Arizona College Access Network
…building capacity and improving the quality of service and information
provided to students through Arizona’s college access programs
An initiative funded by the Governor’s Office of Education Innovation and the U.S. Department of Education
Arizona College Access Network (AzCAN)
Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
A national advocacy campaign to galvanize
and mobilize school counselors to “own the turf”
of college and career readiness counseling and take the lead
in establishing a college-going culture in their schools, districts,
communities and/or states
Counselors See a Broken School System in Need of Reform
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8 in 10 (85%) counselors report top mission of schools
should be ensuring all students complete 12th grade
ready to succeed in college and careers, yet only 30% of
counselors and 19% in high poverty schools see this reality.
84% of counselors say high school completion &
college/career readiness should be their mission as school
counselors, but less than half see this reality.
Source: The College Board, 2011 National Survey of School Counselors: Counseling at a Crossroads
What is the Arizona College
Access Network (AzCAN)?
Vision
The network is comprised of college access professionals and
supporters committed toward Arizona’s goal of doubling the number of
degrees and certificates earned by the year 2020.
Mission
Building capacity and improving the quality of services and information
provided to students through Arizona’s college access programs.
Arizona College Access Network (AzCAN)
Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
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115 program/organization active members
37 supporting programs/organizations
Approximately 562,000 students served annually by member
programs
Program categories: Community organization, College/university,
State agency/organization, National organization, High
school/school district, Foundation
Category Breakdowns:
◦ 49 college/university programs
◦ 30 high school/school district programs
◦ 22 community organizations
◦ 7 state agencies
◦ 5 national organizations
◦ 2 foundations
Resource Centers
• Northern Arizona
College Resource
Centers
• College Depot
• Metropolitan
Education
Commission/RCAC
• Mesa Community
Outreach Center
Federal Programs
• Arizona Gear UP
• NAU Talent Search
• Four Corners Upward
Bound Math &
Science Program
• TRiO SSS ASU West
• AWC Upward Bound
CBOs
• Aguila Youth
Leadership
Institute
• Be a Leader
Foundation
• La Paloma
College Prep
• Boys Hope Girls
Hope
• Youth on Their
Own
University/
Postsecondary
• ACE- Scottsdale
CC
Scholarship
• Nina Mason
Pulliam Legacy
Scholars
• Access ASU
• Hispanic
Scholarship
Fund/Gates
Millennium
Scholars Program
• Cesar Chavez
Leadership Institute
• Passport2CollegeDevry
• ASU American
Initiatives
• Arizona Assurance
Scholars Program
K-12
• Amberlea is College
Bound
• Phoenix Collegiate
Academy
• Arizona
Agribusiness &
Equine Center
South Mountain
• University High
• Yuma School
District- AVID
Financial Aid
Advising
Early
Postsecondary
Awareness
Mentoring
Admissions Advising
Career
Exploration/Advising
Academic
Support/Tutoring
Grants/ Scholarships
Parental
Advising
College
Planning
Youth Development
Financial
Literacy
In Schools and Communities
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Target Professional Development Dollars
◦ Counselors are eager to receive professional development and that these training
sessions should be targeted at critical levers like college and career readiness,
financial aid, and the use of technology to promote these goals.
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Coordinate Initiatives with Community-Based Organizations
◦ Counselors report tremendous workloads. There are, however, resources to
support their efforts. Nonprofit and community-based college access programs are
tremendous assets to students, families and schools, but are often staffed with
volunteers or professionals who are not as well trained as counselors. Counselors
should utilize these services to lessen their individual workloads and also, when
appropriate, be considered the point person in schools for coordinating these
initiatives.
Source: The College Board, 2011 National Survey of School Counselors: Counseling at a Crossroads
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Professional development (webinars, regional workshops, statewide
conference.)
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Collaboration with key stakeholders (community partners,
foundations, school districts, universities, etc.)
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Communication with college access programs and initiatives to share
resources and align efforts (Monthly newsletter, listserv)
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Free or low cost publications for students
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Resource and research information regarding college access
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Timely membership updates on news trends, best practices and
grant opportunities
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Advisement to establish a college access program or resource
center
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National College Access Network Affiliation
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AzCAN Professional Development – Collegeology Games Webinar
http://collegeology.usc.edu/
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Creating a Culture of Achievement Webinar (from July 10th), hosted
by Nancy Frey & Doug Fisher
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College Scorecard from The White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/scorecard
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College Cost Comparison searchable database from the DOE
College Affordability and Transparency Center
http://collegecost.ed.gov/catc/
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Various updates and briefs on President Obama’s announcement
concerning Deferred Action for undocumented immigrants
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For Students: Adventures in Education scholarship search tool
http://www.aie.org/scholarships/
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Statewide College Access Inventory
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College Application Week
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College Access/Counselor Training
Institute
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College Awareness/Planning Standards
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Information for Students and Parents
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Network Information
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Research and Resources
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Foster Care and Foster Youth
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Web meeting/Chat
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Interactive Listserv
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Discussion Forum
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Interactive Events Calendar
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Live Facebook and Twitter Feeds
Live Facebook and Twitter Feeds
*College Access News *Scholarship Info
*Events
*Summer Programs *Financial Aid
*College Access Advocacy
*Connect to College Access Community
Follow us:
www.facebook.com/Arizonacollegeaccessnetwork
@ https://twitter.com/#!/AzCollegeAccess
Who should become a member?
 All college access/success/postsecondary preparation programs and
professionals are welcomed
 School counselors and schools interested in creating a college-going
culture
 College Champions for youth in foster care, or formerly in foster
care
 Friends, sponsors, businesses, foundations, etc. who support college
access and success
Become a member free of charge by simply completing a survey on the
AzCAN website www.AzCAN.GOV, Network Information>Join AzCAN.
John Garcia
Director
AZCAN
Jgarcia@azhighered.gov
Erika Olivares
Associate Director, AzCAN,
AmeriCorps VISTA
e.olivares@azhighered.gov
@ Arizonacollegeaccessnetwork
@ AzCollegeAccess