Transcript Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk Connecting Possibility to Expectation One Student at a Time Bellwether Awards January 29, 2007

Declining by Degrees:
Higher Education at Risk
Connecting Possibility to Expectation
One Student at a Time
Bellwether Awards
January 29, 2007
Critical Issues
Addressing the
Critical Issues
• Creating a culture of high expectations
• Increasing access to aid low-income students
• Addressing non-academic barriers
The Challenge:
Why Make a
College Connection?
Closing the Gaps in Participation
State of Texas
• 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 expects 15,000 more
students by 2015.
“Closing the Gaps”
Background
“The community college’s role in the goal of
participation is absolutely vital. We talk about
students who come directly from high school into
higher education, and while the numbers are going
up, we are not attracting a significant increase in the
pool. That’s one of the areas that we’re going to
have to spend some real effort – in encouraging
students who complete high school to continue on
with higher education and the Connections
Program that has been talked about already today is
absolutely the way that it needs to happen all across
the state to change.”
Dr. Glenda Barron
Assistant Commissioner, Community and Technical Colleges Division
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
January 7, 2005
College Connection
Overview
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.
“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
Excuses For Not Continuing
Your Education
No one in my family has ever gone to college.
I’ve been in school for 12 years. That’s enough! I just want a good job.
I can’t afford it.
I don’t know what I want to do with my life.
College is too hard.
I won’t fit in.
I don’t know how to apply or where I want to go.
Source: Adapted from The College Board’s “Seven Excuses
Not to Go to College and Why They’re Lame”
Austin Community College Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
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 *
3,732
1040
28%
687
18%
2,005
54%
Bastrop
446
105
24%
102
23%
239
54%
Blanco
63
18
29%
14
22%
31
49%
360
57
16%
67
19%
236
66%
Dripping Springs
234
114
49%
54
23%
66
28%
Eanes
576
256
44%
53
9%
267
46%
Elgin
211
58
27%
42
20%
111
53%
Fredericksburg
228
90
39%
30
13%
108
47%
Coupland**
Del Valle
Doss**
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
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 *
530
189
36%
95
18%
246
46%
33
17
51%
4
12%
12
36%
Hays
531
164
31%
77
15%
290
55%
Jarrell
38
10
26%
10
26%
18
47%
Johnson City
58
23
40%
9
16%
26
45%
Lago Vista
65
21
32%
8
12%
36
55%
Lake Travis
320
150
47%
54
17%
116
36%
1,016
312
31%
282
28%
422
42%
Liberty Hill
138
42
30%
30
22%
66
48%
Lockhart
241
66
27%
28
12%
147
61%
Harper
Leander
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
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
81
17
21%
7
9%
57
70%
Manor
140
27
19%
26
19%
87
62%
59
10
17%
13
22%
36
61%
940
334
36%
202
21%
404
43%
2,202
747
34%
398
18%
1,057
48%
San Marcos
400
102
26%
64
16%
234
59%
Smithville
105
25
24%
24
23%
56
53%
Wimberley
160
65
41%
34
21%
61
38%
12,907
4,059
31%
2,414
19%
6,434
50%
McDade**
Nixon-Smiley
Pflugerville
Prairie Lea**
Round Rock
Total
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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
The Process:
Implementing
College Connection
Program Assumptions
• The college enrollment process is
intimidating, especially to first-generation
college students.
• Removing barriers and establishing
relationships will ease college transition.
Program Hallmarks
• Austin Community College provides
hands-on, one-on-one support 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.
