College Connection
Chabot- Las Positas Community College District
May 4, 2007
Presenters
Presenters
Mary Hensley, Ed.D.
Vice President, College
Support Systems and ISD
Relations
mhensley@austincc.edu
512-223-7618
Luanne Preston, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Early
College Start and College
Connection
luanne@austincc.edu
512-223-7354
Agenda
• Closing the Gaps Overview
• College Connection Overview
• College Connection How It Works
• Program Results
• Program Recognition
• State and National Interest in Expansion
• College Connection How To Start
• Questions and Answers
Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board’s
Strategic Plan
“Closing the Gaps”
Overview
Closing the Gaps in Participation
• 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 District expects
15,000 more students by 2015.
College Connection
Overview
Education Beyond High School
Increases earning potential
and employment
opportunities
U.S. Department of Education
Learn to Earn
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oll
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e
As
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te
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r's
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as
te r
s
Ph
.D
Pr
.
of
ess
ion
al
om
So
m
Di
pl
HS
Le
ss
t
ha
nH
S
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY
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”
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.
Austin Community College District Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006
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 *
3,856
1,111
29%
737
19%
2,008
52%
Bastrop
460
105
23%
73
16%
282
61%
Blanco
76
36
47%
13
17%
27
36%
319
32
10%
58
18%
229
72%
Dripping Springs
240
95
40%
62
26%
83
35%
Eanes
555
280
50%
59
11%
216
39%
Elgin
169
45
27%
29
17%
95
56%
Fredericksburg
227
88
39%
33
15%
106
47%
Coupland**
Del Valle
Doss**
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year 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 District Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006
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 *
519
214
41%
98
19%
207
40%
46
29
63%
3
7%
14
30%
Hays
559
177
32%
96
17%
286
51%
Jarrell
44
14
32%
8
18%
22
50%
Johnson City
45
16
36%
6
13%
23
51%
Lago Vista
73
32
44%
21
29%
20
27%
Lake Travis
318
144
45%
62
19%
112
35%
1,052
371
35%
263
25%
418
40%
Liberty Hill
120
46
38%
24
20%
50
42%
Lockhart
219
62
28%
36
16%
121
55%
Harper
Leander
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year 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 District Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006
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
87
24
28%
9
10%
54
62%
Manor
131
26
20%
16
12%
89
68%
65
12
18%
9
14%
44
68%
964
319
33%
234
24%
411
43%
Round Rock
2,158
765
35%
373
17%
1,020
47%
San Marcos
448
98
22%
56
13%
294
66%
Smithville
125
31
25%
28
22%
66
53%
Wimberley
146
44
30%
45
31%
57
39%
McDade**
Nixon Smiley
Pflugerville
Prairie Lea**
Total
13,021 4,216
32% 2,451
19% 6,354
49%
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year 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
College Connection
How It Works
College Connection Program
• Many high school students find the college
enrollment process intimidating.
• Austin Community College District provides handson, 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 District.
