College Connection
Regional Texas Essential Skills Consortium
West Central Texas Workforce Development Board
July 14, 2006
Closing the Gaps
Overview
Closing the Gaps
• 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
• Most students (over 50%) will elect to start at a
community college
• Austin Community College expects 15,000 more
students by 2015.
Closing the Gaps
• State must increase minority participation
rates
• Goal to increase enrollment in higher education by
630,000 by 2015
• “College-going” rate lags among minority
populations
• Participation rates of minorities need to be
proportional to population figures for the State to
improve quality of life and to maintain State
economic advantage
Why College Connection?
“Education beyond high
school increases
earning potential and
employment
opportunities.”
U.S. Department of Education
Learn to Earn
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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”
College Connection
Overview
Improving High School to
College Transitions - Goals
• Create a culture/expectation that “College is in
everyone’s future”
• Improve/increase percentage of high school
graduates who enter college after high school
graduation
• Improve/increase number of high school students
who earn college credit while in high school
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
Total High
School
Graduates
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
3,732
1040
28%
687
18%
2,005
54%
Bastrop
446
105
24%
102
23%
239
54%
Blanco
63
18
29%
14
22%
31
49%
360
57
16%
67
19%
236
66%
Dripping Springs
234
114
49%
54
23%
66
28%
Eanes
576
256
44%
53
9%
267
46%
Elgin
211
58
27%
42
20%
111
53%
Fredericksburg
228
90
39%
30
13%
108
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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
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 *
530
189
36%
95
18%
246
46%
33
17
51%
4
12%
12
36%
Hays
531
164
31%
77
15%
290
55%
Jarrell
38
10
26%
10
26%
18
47%
Johnson City
58
23
40%
9
16%
26
45%
Lago Vista
65
21
32%
8
12%
36
55%
Lake Travis
320
150
47%
54
17%
116
36%
1,016
312
31%
282
28%
422
42%
Liberty Hill
138
42
30%
30
22%
66
48%
Lockhart
241
66
27%
28
12%
147
61%
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 Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
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
81
17
21%
7
9%
57
70%
Manor
140
27
19%
26
19%
87
62%
59
10
17%
13
22%
36
61%
940
334
36%
202
21%
404
43%
2,202
747
34%
398
18%
1,057
48%
San Marcos
400
102
26%
64
16%
234
59%
Smithville
105
25
24%
24
23%
56
53%
Wimberley
160
65
41%
34
21%
61
38%
12,907
4,059
31%
2,414
19%
6,434
50%
McDade**
Nixon Smiley
Pflugerville
Prairie Lea**
Round Rock
Total
*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 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.
College Connection
Students Receive On-Campus Activities:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Access to college and help getting started
Student life information
Admission application
ACC Video Teleconference—Campus Tour
Financial aid application
ASSET assessment
Tour of Austin Community College campus(es)
Pre-Advising (ACC 101)
Advising
Acceptance letter to ACC at graduation
Registration for ACC classes
Red=Required
Blue=Recommended
Black=Optional
College Connection
Activity Grid Sample
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.edu
Admin. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, ebuzard@austincc.edu/Charlene Washington, 223-7353, cwash@austincc.edu
Activity
Date
Signature Letter of
Release
August 1526, 2005
For all Seniors:
-Access to College
-Getting Started
-Financial Aid
-Career Planning
September
8, 2005
Admissions
Application
Sept 14,
2005
Make-Up Day
Sept 28,
2005
ASSET
Assessment
(paper and pencil)
Financial Aid
Information Night
Time
Location
Equipment
Communication
San Marcos HS Contact
(*Lead Contact)
Name@sanmarcos.isd.tenet.edu
ACC Contact
(*Lead Contact)
Name@austincc.edu
Biolerplate
letter
•Letters to
parents contest
*Cecily Moore
Cecily.moore
*Linda Kluck
Lkluck
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
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
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
Feb. 15, 2006
9:00 a.m. –
4:00 p.m.
San Marcos HS
Library
Use incentives
for kids to
attend
Information sheet
disseminated to
students @ school
& via web site
*Cecily Moore
Cecily.moore
*Terry Bazan
SHADE/BOLD – Required College Connection Activities
Tbazan@austincc.edu
School Districts Participating in the
Austin Community College
College Connection Program 2003-2006
2003-2004 (Year 1)
2004-2005 (Year 2)
2005-2006 (Year 3)
San Marcos CISD
Austin ISD
Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Del Valle ISD
Leander ISD
Hays CISD
San Marcos CISD
Leander ISD
Manor ISD
Pflugerville ISD
San Marcos CISD
2006-2007 (Year 4)
Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Elgin ISD
Hays CISD
Jarrell ISD
Leander ISD
Lockhart ISD
Luling ISD
Manor ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Prairie Lea ISD
Round Rock ISD-SPHS
San Marcos CISD
School Districts Participating
in the College Connection
Program 2006-2007
School District
Austin ISD
Number of Seniors
4,948
Bastrop ISD
577
Del Valle ISD
520
Elgin ISD
236
Hays CISD
701
Jarrell ISD
61
Leander ISD
1,328
Lockhart ISD
376
Luling ISD
124
Manor ISD
226
Pflugerville ISD
Prairie Lea ISD
1,329
13
Round Rock ISD-SPHS
738
San Marcos CISD
533
Total
11,710
Other Community Colleges
Adopting College Connection
Program
• Coastal Bend Community College
• Del Mar Community College
• Houston Community College
• Temple Community College
• Victoria Community College
“Closing the Gaps”
Background
“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
“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
“The state must look for successful
programs with statewide potential, such as
ACC’s College Connection program, in
which seniors in participating high schools
are given help with financial aid forms and
required to fill out applications.”