Students Receive Services
at the High School:
Required
•
•
•
•
•
Admission application
ASSET or COMPASS
Orientation
Academic advising
Graduation letter
Recommended
• Senior
presentation
• Financial aid
application
Optional
•
•
•
•
•
Student life info
Teleconference
Campus tours
Registration
Other
College Connection
Activity Grid Sample
District Lead:
San Marcos HS Lead:
Sylvia Garza, 512-393-6742, [email protected]
Chad Kelly, 512-393-6800, [email protected]
Admin. Assistant: Lisa Jordan, 512-393-6805, [email protected]
ACC Lead:
Mary Hensley, 223-7618, [email protected]/Luanne Preston, 223-7355, [email protected]
Exec. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, [email protected]
College Connection Lead: Luanne Preston, 223-7354, [email protected]
Admin. Assistant: Laurie Clark, 223-7354, [email protected]
Senior Count:424 (SMHS)
Activity
Date
Signature Letter of
Release
August 30,
2006
Senior Assembly
September
8, 2006
Admissions
Application
October 3,
2006
Make-Up Day
October 6,
2006
ASSET
Assessment
(paper and pencil)
Financial Aid
Time
Location
Equipment
Communication
San Marcos HS Contact
(*Lead Contact)
firstname.lastname@sm
cisd.net
ACC Contact
(*Lead Contact)
[email protected]
Template letter
•Letters to
parents contest
*Cecily Moore
cecily.moore
*Luanne Preston
luanne
9:45-11:15
a.m.
SMHS
Auditorium
and Library
•Notice in parent
newsletter
•Notice on high
school website
*Cecily Moore
cecily.moore
*K. Leigh Forell
khammfor
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
Library
computer labs/
English classes
•Non-citizen
students must
obtain alternate
ID before
completeing
application
*Cecily Moore
cecily.moore
*Linda Kluck
lkluck
February 6
& 8, 2007
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
Room A123;
Library
•Schedule to
parents & on
web site
*Cecily Moore
cecily.moore
*Holly Delacroix
hdelacro
April 12,
2007
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
Library
Information sheet
disseminated to
students @ school
& via web site
*Cecily Moore
cecily.moore
*Gail Braswell
gbraswell
SHADE/BOLD – Required College Connection Activities
Lifetime Acceptance
• Application never discarded
• Provide a permanent college home
• Students come to ACC
• In summer for transfer
• After military service
• After career changes
• Co-enroll while attending 4-year institution
• Cohorts can be tracked by semester of
entry; ACC collects longitudinal data for
retention, completion and success
The Results:
College Connection’s
Impact
Diversity of College
Connection Participants
• Anglo - 41%
• African American - 11%
• Hispanic - 39%
• Asian - 4%
• Other - 5%
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 of 41%
• Enrollments for minorities and economically
disadvantaged students is more than double the state
goals
The ACC College Connection
Program Works!
Increase in Texas Higher Education
District
San Marcos
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Leander
Total
Students Not Located
in Texas Higher
Education
Fall 2003
273
2,155
286
293
444
3,451
66%
56%
69%
77%
48%
58%
Students Not Located
in Texas Higher
Education Fall 2004
219
2,066
234
312
459
3,290
Violet = Year after College Connection started
Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports
55%
56%
57%
80%
48%
56%
Students Not
Located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2005
234
2,005
239
236
422
3,136
59%
54%
54%
66%
42%
53%
% Increase of
Students
Located in
Higher
Education
7%
2%
15 %
11 %
6%
5%
The ACC College Connection
Program Works!
