Declining by Degrees:
Higher Education at Risk
Connecting Possibility to Expectation
One Student at a Time
Bellwether Awards
January 29, 2007

• Creating a culture of high expectations
• Increasing access to aid low-income students
• Addressing non-academic barriers

• 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 expects 15,000 more students by 2015.

“The community college’s role in the goal of participation is absolutely vital. We talk about students who come directly from high school into higher education, and while the numbers are going up, we are not attracting a significant increase in the pool. That’s one of the areas that we’re going to have to spend some real effort – in encouraging students who complete high school to continue on with higher education and the Connections
Program that has been talked about already today is absolutely the way that it needs to happen all across the state to change.”
Dr. Glenda Barron
Assistant Commissioner, Community and Technical Colleges Division
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
January 7, 2005

• 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.

“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

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 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”

Austin Community College Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Austin
Bastrop
Blanco
Coupland**
Del Valle
Doss**
Dripping Springs
Eanes
Elgin
Fredericksburg
Total High
School
Graduates
3,732 1040
446 105
63
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
18
28%
24%
29%
360
234
576
211
228
57
114
256
58
90
16%
49%
44%
27%
39%
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
687
102
14
18%
23%
22%
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
2,005
239
31
54%
54%
49%
67
54
53
42
30
19%
23%
9%
20%
13%
236
66
267
111
108
66%
28%
46%
53%
47%
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Georgetown
Harper
Hays
Jarrell
Johnson City
Lago Vista
Lake Travis
Leander
Liberty Hill
Lockhart
Total High
School
Graduates
530
33
531
38
58
65
320
1,016
138
241
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
189
17
36%
51%
164
10
23
21
31%
26%
40%
32%
150
312
42
66
47%
31%
30%
27%
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
95
4
18%
12%
77
10
9
8
15%
26%
16%
12%
54
282
30
28
17%
28%
22%
12%
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
246
12
46%
36%
290
18
26
36
55%
47%
45%
55%
116
422
66
147
36%
42%
48%
61%
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Luling
Manor
McDade**
Total High
School
Graduates
81
140
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
17
27
21%
19%
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
7
26
9%
19%
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
57
87
70%
62%
Nixon-Smiley
Pflugerville
59
940
10
334
17%
36%
13
202
22%
21%
36
404
61%
43%
Prairie Lea**
Round Rock
San Marcos
Smithville
Wimberley
2,202
400
105
160
747
102
25
65
34%
26%
24%
41%
398
64
24
34
18%
16%
23%
21%
1,057
234
56
61
48%
59%
53%
38%
Total 12,907 4,059 31% 2,414 19% 6,434
*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the Fall semester 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
50%

• The college enrollment process is intimidating, especially to first-generation college students.
• Removing barriers and establishing relationships will ease college transition.

• 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.

Required
• Admission application
• ASSET or COMPASS
• Orientation
• Academic advising
• Graduation letter
Recommended
• Senior presentation
• Financial aid application
Optional
• Student life info
• Teleconference
• Campus tours
• Registration
• Other

District Lead: Sylvia Garza, 512-393-6742, sylvia.garza@smcisd.net
San Marcos HS Lead: Chad Kelly, 512-393-6800, chad.kelly@smcisd.net
Admin. Assistant: Lisa Jordan, 512-393-6805, lisa.jordan@smcisd.net
Mary Hensley, 223-7618, mhensley@austincc.edu/Luanne Preston, 223-7355, luanne@austincc.edu
ACC Lead:
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 Time Location
Equipment
ACC Contact
(*Lead Contact) name@austincc.edu
Signature Letter of
Release
Senior Assembly
Admissions
Application
Make-Up Day
ASSET
Assessment
(paper and pencil)
August 30,
2006
September
8, 2006
October 3,
2006
October 6,
2006
February 6
& 8, 2007
9:45-11:15 a.m.
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
8:20 a.m. –
3:55 p.m.
Template letter
SMHS
Auditorium and Library
Library computer labs/
English classes
Room A123;
Library
Communication
•Letters to parents contest
San Marcos HS Contact
(*Lead Contact) firstname.lastname@sm cisd.net
*Cecily Moore cecily.moore
•Notice in parent newsletter
•Notice on high school website
*Cecily Moore cecily.moore
•Non-citizen students must obtain alternate
ID before completeing application
•Schedule to parents & on web site
*Cecily Moore cecily.moore
*Cecily Moore cecily.moore
*Luanne Preston luanne
*K. Leigh Forell khammfor
*Linda Kluck lkluck
*Holly Delacroix hdelacro
*Gail Braswell gbraswell
Financial Aid 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
SHADE/BOLD – Required College Connection Activities

• Application never discarded
• Provide a permanent college home
• Students come to ACC
• 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 collects longitudinal data for retention, completion and success

