi ISD Students Enrolled in Texas Universities Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * 2041 442 22% 565 28% 1026 50% Flour Bluff ISD 345 106 31% 107 31% 132 38% Gregory-Portland ISD 298 105 35% 60 20% 133 45% Ingleside ISD 105 23 22% 15 14% 67 64% Mathis ISD 97 11 11% 27 28% 59 61% Odem-Edroy ISD 71 31 44% 11 15% 29 41% Dr. ML Garza-Gonzalez** **Less than 25 graduates attending this district Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

Del Mar Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 School District Total High School Graduates Students Enrolled in Texas 2 -year Universities Colleges Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education * Richard Milburn Alternative 41 2 05% 8 20% 31 76% Riviera ISD 38 18 47% 5 13% 15 39% Robstown ISD 192 48 25% 44 23% 100 52% Sinton ISD 137 34 25% 20 15% 83 61% 59 22 37% 6 10% 31 53% 229 51 22% 72 31% 106 46% 96 15 16% 16 17% 65 68% 4, 577 1, 191 26% 1, 117 24% 2, 261 50% Taft ISD Tuloso-Midway ISD West Oso ISD TOTAL Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. Source: http: //www. thecb. state. tx. us/Reports/PDF/1161. PDF

College Connection How It Works

College Connection Program Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating. Austin Community College District provides hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process.

College Connection Program During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College District. Program is free to the districts except for transportation costs to tour college campus(es).

Students Receive Services at the High School: Required • • • Admission application ASSET or COMPASS Pre-advising Academic advising Graduation letter Recommended • Senior presentation • Financial aid application Optional • • • Student life info Teleconference Campus tours Registration Other

College Connection: Activity Sequence 1. Senior Presentation (September) 2. Admission application (mid-September – November) 3. Financial aid application (February) 4. ASSET assessment (February – March) 5. Tour of ACC/DMC campus(es) (October – March) 6. Pre-Advising (October – March) 7. Advising (March – April) 8. Acceptance letter to ACC/DMC at graduation (May) 9. Registration for ACC/DMC classes (July) Red=Required Blue=Recommended Black=Optional

Lifetime Acceptance “at ACC” Application discarded never Provide a permanent college home Students come to ACC: ◦ Full-time ◦ Part-time ◦ In Summer for transfer ◦ After military service ◦ After career changes ◦ Co-enroll while attending 4 -year institution

Lifetime Acceptance “at ACC” Cohorts can be tracked by semester of entry Longitudinal collected for ◦ Retention ◦ Completion ◦ Success data

Student Recruitment Senior Kickoff Presentation

See, it didn’t hurt! Recruiter’s name prefix@austincc. edu

ACC 101 – New Student Pre-Advising http: //www. austincc. edu/acc 101/index_content. html

Program Results

Austin Community College Connection School Districts 2003 -04 Year 1 2004 -05 Year 2 2005 -06 Year 3 2006 -07 Year 4 San Marcos Austin Bastrop Del Valle Leander Hays San Marcos Leander Austin Bastrop Blanco Del Valle Elgin Fredericksburg Harper Hays Jarrell Johnson City Lago Vista Leander Liberty Hill Lockhart Luling Manor Nixon-Smiley Pflugerville Prairie Lea Round Rock San Marcos Smithville Manor Pflugerville San Marcos 2007 -08 Year 5 Austin Lake Travis Bastrop Leander Blanco Liberty Hill Del Valle Lockhart Dripping Springs Luling Eanes Manor Elgin Nixon-Smiley Fredericksburg Pflugerville Georgetown Prairie Lea Harper Round Rock Hays San Marcos Jarrell Smithville Johnson City Wimberley Lago Vista

School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2007 -2008 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors Year Started Austin ISD 12 5, 189 2004 Bastrop ISD 2 609 2004 Blanco ISD 1 72 2006 Del Valle ISD 2 544 2004 Dripping Springs ISD 1 265 2007 Eanes ISD 1 650 2007 Elgin ISD 2 264 2006 Fredericksburg ISD 1 247 2006 Georgetown ISD 2 791 2007 Harper ISD 1 62 2006 Hays CISD 3 723 2005 Jarrell ISD 1 48 2006 Johnson City ISD 1 52 2006 Lago Vista ISD 1 89 2006