Students Receive Services
at the High School:
Required
•
•
•
•
•
Admission application
ASSET or COMPASS
Pre-advising
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, sylvia.garza@smcisd.net
Chad Kelly, 512-393-6800, chad.kelly@smcisd.net
Admin. Assistant: Lisa Jordan, 512-393-6805, lisa.jordan@smcisd.net
ACC Lead:
Mary Hensley, 223-7618, mhensley@austincc.edu/Luanne Preston, 223-7355, luanne@austincc.edu
Exec. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, ebuzard@austincc.edu
College Connection Lead: Luanne Preston, 223-7354, luanne@austincc.edu
Admin. Assistant: Laurie Clark, 223-7354, lclark2@austincc.edu
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 District Contact
(*Lead Contact)
name@austincc.edu
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
*Chad Kelly
chad.kelly
*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
*Mary Williams
mary.williams
*Linda Kluck
lkluck
February 6
& 8, 2007
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
Room A123;
Library
•Schedule to
parents & on
web site
*Mary Williams
mary.williams
*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 District
▫
▫
▫
▫
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 District collects longitudinal data for
retention, completion and success
Program Results
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
School Districts Participating in the College
Connection Program 2006-2007
School District
Number of High
Schools
Number of Seniors
Year
Started
Austin ISD
12
4,200
2004
Bastrop ISD
1
560
2004
Blanco ISD
1
77
2006
Del Valle ISD
2
367
2004
Elgin ISD
2
234
2006
Fredericksburg ISD
1
236
2006
Harper ISD
1
33
2006
Hays CISD
3
665
2005
Jarrell ISD
1
60
2006
Johnson City ISD
1
49
2006
Lago Vista ISD
1
89
2006
Leander ISD
4
1,386
2004
School Districts Participating in the College
Connection Program 2006-2007
School District
Number of High
Schools
Number of Seniors
Year
Started
Liberty Hill ISD
1
138
2006
Lockhart ISD
2
376
2006
Luling ISD
1
124
2006
Manor ISD
2
226
2005
Nixon-Smiley CISD
1
73
2006
Pflugerville ISD
2
436
2005
Prairie Lea ISD
1
20
2006
Round Rock ISD
5
2,597
2006
San Marcos CISD
2
484
2003
Smithville ISD
1
115
2006
48
12,545
Total (22)
College Connection Program Growth
Over 3 years:
• 1 school district to 22 school districts
• 2 high schools to 48 high schools
• 400 students to 12,000+ students
ACC District’s Future Goal:
• Include all 30 school districts in service area
The College Connection Program Works!
Students NOT
located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2003
ISD
Number
San Marcos
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Leander
Hays
Manor
Pflugerville
273
2,155
286
293
444
281
51
194
Students NOT
located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2004
Percent Number
66%
56%
69%
77%
48%
57%
57%
47%
219
2,066
234
312
459
309
74
201
Students NOT
located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2005
Percent Number
55%
56%
57%
80%
48%
56%
57%
47%
234
2,005
239
236
422
290
87
204
Students NOT
located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2006
Percent Number
59%
54%
54%
66%
42%
55%
62%
48%
Blue=Year College Connection started
1-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0961.pdf
2-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0963.pdf
3-Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF
294
2,014
282
229
418
286
89
156
2006 Increase of
Students in
Higher Ed Since
Implementation
Percent
66%
52%
61%
71%
40%
51%
68%
46%
0%
4%
-4 %
9%
8%
5%
-6 %
2%
College Connection
Diversity of Participants
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Anglo
African American
Hispanic
Asian
Other
41%
11%
39%
4%
5%
Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher
Education - Students Enroll at ACC District
• More than 55% of College Connection
enrollees are minorities
• Higher percentage entering ACC District
through College Connection than in
the general ACC District student population
College Connection Results for ACC District,
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
Program Recognition
College Connection Program
National Acclaim & Recognition
Awards Received
• THECB Star
Award
• Excelencia in
Education
Award
Award Recipient
November 2006
• Bellwether
Award
Semi-Finalist
October 2006
Award Recipient
January 2007
State and National Interest in
Expansion
“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
State Interest:
• 6 Texas community colleges adopt
College Connection Program
• 4 Texas community colleges express
interest
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board to expand program statewide
beginning Fall 2007
National Interest:
Florida Department of Education
• Launched state-wide campaign in April 2007 called “Go
Higher-Get Accepted” modeled after College Connection
Maine Interest in College Connection
• Proposed law requiring graduating high school seniors to
complete at least one college application before getting
diploma.
