Austin American- Statesman
Feb. 24, 2006
Program sets example in state
An Austin Community College program in which the college partners with school
districts to require all high school seniors to apply to community college is
garnering statewide attention as a tool to increase enrollment.
Already, officials at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Del Mar College in Corpus
Christi and Temple College have decided to try to create similar programs. The
Houston school district is working with Houston Community College on a plan
modeled after the ACC program.
"I think what we want to do is take advantage of excellent statewide models and
make them available," said Laurie Bricker, a member of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, which during a recent meeting discussed the
possibility of turning the program into a statewide initiative.
In the Austin school district, ACC officials go to high school campuses and help
students fill out college applications and financial aid forms. Students must
participate unless their parents sign a release.
Officials at ACC say they saw their enrollment jump 31 percent as a result of the
program.