Raymond Paredes
State Higher Education Commissioner
Austin American Statesman, April 16, 2006
College Connection
Results
The Austin Community College
College Connection Program Works!
District
San Marcos
Austin
Bastrop
Del Valle
Leander
Students Not
Located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 20031
273
2,155
286
293
444
66%
56%
69%
77%
48%
Students Not
Located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 20042
219
2,066
234
312
459
Students Not
Located in Texas
Higher Education
Fall 20053
55%
56%
57%
80%
48%
234
2,005
239
236
422
% Increase of
students
Located in
Higher
Education
59%
54%
54%
66%
42%
Districts Initiating the College Connection Program in Fall 2005
Hays
281
57%
311
57%
290 55%
Manor
51
57%
74
57%
87 62%
Pflugerville
407
44%
470
49%
404 43%
Blue=Year after 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
7%
2%
15 %
11 %
6%
2%
-5 %
1%
College Connection Results
for Austin Community
College-Fall 2005
• Positive effect on fall enrollments
• 37.6% increase in enrollment from College Connection
High Schools from Fall ’04 to Fall ’05
• Positive effect on Early College Start enrollments
• 25.6% increase in enrollment from Fall ’04 to Fall ’05
• Positive effect on Tech Prep enrollments
• 647% increase in number of students receiving Tech
Prep credit from Fall ’04 to Fall ’05
College Connection Program
National Acclaim & Recognition
The College Connection
Web Site
www.austincc.edu/isd
• Information in English and Spanish
• Information for parents
• Information for students
• Information for school district personnel
• Calendars
• Links to pertinent Austin Community College
sites
Early College Start
Overview
Early College Start
Program (ECS)
• Students qualify academically
• Enroll in ACC courses
• Complete classes for college credit
• Use college credit to meet graduation
requirements
ECS
• District signs MOU
• ECS liaison helps with:
• academic year planning; courses on your campus;
counselor updates
• pre-enrollment services offered at high school campus
• information session
• assessment testing
• academic advising
Student Enrollment
• Complete ACC application, ECS Form
• Requires approval from counselor, principal (or
designee)
• Requires signature of parent
• Students limited to 2 courses each semester (includes
summer)
•
•
•
•
•
Test, if not exempt via TAKS, SAT, or ACT
Complete ACC 101 online pre-advising
Obtain signature of ACC academic advisor
Register for classes by phone or web
Pay for classes, if necessary
Student Costs
• Out-of-district students pay a low cost
• $40 per course for courses at ACC campus or distance
learning
• Free for courses at Elgin HS or any other HS facility
• Textbooks, materials
• Official college transcript
• Parking permit (if parking on ACC campus)
ECS at Elgin HS
• Courses offered in Spring semester for 5 years
• “Singleton” courses (criminal justice, personal computing,
government, psychology, sociology, German)
• Some taught by Elgin teachers, some taught by ACC
adjunct faculty
• Scheduling challenges (time of day); sufficient enrollment
• Faculty challenges (ACC SACS changes)
Scheduling Courses at
Elgin HS
• Work with ECS liaison to request courses
• ECS liaison requests approval from ACC Department
Chair; staffing affects approvals
• College schedule development timeline differs from
HS—start early
• Must schedule appropriate class period and semester
length
• Summer courses possible
Who Provides Faculty?
• Elgin HS faculty
• Must meet SACS qualifications
• Master’s degree with 18 graduate hours in content
area
• Go through ACC faculty hiring process
• ACC adjunct faculty
• ACC sends adjunct faculty member
Who Pays for Faculty?
• Elgin HS faculty
• EISD pays if faculty teaching as part of assigned load
• ACC pays if faculty teaches during zero hour, after
school, or during conference period
• Even if EISD pays, the faculty member is under the
supervision of ACC Dept. Chair for the college
instruction, and must complete all ACC requirements
(portfolio, evaluation, etc.)
• ACC adjunct faculty
• ACC pays
Elgin ECS Resources
• Link Davidson
•
•
•
•
689-4819 (ACC mobile number)
512-353-7224 ACC San Marcos Center
Leave message
Linkd@austincc.edu
• ECS Website
http://www.austincc.edu/ecs/index.html
For a copy of this presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/RTESC/071306Presentation.ppt