• Support from “Compact for Higher Education”
External Support
• Funding to Expand College Connection
• Funding for Mobile Go Center
Mobile Go Center
Related Initiatives
• Mini-College Connection
for Adult Education
• College Connection Scholarships
College Connection:
How To Start
Collaborate with School Partners
• Find higher education transition rates for local high schools
• Use other partnerships (dual credit, tech prep, etc.) as a
springboard
• Choose a pilot school or group of schools
• Meet with superintendent to discuss:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
program features
advantages to students and district
transition rates
formal agreement
buy-in from district
campus staff
Formal Agreement
• Between college and school
district
• Signed by chancellor,
president, and superintendent
• Establishes transfer of
student data from high school
to college
• Details responsibilities and
expectations
Advance Briefing
• District/Central Office Staff
• High School Principal
Planning Meeting
• One meeting held annually
• Early Summer, before high school staff leave is ideal
• Complete activity grid
• Should take about one hour (slightly longer for new
schools or multiple schools)
• Stick to scheduling; work out details between
designated contact for each activity
Planning Meeting
Recommended Participants:
College
• District lead person
• Implementation lead person
• Team leader for services
▫ Admissions representative
▫ Financial Aid representative
▫ Assessment representative
▫ Recruitment representative
▫ Advising representative
▫ Recorder
High School
•
•
•
•
Principal
Grade level principal or AP
Lead or senior counselor
Person in charge of
testing/scheduling
• Tech person (use of computer labs)
• Any staff that works with the
“senior class”
• Bring
▫ Bell schedule
▫ School calendar
▫ A/B Block scheduling
▫ Testing calendar
Data Collection
• Collect electronically (EXCEL)
• Mark records as College Connection cohort
• Collect from high school
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Name
Address
DOB
HS Student ID (for later record matching)
Test Scores (HS Exit Exam, SAT, ACT)
Communications
• Electronic via list serv
• Updated activity grid sent via e-mail
when changes occur
• College Connection Website
• iCal
▫ Combined calendar for internal use
Data Follow-Up
• Track by school, how many students complete
each activity
• Plan multiple visits to get 100% participation
• Give high school principal participation rates
for use at graduation announcement ceremony
• Report Fall enrollment from pilot schools
(compare to benchmark), spring persistence
Website
• Participating schools
• Links to school pages
• Link to college pages of interest
• Press coverage/special events
Austin Community College
College Connection Website
www.austincc.edu/isd
• Access to scheduled activities
for students, parents, and
school officials
• Calendars
• Links to pertinent ACC school
district sites
Helpful Hints
• Know/connect with Superintendent(s) in
School District(s)
• Form a College/ISD planning team
• Form a College/High School planning team
• Initially use a core team of early adopters
• Build support for program within CLPCCD
• Understand K-12 operations
• Begin with a smaller school district
• Small and successful=Others will come
Helpful Hints
• College departments such as Information
Technology, Public Relations, Dual Credit,
Tech Prep, Foundation, and particularly,
Student Recruitment and Student Services,
must be supportive
• Do away with thinking that students “have to
come to the college” to meet college processes
• Focus on what works for the school district
• Make it a “win-win” program for both
Helpful Hints
• Use publicity and press conferences at
every opportunity
• Get Foundation involved in raising
scholarships
• Make a presentation to each school district
Board
• Use current staff to serve on teams
• Expand personnel requests through budget
process/master plan process
Helpful Hints
• Keep CLPCCD Board involved
• Continually thank and recognize
participants
• Involve staff in recognitions
• Keep College Connection process simple
• Understand what is/is not required
• Time/effort now will reduce work later
Helpful Hints
• Increased enrollments will build programs and
support staff
• Many “off shoots” develop:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Chamber of Commerce events/support
Grants and Contracts
Annexation
Scholarships
Continuing education
Training
Teacher certification
Instructional Aide Training
Dual Credit
Tech Prep
Other
Helpful Hints
• Name a single point-of-contact for all
communications
• Utilize technology for communication including
web, listserv, and online calendars (I-Cal)
• Build a superintendents’ e-mail list
• Have joint CLPCC and School District Board
meetings
• Form CLPCCD/ISD Executive Team
• Provide immediate response/service
• Pace for success
• Initially use key leaders on teams then expand to
lower-level personnel
For copies:
PowerPoint Presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/las_positas/050407Presenta
tion.ppt
Handouts:
www.austincc.edu/isd/documents
Questions and Answers