• Anglo - 41%
• African American - 11%
• Hispanic - 39%
• Asian - 4%
• Other - 5%

Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher
Education - Students Enroll at ACC
• More than 55% of College Connection enrollees are minorities
• Higher percentage entering ACC through College
Connection than in the general ACC student population of 41%
• Enrollments for minorities and economically disadvantaged students is more than double the state goals

District
San Marcos
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Leander
Total
Increase in Texas Higher Education
Students Not Located in Texas Higher
Education
Fall 2003
Students Not Located in Texas Higher
Education Fall 2004
Students Not
Located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 2005
273 66% 219 55% 234 59%
2,155 56% 2,066 56% 2,005 54%
286 69%
293 77%
444 48%
234
312
459
57%
80%
48%
239
236
422
54%
66%
42%
3,451 58% 3,290 56% 3,136 53%
% Increase of
Students
Located in
Higher
Education
7 %
2 %
15 %
11 %
6 %
5%
Violet = Year after College Connection started
Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports

District
Increase at Austin Community College
Students
Enrolling at ACC
Fall 2003
Students
Enrolling at ACC
Fall 2004
Students
Enrolling at ACC
Fall 2005
Students
Enrolling at ACC
Fall 2006
Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Hays CISD
Leander ISD
Manor ISD
Pflugerville ISD
San Marcos CISD
Total
560
33
38
61
173
16
83
33
997
527
35
31
70
165
20
79
48
975
630
70
58
66
242
19
67
49
1,201
741
55
49
77
209
19
95
36
1,281
% Increase of Students
Enrolling at
ACC
2003-2006
32.32%
66.67%
28.95%
26.23%
20.81%
18.75%
14.46%
9.09%
28.49%
Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports and ACC Office Of Institutional
Effectiveness and Accountability

• 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

•MiniCollege Connection for Adult Education
• College Connection Scholarships

• Replication
• Buy In
• Resource Allocation
• Technology Use
• Growth and Expansion
• Data Collection
• Publicity and Celebrations

• Can implement with existing resources
• Requires strategic reorganization, commitment, creativity
• Pilot for success

• Personnel at all levels need to be involved and willing
• School District Superintendent
• School Principal
• High School Faculty
• College Board of Trustees
• College President
• College Faculty and Staff

• Reorganization and redesign of existing student services resources
• Staff received cross-training to maximize efficiency and productivity
• Peak enrollment periods leveled out as graduating seniors plan ahead
• Other costs involved
• Testing Fees
• Travel Budgets

• Use technology whenever available to save time and other resources
• Technology has been developed for the:
• Online college application
• Financial aid application
• Pre-advising (ACC 101)
• Testing (COMPASS)
• Senior Presentations
• E-mail listservs
• Websites
• Data Tracking
• Communication

www.austincc.edu/isd
• Access to scheduled activities for students, parents, and school officials
• Calendars
• Links to pertinent ACC sites

Program Growth & Statewide Expansion
• Be prepared to plan for growth
• Growth leads to community support
• Growth indicates success
• Growth indicates a need in the community

College Connection School Districts
2003-04 (Year 1)
San Marcos
2004-05 (Year 2)
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Leander
San Marcos
2005-06 (Year 3)
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Hays
Leander
Manor
Pflugerville
San Marcos
2006-07 (Year 4)
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

Over 3 years:
• 1 school district to 22
• 2 high schools to 48
• 400 students to 12,000+
ACC’s Future Goal:
• Include all 30 school districts in our service area

• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board plans to expand College Connection to all Texas high schools

• Alamo Community College District
• Coastal Bend Community College
• Del Mar Community College
• Houston Community College District
• Temple Community College
• Victoria Community College

• Develop a data collection plan
• Items to track
• Participation by district/high school
• College retention rates
• College attendance
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Enrollees
• Need for developmental education
• College-going rates
• Dual credit/tech prep participation

• Celebrate with the districts especially at the graduation ceremonies
• Recognize college staff
• Utilize local and national newspapers, journals, conferences, etc.

• Texas Higher
Education
Coordinating
Board Star Award
Award Recipient
November 2006
• Excelencia in
Education
Award • Bellwether
Award
Semi-Finalist
October 2006
Finalist
December 2006

•TG Public Benefit Grant - $155,000
•Texas Pioneer Foundation - $50,000
•Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce - $108,000
•Round Rock ISD - $18,000
•In-kind Mobile Go Center
• Advanced Micro Devices
• AT&T Foundation
• College For All Texans Foundation

•Assist in College Connection services
•Make non-College Connection visits to malls, community centers, etc.

Austin Community College
Vice President College Support
Systems and ISD Relations
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
Austin, TX 78754
Office: (512) 223-7618
Fax: (512) 223-7895 mhensley@austincc.edu

www.austincc.edu/isd/bellwether/012907Presentation.ppt