1. P-16 Initiatives The College Connection ACT Invitational Symposium on College Readiness, Course Rigor, and Student Preparation January 16, 2008

2. Agenda Closing the Gaps Overview College Connection Overview College Connection How It Works Program Results Program Recognition State and National Interest in Expansion Questions and Answers

3. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Strategic Plan “Closing the Gaps” Overview

4. Closing the Gaps Closing the Gaps states that more Texans need to receive college degrees. 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 additional students by 2015. Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/ClosingtheGaps/ctgtargets_pdf.cfm?Goal=1

5. College Connection Overview

6. Education Beyond High School Increases earning potential and employment opportunities U.S. Department of Education

7. 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.

8. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates *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 http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF 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 * Austin3,8561,11129%73719%2,00852% Bastrop46010523%7316%28261% Blanco763647%1317%2736% Coupland** Del Valle 3193210%5818%22972% Doss** Dripping Springs 2409540%6226%8335% Eanes55528050%5911%21639% Elgin1694527%2917%9556% Fredericksburg2278839%3315%10647%

9. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates 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 * Georgetown51921441%9819%20740% Harper462963%37%1430% Hays55917732%9617%28651% Jarrell441432%818%2250% Johnson City 451636%613%2351% Lago Vista 733244%2129%2027% Lake Travis 31814445%6219%11235% Leander1,05237135%26325%41840% Liberty Hill 1204638%2420%5042% Lockhart2196228%3616%12155% *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 http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

10. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates 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 * Luling872428%910%5462% Manor1312620%1612%8968% McDade** Nixon Smiley 651218%914%4468% Pflugerville96431933%23424%41143% Prairie Lea** Round Rock 2,15876535%37317%1,02047% San Marcos 4489822%5613%29466% Smithville1253125%2822%6653% Wimberley1464430%4531%5739% Total13,0214,21632%2,45119%6,35449% *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 http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

11. College Connection How It Works

12. College Connection Program Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating. Austin Community College District provides hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process.

13. College Connection Program Program is free to the districts except for transportation costs to tour college campus(es). During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College District.

14. Students Receive Services at the High School: Required Admission application ASSET or COMPASS Pre-advising Academic advising Graduation letter Optional Student life info Teleconference Campus tours Registration Other Recommended Senior presentation Financial aid application

15. Lifetime Acceptance “at ACC” Application never discarded Provide a permanent college home Students come to ACC: ◦ Full-time ◦ Part-time ◦ In Summer for transfer ◦ After military service ◦ After career changes ◦ Co-enroll while attending 4-year institution

16. Lifetime Acceptance “at ACC” Cohorts can be tracked by semester of entry Longitudinal data collected for ◦ Retention ◦ Completion ◦ Success

17. Student Recruitment Senior Kickoff Presentation

35. See, it didn’t hurt! Recruiter’s name prefix@austincc.edu

36. Program Results

37. College Connection Program Growth Over 4 years: 1 school district to 27 school districts 2 high schools to 58 high schools 400 students to 17,000+ students

38. More than 55% of College Connection enrollees are minorities Higher percentage entering ACC through College Connection than in the general ACC student population Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher Education - Students Enroll at ACC

39. College Connection Positively Impacts Other College Programs ACC Fall Enrollments ◦ 38% increase first year ◦ 59% increase over two years Early College Start (Dual Credit) Enrollments ◦ 26% increase in enrollment from ‘04 to ’05 ◦ 45% increase in enrollment from ’04 to ’06 ◦ 3,209 students enrolled Summer 2007 (record- breaking ECS enrollment) Tech Prep Enrollments ◦ 4,336% increase in enrollment from ‘03 to ‘06  36 students in 2003-04  48 students in 2004-05  293 students in 2005-06  1,597 students in 2006-07

40. Program Recognition

41. College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

42. Awards Received THECB Star Award Award Recipient November 2006 Excelencia in Education Award Semi-Finalist October 2006 Bellwether Award Award Recipient January 2007

43. State and National Interest in Expansion

44. 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. National Interest:

45. “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

46. THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2009 Ten Colleges Receive Implementation Grants Alamo Community College District Blinn College Del Mar College Houston Community College System Lee College Odessa College Richland College South Texas College Tarrant County College District Weatherford College

47. THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2009 Five Colleges Receive Planning Grants Cedar Valley College Cisco Junior College Northeast Texas Community College Paris Junior College Victoria College

48. THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion Texas Colleges Already Adopting College Connection Alamo Community College District Central Texas College Coastal Bend Community College Del Mar Community College Houston Community College District Temple Community College Vernon College Victoria Community College

49. College Connection Logo

50. Austin Community College College Connection Website Access to scheduled activities for students, parents, and school officials Calendars Links to pertinent ACC school district sites www.austincc.edu/isd

51. Website Participating schools Links to school pages Link to college pages of interest Press coverage/special events

52. Mary Hensley, Ed.D. Vice President, College Support Systems and ISD Relations mhensley@austincc.edu 512-223-7618 mhensley@austincc.edu Presenter

53. For copies: PowerPoint Presentation: www.austincc.edu/isd/act/011608Presentation.ppt

54. Questions and Answers