a successful concurrent enrollment program: the...

A Successful Concurrent Enrollment Program:

The EXCELerate program in Oklahoma

Rick RoachDean of High School RelationsGeorge Kaiser Chair of Collegiate AcademiesTulsa Community College

Lisa ReynoldsConcurrent/Dual Coordinator Tulsa Public Schools

Lisa WitcherDirector of Secondary EducationUnion Public Schools

1

Agenda

◦ Pilot project

Concurrent Enrollment Partners

EXCELerate program

OSRHE policy exceptions

Leadership

◦ Findings

Student demographics

Persistence and matriculation

Student feedback

◦ Challenges and Resolutions

2

Concurrent Enrollment Partners

◦ TCC: Urban; 4 campuses; 30,000 credit

students annually

◦ Tulsa Public Schools: Urban; 9 high

schools; 85% free and reduced lunch

◦ Union Public Schools: Urban; 1high

school; 62% free and reduced lunch

3

Purpose:

Expand college access to a diverse student

population in local high schools through the

elimination of identified barriers

(transportation, financial, state policy)

4

Features to eliminate barriers

◦ TCC courses taught at high schools

◦ Free tuition and reduced fees

◦ Textbooks provided by high schools

◦ Broader admissions criteria from Oklahoma

State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE)

5

OSRHE Policy Exception

Broader admissions criteria

◦ Existing state policy

Juniors: ACT Composite = 21 OR High School GPA = 3.50

Seniors: ACT Composite = 19 OR High School GPA = 3.00

◦ EXCELerate exception

Juniors and Seniors: PLAN or ACT = 19 OR High School

GPA = 2.50

6

Leadership

TCC

◦ Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

◦ Dean of High School Relations

◦ Faculty Liaisons

Tulsa Public Schools

◦ Superintendent

◦ Concurrent/Dual Coordinator

Union Public Schools

◦ Superintendent

◦ Director of Secondary Education

7

Student Demographics

990 EXCELerate students across four terms

◦ 60% from Union, 40% from Tulsa Public Schools

◦ 79% seniors, 21% juniors

◦ 59% females, 39% males, 2% unknown

◦ Race/ethnicity

56% White

8% Black or African American

8% Hispanic

8% More than one race

4% American Indian or Alaska Native

4% Asian

11% unknown

8

Findings: Before and After

9

22 21

65 65

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

African American Hispanic

Pre-EXCELerate Post-EXCELerate

Figure 3: Demographic data Spring 2010 and Spring 2011

• TPS and UPS - African American and Hispanic student

participation in concurrent enrollment tripled in the

first semester

Source: Kevin M. David, Ph.D., Dir. , TCC Office of Planning and Institutional Research

Findings: Student Success Comparable persistence and matriculation rates

for EXCELerate and concurrent students on TCC

campuses

59.1%

29.4%

59.5%

26.9%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

Persistence to Next Term Matriculation to TCC Next Fall

Figure 2. Persistence and Matriculation to TCC by Concurrent Group

EXCELerate Students Concurrent on TCC Campus

10

Source: Kevin M. David, Ph.D., Dir. , TCC Office of Planning and Institutional Research

TPS EXCELerate classes increased enrollment 61% from Fall 2011

to Spring 2013

Student Feedback

“It’s good because you get the college

experience early and get some credits

knocked out in high school.”

“…they treat you more like an adult than a

student.”

“College classes are much more

challenging, but they are fun as well.”

12

EXCELerate students proudly displaying their TCC student IDs

TCC Challenges and Solutions

TCC Faculty

skeptical of high

school teachers’

ability to provide a

“collegiate

experience” at high

school locations.

Developed CEP

guidelines based on

NACEP standards.

Implemented Faculty

Liaison model.

Close collaboration

with Faculty

Association.

TPS Challenges and Solutions

High School student rules and regulations that conflict with College rules and regulations.

Adding college student behavior expectations to the high school code of conduct and meeting with students, high school administration, and college instructors before classes start to clarify procedures.

UPS Challenges and Solutions

Some EXCELerateFaculty will not share student grades with UPS counselors and eligibility officers

UPS would like to identify struggling students and offer interventions early in the semester

All EXCELerateinstructors must post grades electronically so students can print copies to share with UPS counselors and administrators

EXCELerateinstructors let students know when they are failing

Contact Information

17

Rick Roach Dean of High School Relations George Kaiser Chair of Collegiate Academies Tulsa Community College rick.roach@tulsacc.edu

Lisa Reynolds Concurrent/Dual Coordinator Tulsa Public Schools Reynoli@tulsaschools.org

Lisa Witcher Director of Secondary Education Union Public Schools witcher.lisa@unionps.org