Texas Association of Chicanos Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education in Higher Education

2007 Conference2007 Conference

February 2, 2007February 2, 2007

College Connection:College Connection:AA Closing the GapsClosing the Gaps

InitiativeInitiative

Dr. Maggie de la Teja, Dean of Student ServicesDr. Maggie de la Teja, Dean of Student ServicesDr. Richard Armenta, Assoc. VP, Student SuccessDr. Richard Armenta, Assoc. VP, Student Success

Austin Community CollegeAustin Community College

Empowering Latinos to Seek Higher Education

What is “Closing the Gaps?”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

Closing the GapsClosing 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

Closing the GapsClosing the Gaps

• Closing the GapsClosing the Gaps warns that if more Texans do not warns that if more Texans do not receive college degrees by 2030, the State could lose up to receive college degrees by 2030, the State could lose up to $40 billion in annual household income$40 billion in annual household income

• Most students (over 50%) will elect to start at a Most students (over 50%) will elect to start at a community college, especially Latinoscommunity college, especially Latinos

• Austin Community College expects 15,000 more students Austin Community College expects 15,000 more students by 2015by 2015

Goals for Improving High Goals for Improving High School to College TransitionsSchool 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

Improve “College Readiness”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

Steps to a College Steps to a College Connection InitiativeConnection 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)

College-Going College-Going RatesRates

College-Going RatesCollege-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

District Service AreaDistrict Service AreaACC: A Critical Regional ResourceACC: A Critical Regional Resource

Black = In-district

Green = Out-of-District

ACC Service Area Ethnic DistributionACC Service Area Ethnic Distribution 18-44 Population (2005) 18-44 Population (2005)11

Other34,748

5%

Black50,289

7%

Hispanic217,406

32%

White373,753

56%

1 – Source: Austin Community College Fact Book 2005-2006

ACC Student Ethnic Distribution (Fall 2005)ACC Student Ethnic Distribution (Fall 2005)11

Other2,9729%

Black2,3837%

Hispanic7,45623%

White19,09761%

1 – Source: Austin Community College Fact Book 2005-2006

May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in College ConnectionCollege Connection Ethnic DistributionEthnic Distribution11

White2,79342%

Hispanic2,67339%

Black77811%

Other5598%

Total Students Served

6,803

1 – Source: Austin Community College Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in May 2006 High School Graduates Participating in College ConnectionCollege Connection Enrolled Fall 2006 At ACC Enrolled Fall 2006 At ACC

Ethnic DistributionEthnic Distribution11

Other736%

Black12310%

Hispanic44937%

White55547%

Total Students Enrolled

1,200

1 – Source: Austin Community College Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

Steps to a College Connection Steps to a College Connection InitiativeInitiative

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

College ConnectionCollege ConnectionPrograms & Programs &

ActivitiesActivities

College ConnectionCollege Connection Program Program

• Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating.

• 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.

What is the What is the Austin Community College Austin Community College

College ConnectionCollege 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

College ConnectionCollege Connection Activity Grid SampleActivity Grid Sample

Activity Date Time Location

Equipment

Communication San Marcos HS Contact

(*Lead Contact)

Name@san-marcos.isd.tenet.edu

ACC Contact

(*Lead Contact)

Name@austincc.edu

Signature Letter of Release to Parents

August 15-26, 2005

Boilerplate letter

•Letters to parents contest

*Cecily Moore

Cecily.moore

*Linda Kluck

Lkluck

Senior Assembly:

-Access to College

-Getting Started

-Financial Aid

-Career Planning

September 8, 2005

9:45-11:15 a.m.

SMHS Auditorium and Library

•Notice in parent newsletter•Notice on high school website

*Cecily Moore

Cecily.moore

*George Reyes

Rey

Amy Koch

Akoch

Admissions Application

Make-Up Day

Sept 14, 2005

Sept 28, 2005

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

San Marcos HS Library 60 computers

•Intercom announcements•Notice to faculty

*Cecily Moore

Cecily.moore

*Amy Koch

Akoch

ASSET Assessment (paper and pencil)

Nov 8 & 10, 2005

8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

SMCISD Fine Arts Theater and Library

•Schedule to parents and on web site

*Cecily Moore

Cecily.moore

*Amy Koch

Akoch

Financial Aid Information Night

Feb. 15, 2006

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

San Marcos HS Library

Use incentives for seniors to attend

Information sheet disseminated to students @ school & via web site

*Cecily Moore

Cecily.moore

*Terry BazanTbazan@austincc.edu

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.eduAdmin. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, ebuzard@austincc.edu/Laurie Clark, 223-7353, lclark2@austincc.edu

SHADED – Required College Connection Activities

Students Receive ServicesStudents Receive Servicesat the High School:at the High School:

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

• Listservs to facilitate communicationListservs to facilitate communication

• Website with activity detailsWebsite with activity details

• I-cal online calendarI-cal online calendar

• Senior Assembly/Student Recruitment Presentation on InternetSenior Assembly/Student Recruitment Presentation on Internet

• Admissions Application on InternetAdmissions Application on Internet

• FAFSAFAFSA

• Teletour on InternetTeletour on Internet

• Pre-advising (101) on InternetPre-advising (101) on Internet

Mobile Go CenterMobile Go CenterThe ACC Mobile Go Center stops at schools, shopping malls, The ACC Mobile Go Center stops at schools, shopping malls, community centers, and other locations to bring college-related community centers, and other locations to bring college-related information, motivation, and assistance directly to students and information, motivation, and assistance directly to students and their families. Mobile Go Centers are part of the College for their families. Mobile Go Centers are part of the College for Texans Campaign to support state Closing the Gaps efforts to Texans Campaign to support state Closing the Gaps efforts to draw an additional 630,000 Texans into colleges and draw an additional 630,000 Texans into colleges and universities by 2015.universities by 2015.

