Creating Meaningful Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in College Access Research September 13, 2004 Council for Opportunity in Education Session #32

Outline of Session Overview of key questions Overview of key questions Research and curriculum design Research and curriculum design Research and program design- SummerTIME Research and program design- SummerTIME Research and product design- CHEC-List Research and product design- CHEC-List Options for creating partnerships Options for creating partnerships Question and Answer Session Question and Answer Session

Key questions: 1. What does it mean to do research? 2. How do findings inform curriculum and program design?

SummerTIME Seminar (Tools Information Motivation Education) How did the research process lead to the creation of SummerTIME? How did the research process lead to the creation of SummerTIME? U.S. DOE study designed to determine what makes an effective college preparation program Collaboration with 12 high schools, multiple stakeholders

Major findings Preparing for College text (researchers) Preparing for College text (researchers) Case studies (practitioners, students & families) Case studies (practitioners, students & families) Monograph [available on website] (researchers and practitioners) Monograph [available on website] (researchers and practitioners)

How findings informed curriculum Year 1: Writing the personal statement Year 1: Writing the personal statement (academic rigor) Year 2: Articulating a college plan Year 2: Articulating a college plan(guidance) Year 3: Building your college network Year 3: Building your college network (social support networks)

Lessons learned re: collaboration Intended goal: to give back –but we learned so much at the same time Intended goal: to give back –but we learned so much at the same time Insight into how complicated application process is Insight into how complicated application process is Insight into challenges practitioners face (follow-up, programming, family involvement) Insight into challenges practitioners face (follow-up, programming, family involvement) Good PR for future research Good PR for future research Increased visibility on campuses -reciprocity Increased visibility on campuses -reciprocity

The CHEPA CHEC-list (Creating Helpful Environments for College-going) How did the research process come together to create a “practical” use product? How did the research process come together to create a “practical” use product? Our research context Our research context Previous and on-going research in large, urban high schools serving mainly students of color Previous and on-going research in large, urban high schools serving mainly students of color A university level research center with project team members A university level research center with project team members Established contacts with local practitioners Established contacts with local practitioners

Useful Collaborations Collaborating with researchers Collaborating with researchers Creating a writing group Creating a writing group Discussing our visions Discussing our visions Collaborating with practitioners Collaborating with practitioners Organizing focus groups Organizing focus groups Integrating new ideas Integrating new ideas Working with multiple stakeholders Working with multiple stakeholders

Creating the CHEPA CHEC-list The CHEPA CHEC-list is a booklet that includes research based practical suggestions for counselors as they work on issues of access with three key stakeholders: StudentsFamilies Other counselors

Creating the CHEPA CHEC-List Results of the collaboration Results of the collaboration A document that intersects research, practice, and the voices of those involved in college access A document that intersects research, practice, and the voices of those involved in college access Continued and new partnerships with a number of key constituents Continued and new partnerships with a number of key constituents View the CHEC-List at: View the CHEC-List at: Challenges and opportunities Challenges and opportunities Locating informed collaborators who could participate over time Locating informed collaborators who could participate over time Finding a time for all collaborators to work together Finding a time for all collaborators to work together Sorting through multiple options for translating research to practice Sorting through multiple options for translating research to practice

Creating Partnerships University research centers University research centers Practitioner organizations Practitioner organizations Useful texts Useful texts

Facilitator Information Dr. Myron Pope, Assistant Vice President of Student Services, University of Central Oklahoma, Zoë Blumberg Corwin, Research Assistant, Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, University of Southern California, Kristan M. Venegas, Research Assistant, Research Assistant, Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, University of Southern California,