A Rural Community College Initiative
North Florida Community College Project
Increasing the Chances of Reaching
Postsecondary Education
Linking K-12 and Community College Interventions
Mr. Morris Steen, President, North Florida Community College
Mr. Clyde Sperring, Human Resources, Suwannee County School District, Live Oak, Florida
Dr. Theophilos Mantzanas, Community Initiatives Coordinator, North Florida Community College
Barriers to Post-Secondary
Educational Access
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Inequality of neighborhood resources
Inequalities in K-12 schools
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Quality of instructional offerings
Quality of teachers
Counseling
Low expectations and aspirations
Lack of peer support
Barriers to Post-Secondary
Educational Access
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Inequalities in familial cultural and social capital
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Lack of knowledge
achievement
Lack of knowledge
admission
Lack of knowledge
Lack of knowledge
to promote academic preparation and
of college processes of application and
of financial costs
of available financial resource options
Early Intervention as a
Response
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Given the significant barriers to college and
the declining numbers of underrepresented
students attending college…
Early Intervention Programs at K-12 level
linking the school districts and programs at
the community college can produce
Ameliorating Strategies
Key Intervention Strategies in
K-12 and College
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Student-Centered Programs
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Strengths and weaknesses for the Project
School-Centered Programs
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Strength and weaknesses for the Project
Meeting Common Goals
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Linking K-12 programs in Suwannee
County School District with programs at
North Florida Community College
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Strategies, action plans, and timelines
Suwannee County School District
K-12 Level Intervention Strategies
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Six Core Strategies:
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After-School programs
Access to rigorous curriculum
Academic enrichment programs
Counseling focused on college
Cohort building
Parent (and student) workshops for information
Suwannee County School District
K-12 Level Interventions
Perceived Deficit
Ameliorating Strategies
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Neighborhood resources
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Unequal schools
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Lack of peer support
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Unequal family resources
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After-school programs
Emphasis on teacher certification and
college level curriculum
High achieving peer groups, special
programs with NFCC to create cohorts
Workshops for parents on financial aid and
scholarships; workshops on postsecondary
options; role of parents in academic
preparation
NFCC
College Level Intervention Strategies
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Five Core Strategies:
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Mentoring
Academic support
Psychosocial support
Professional opportunities
Financial aid
NFCC (College-Level)
Interventions
Perceived Deficit
Ameliorating Strategies
Summer bridge program, developmental
courses, tutors, study skills workshops,
learning communities
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Academic Weakness
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Self-confidence, motivation
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Counseling, peer study/social groups,
mentors
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Career knowledge
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Service learning, faculty sponsors,
research opportunities
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Financial resources
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Work-study opportunities, scholarships
and grants
Effectiveness of K-12 and
College Level Interventions
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K-12: Suwannee County School District
Interventions
College: North Florida Community College
Interventions
Q&A
Point of Contact:
Dr. Theophilos Mantzanas
North Florida Community College
RCCI Team Leader
mantzanast@nfcc.edu
850.973.1304