Increase at Austin Community College
District
Students
Enrolling
at ACC
Fall 2003
Students
Enrolling
at ACC
Fall 2004
Students
Enrolling
at ACC
Fall 2005
Students
Enrolling
at ACC
Fall 2006
% Increase
of Students
Enrolling at
ACC
2003-2006
Austin ISD
560
527
630
741
32.32%
Bastrop ISD
33
35
70
55
66.67%
Del Valle ISD
38
31
58
49
28.95%
Hays CISD
61
70
66
77
26.23%
Leander ISD
173
165
242
209
20.81%
Manor ISD
16
20
19
19
18.75%
Pflugerville ISD
83
79
67
95
14.46%
San Marcos CISD
33
48
49
36
9.09%
Total
997
975
1,201
1,281
28.49%
Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports and ACC Office Of Institutional
Effectiveness and Accountability
College Connection Results
for ACC, 2004-2006
• Positive effect on fall enrollments
• Immediate great results: 37.6% increase first year
• 59% increase over two years
• Positive effect on Early College Start enrollments
• 25.6% increase in enrollment from ‘04 to ’05
• 45% increase in enrollment from ’04 to ’06
• Positive effect on Tech Prep enrollments
• 714% increase in number of students receiving Tech Prep credit
• 36 students in 2003-04
• 48 students in 2004-05
• 293 students in 2005-06
Related Initiatives
• Mini-College Connection for Adult Education
• College Connection Scholarships
Lessons Learned:
Starting A
College Connection
Lessons Learned
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Replication
Buy In
Resource Allocation
Technology Use
Growth and Expansion
Data Collection
Publicity and Celebrations
Replication
• Can implement with existing resources
• Requires strategic reorganization,
commitment, creativity
• Pilot for success
Buy In
• Personnel at all levels need to be involved
and willing
•
•
•
•
•
•
School District Superintendent
School Principal
High School Faculty
College Board of Trustees
College President
College Faculty and Staff
Resource Allocation
• Reorganization and redesign of existing
student services resources
• Staff received cross-training to maximize
efficiency and productivity
• Peak enrollment periods leveled out as graduating
seniors plan ahead
• Other costs involved
• Testing Fees
• Travel Budgets
Technology Use
• Use technology whenever available to save
time and other resources
• Technology has been developed for the:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Online college application
Financial aid application
Pre-advising (ACC 101)
Testing (COMPASS)
Senior Presentations
E-mail listservs
Websites
Data Tracking
Communication
College Connection Website
www.austincc.edu/isd
• Access to scheduled activities for
students, parents, and school officials
• Calendars
• Links to pertinent ACC sites
Program Growth & Statewide Expansion
• Be prepared to plan for growth
• Growth leads to community support
• Growth indicates success
• Growth indicates a need in the community
College Connection School Districts
2003-04 (Year 1)
2004-05 (Year 2)
2005-06 (Year 3)
2006-07 (Year 4)
San Marcos
Austin
Austin
Bastrop
Bastrop
Del Valle
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
College Connection Program
Growth
Over 3 years:
• 1 school district to 22
• 2 high schools to 48
• 400 students to 12,000+
ACC’s Future Goal:
• Include all 30 school districts in our service area
Statewide Expansion
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
plans to expand College Connection to all Texas
high schools
Texas 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
Data Collection
• Develop a data collection plan
• Items to track
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Participation by district/high school
College retention rates
College attendance
Ethnicity
Gender
Enrollees
Need for developmental education
College-going rates
Dual credit/tech prep participation
Publicity and Celebrations
• Celebrate with the districts especially at the
graduation ceremonies
• Recognize college staff
• Utilize local and national newspapers,
journals, conferences, etc.
College Connection Program
National Acclaim & Recognition
Program Recognition
• Texas Higher
Education
Coordinating
Board Star Award
• Excelencia in
Education
Award
Award Recipient
• Bellwether
Award
November 2006
Semi-Finalist
October 2006
Finalist
December 2006
Success Attracts
External Funding
•TG Public Benefit Grant - $155,000
•Texas Pioneer Foundation - $50,000
•Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce - $108,000
•Round Rock ISD - $18,000
•In-kind Mobile Go Center
• Advanced Micro Devices
• AT&T Foundation
• College For All Texans Foundation
Mobile Go Center
Mobile Go Center
•Assist in College Connection services
•Make non-College Connection visits
to malls, community centers, etc.
Mary Hensley
Austin Community College
Vice President College Support
Systems and ISD Relations
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78754
Office: (512) 223-7618
Fax: (512) 223-7895
[email protected]
For a copy of this presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/bellwether/012907Presentation.ppt
Questions and Answers