School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2007 -2008 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors Year Started Lake Travis ISD 2 415 2007 Leander ISD 4 1, 518 2004 Liberty Hill ISD 1 180 2006 Lockhart ISD 2 387 2006 Luling ISD 1 131 2006 Manor ISD 2 255 2005 Nixon-Smiley CISD 1 57 2006 Pflugerville ISD 4 1, 385 2005 Prairie Lea ISD 1 17 2006 Round Rock ISD 5 2, 790 2006 San Marcos CISD 2 483 2003 Smithville ISD 1 140 2006 Wimberley ISD 1 169 2007 58 17, 532 Total (27)

Austin Community College Connection Program Growth Over 5 years at: 1 school district to 27 school districts 2 high schools to 58 high schools 400 students to 17, 000+ students

Del Mar College Connection School Districts 2004 -05 Year 1 2005 -06 Year 2 2006 -07 Year 3 2007 -08 Year 4 Corpus Christi Calallen Sinton Corpus Christi Robstown Flour Bluff West Oso Odem Agua Dulce Aransas Pass Banquete Bishop Calallen Corpus Christi Dr. M. L. Garza Charter Flour Bluff Gregory-Portland Ingleside Mathis Odem Port Aransas Richard Milburn Academy Riviera Robstown Rockport Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway West Oso Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway West Oso

Del Mar College Connection Program Growth Over 4 years at: 4 school districts to 28 school districts 5 high schools to 28 high schools 1, 081 students to 5, 931 students

Austin Community College Connection Diversity of Participants 2006 -07

Austin Community College Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher Education - Students Enroll at ACC More than 55% of College Connection enrollees are minorities Higher percentage entering ACC through College Connection than in the general ACC student population

Austin Community College Connection Positively Impacts Other College Programs ACC ◦ ◦ Fall Enrollments 38% increase first year 59% increase over two years Early College Start (Dual Credit) Enrollments ◦ ◦ ◦ 26% increase in enrollment from ‘ 04 to ’ 05 45% increase in enrollment from ’ 04 to ’ 06 3, 209 students enrolled Summer 2007 (recordbreaking ECS enrollment) Tech ◦ Prep Enrollments 4, 336% increase in enrollment from ‘ 03 to ‘ 06 36 students in 2003 -04 48 students in 2004 -05 293 students in 2005 -06 1, 597 students in 2006 -07

Program Recognition

College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

Awards Received • THECB Star Award Recipient November 2006 • Excelencia in Education Award Semi-Finalist October 2006 • Bellwether Award Recipient January 2007

Regional, State and National Expansion

College Connection Related Initiatives Mini-College Connection for Adult Education College Connection Scholarships Mobile Go Centers

Mobile Go Centers

ACC’s Two Mobile Go Centers MGC #1 ◦ Length, 34 Feet ◦ Air-Conditioned ◦ 14 Computer Stations MGC #2 Equipped with: ◦ Length, 42 Feet ◦ Air-Conditioned ◦ 16 Computer Stations ◦ ◦ Printers Scanner Copier Satellite Internet

ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Virtual one-stop, college-information facility ◦ College catalog and schedule information ◦ College applications ◦ FAFSA ◦ Other Staffed by ACC student services personnel

ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Enable ACC to reach individuals where they live, work, and/or attend school Support College Connection program activities Assist in expanding ACC’s outreach efforts

ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Visit: ◦ ◦ ◦ Festivals Sports Events Supermarkets Shopping Malls Schools Other www. austincc. edu/go

National Interest: Florida Department of Education Launched state-wide campaign in April 2007 called “Go Higher-Get Accepted” modeled after College Connection Maine Interest in College Connection Proposed law requiring graduating high school seniors to complete at least one college application before getting diploma.

“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

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007 -2009 • Ten Colleges Receive Implementation Grants ($100, 000) • • • Alamo Community College District Blinn College Del Mar College Houston Community College System Lee College Odessa College Richland College South Texas College Tarrant County College District Weatherford College

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007 -2008 • Five Colleges Receive Planning Grants ($5, 000) • Cedar Valley College • Cisco Junior College • Northeast Texas Community College • Paris Junior College • Victoria College

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion • Texas Colleges Already Adopting College Connection • Alamo Community College District • Central Texas College • Coastal Bend Community College • Del Mar Community College • Houston Community College District • Temple Community College • Vernon College • Victoria Community College

National Interest: Programs started in: Arkansas California Connecticut Florida Hawaii Maine New Hampshire Virginia

Program Branding

College Connection Logo

Austin Community College Connection Website www. austincc. edu/isd Access to scheduled activities for students, parents, and school officials Calendars Links to pertinent ACC school district sites