Participating Participating School DistrictsSchool Districts

College Connection ProgramCollege Connection Program ParticipantsParticipants

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

2006-2007 (Year 4)Austin ISDBlanco ISDBastrop ISDDel Valle ISDElgin ISDFredericksburg ISDHarper ISDHays CISDJarrell ISDJohnson City ISDLago Vista ISDLeander ISDLiberty Hill ISDLockhart ISDLuling ISDManor ISDNixon-Smiley CISDPflugerville ISDPrairie Lea ISDRound Rock ISDSan Marcos CISDSmithville ISD

School Districts Participating in theSchool Districts Participating in the College College Connection Connection Program 2006-2007Program 2006-2007

School DistrictSchool District Number of High Number of High SchoolsSchools

Number of SeniorsNumber of Seniors YearYearStartedStarted

Austin ISDAustin ISD 1212 4,2004,200 20042004

Bastrop ISDBastrop ISD 11 560560 20042004

Blanco ISDBlanco ISD 11 7777 20062006

Del Valle ISDDel Valle ISD 22 367367 20042004

Elgin ISDElgin ISD 22 234234 20062006

Fredericksburg ISDFredericksburg ISD 22 236236 20062006

Harper ISDHarper ISD 11 3333 20062006

Hays CISDHays CISD 33 665665 20052005

Jarrell ISDJarrell ISD 11 6060 20062006

Johnson City ISDJohnson City ISD 11 4949 20062006

Lago Vista ISDLago Vista ISD 11 8989 20062006

Leander ISDLeander ISD 44 1,3861,386 20042004

Liberty Hill ISDLiberty Hill ISD 11 138138 20062006

Lockhart ISDLockhart ISD 22 376376 20062006

Luling ISDLuling ISD 11 124124 20062006

Manor ISDManor ISD 22 226226 20052005

Nixon-Smiley CISDNixon-Smiley CISD 22 7373 20062006

Pflugerville ISDPflugerville ISD 22 436436 20052005

Prairie Lea ISDPrairie Lea ISD 11 2020 20062006

Round Rock ISDRound Rock ISD 55 2,5972,597 20062006

San Marcos CISDSan Marcos CISD 22 484484 20032003

Smithville ISDSmithville ISD 11 115115 20062006

Total (22)Total (22) 4141 12,54512,545

Steps to a College Connection Steps to a College Connection InitiativeInitiative

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

College ConnectionCollege Connection Program WorksProgram Works

The ACC College Connection Program Works!

DistrictStudents 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%

Totals 997 975 1,201 1,281 28.49%

Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports and ACC Office Of Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

The Austin Community CollegeThe Austin Community CollegeCollege Connection Program Works!College Connection Program Works!

District Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 20031

Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 20042

Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 20053

% Increase of students Located in

Higher Education

San Marcos 273 66% 219 55% 234 59% 7 %

Austin 2,155 56% 2,066 56% 2,005 54% 2 %

Bastrop 286 69% 234 57% 239 54% 15 %

Del Valle 293 77% 312 80% 236 66% 11 %

Leander 444 48% 459 48% 422 42% 6 %

Districts Initiating the College Connection Program in Fall 2005

Hays 281 57% 311 57% 290 55% 2 %

Manor 51 57% 74 57% 87 62% -5 %

Pflugerville 407 44% 470 49% 404 43% 1 %Blue=Year after College Connection started1-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0961.pdf2-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0963.pdf 3-Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

College ConnectionCollege Connection Results for Results for Austin Community CollegeAustin Community College

Fall 2005Fall 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

College ConnectionCollege Connection Budget ImplicationsBudget Implications

• ISDs not charged—free to themISDs not charged—free to them

• Replaces traditional recruitment activitiesReplaces traditional recruitment activities

• FY06 BudgetFY06 BudgetCollege Connection $100,000+additional institutional College Connection $100,000+additional institutional

funding=$989,000 (Covers existing, redeployed staff and funding=$989,000 (Covers existing, redeployed staff and resources plus additional Student Recruitment, Admissions, resources plus additional Student Recruitment, Admissions, Financial Aid, and Testing staff and materials)Financial Aid, and Testing staff and materials)

• FY07 increased grant funding—$277,000FY07 increased grant funding—$277,000

College ConnectionCollege Connection ExpansionExpansion

College ConnectionCollege Connection

Related Initiatives:Related Initiatives:

• Mini-Mini-College Connection College Connection for Adult Educationfor Adult Education

• College ConnectionCollege Connection Scholarships Scholarships

Other Community Colleges Other Community Colleges Adopting Adopting College ConnectionCollege Connection

ProgramProgram

• Alamo Community College District

• Coastal Bend Community College

• Del Mar Community College

• Houston Community College District

• Temple Community College

• Victoria Community College

Steps to a College Connection Steps to a College Connection InitiativeInitiative

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

“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 ParedesCommissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardJanuary 6, 2005

College ConnectionCollege Connection Web SiteWeb Site

www.austincc.edu/isdwww.austincc.edu/isd

College ConnectionCollege Connection Website Website

To see a copy of this presentation, To see a copy of this presentation, please go to this link:please go to this link:

http://www.austincc.edu/isd/tache/020107.ppthttp://www.austincc.edu/isd/tache/020107.ppt

Dr. Maggie de la TejaDr. 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

Mary Hensley, Ed.D.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