1. Removing Barriers to Higher Education Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education February 15, 2008

2. Presenters

3. Mary Hensley, Ed.D. Vice President, College Support Systems and ISD Relations mhensley@austincc.edu 512-223-7618 mhensley@austincc.edu Leonard Rivera, Ph.D. Director, Off-Campus/College Connection Programs lrivera@delmar.edu 361-698-2404 lrivera@delmar.edu Doyle Valdez Past President, Austin ISD Board of Trustees doylevaldez@yahoo.com 512-627-7761 doylevaldez@yahoo.com

4. Agenda College Makes a Difference 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

5. College Makes a Difference Doyle Valdez

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

7. 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. 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. Del Mar Community College expects 2,900 additional students by 2015. Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/ClosingtheGaps/ctgtargets_pdf.cfm?Goal=1

8. College Connection Overview

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

10. 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.

11. 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%

12. 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

13. 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

14. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Del Mar 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 * Agua Dulce ISD27622%415%1763% Aransas County ISD2196027%3014%12959% Port Aransas ISD401640%513%1948% Aransas Pass ISD1071716%2723%6359% Banquete ISD501938%714%2448% Bishop CISD783747%709%3444% Calallen ISD30712842%8126%9832% 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. Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDFhttp://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

15. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Del Mar 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 * Corpus Christi ISD204144222%56528%102650% Dr. ML Garza-Gonzalez** Flour Bluff ISD 34510631%10731%13238% Gregory-Portland ISD29810535%6020%13345% Ingleside ISD1052322%1514%6764% Mathis ISD971111%2728%5961% Odem-Edroy ISD713144%1115%2941% **Less than 25 graduates attending this district 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. Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDFhttp://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

16. Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006 Del Mar 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 * Richard Milburn Alternative 41205%820%3176% Riviera ISD381847%513%1539% Robstown ISD1924825%4423%10052% Sinton ISD1373425%2015%8361% Taft ISD592237%610%3153% Tuloso-Midway ISD2295122%7231%10646% West Oso ISD961516%1617%6568% TOTAL4,5771,19126%1,11724%2,26150% 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. Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDFhttp://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF

17. College Connection How It Works

18. 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.

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

20. 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

21. College Connection: Activity Sequence 1. Senior Presentation (September) 2. Admission application (mid-September – November) 3. Financial aid application (February) 4. ASSET assessment (February – March) 5. Tour of ACC/DMC campus(es) (October – March) 6. Pre-Advising (October – March) 7. Advising (March – April) 8. Acceptance letter to ACC/DMC at graduation (May) 9. Registration for ACC/DMC classes (July) Red=Required Blue=Recommended Black=Optional

22. 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

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

24. Student Recruitment Senior Kickoff Presentation

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

43. ACC 101 – New Student Pre-Advising http://www.austincc.edu/acc101/index_content.html

44. Program Results

45. Austin Community College 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 2007-08 Year 5 Austin Bastrop Blanco Del Valle Dripping Springs Eanes Elgin Fredericksburg Georgetown Harper Hays Jarrell Johnson City Lago Vista Lake Travis Leander Liberty Hill Lockhart Luling Manor Nixon-Smiley Pflugerville Prairie Lea Round Rock San Marcos Smithville Wimberley

46. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2007-2008 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors YearStarted Austin ISD 125,1892004 Bastrop ISD 26092004 Blanco ISD 1722006 Del Valle ISD 25442004 Dripping Springs ISD 12652007 Eanes ISD 16502007 Elgin ISD 22642006 Fredericksburg ISD 12472006 Georgetown ISD 27912007 Harper ISD 1622006 Hays CISD 37232005 Jarrell ISD 1482006 Johnson City ISD 1522006 Lago Vista ISD 1892006

47. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2007-2008 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors YearStarted Lake Travis ISD 24152007 Leander ISD 41,5182004 Liberty Hill ISD 11802006 Lockhart ISD 23872006 Luling ISD 11312006 Manor ISD 22552005 Nixon-Smiley CISD 1572006 Pflugerville ISD 41,3852005 Prairie Lea ISD 1172006 Round Rock ISD 52,7902006 San Marcos CISD 24832003 Smithville ISD 11402006 Wimberley ISD 11692007 Total (27) 5817,532

48. Austin Community College College Connection Program Growth Over 5 years at: 1 school district to 27 school districts 2 high schools to 58 high schools 400 students to 17,000+ students

49. Del Mar College College Connection School Districts 2004-05 Year 1 Corpus Christi Sinton Robstown West Oso 2005-06 Year 2 Calallen Corpus Christi Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway West Oso 2006-07 Year 3 Calallen Corpus Christi Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway West Oso 2007-08 Year 4 Agua Dulce Aransas Pass Banquete Bishop Calallen Corpus Christi Dr. M.L. Garza Charter Flour Bluff Gregory-Portland Ingleside Mathis Odem Port Aransas Richard Milburn Academy Riviera Robstown Rockport Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway West Oso

50. Del Mar College College Connection Program Growth Over 4 years at: 4 school districts to 28 school districts 5 high schools to 28 high schools 1,081 students to 5,931 students

51. Austin Community College College Connection Diversity of Participants 2006-07

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

53. Austin Community College 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

54. Program Recognition

55. College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

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

57. Regional, State and National Expansion

58. College Connection Related Initiatives Mini-College Connection for Adult Education College Connection Scholarships Mobile Go Centers

60. ACC’s Two Mobile Go Centers MGC #1 ◦ Length, 34 Feet ◦ Air-Conditioned ◦ 14 Computer Stations MGC #2 ◦ Length, 42 Feet ◦ Air-Conditioned ◦ 16 Computer Stations Equipped with: ◦ Printers ◦ Scanner ◦ Copier ◦ Satellite Internet

61. ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Virtual one-stop, college-information facility ◦ College catalog and schedule information ◦ College applications ◦ FAFSA ◦ Other Staffed by ACC student services personnel

62. ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Enable ACC to reach individuals where they live, work, and/or attend school Support College Connection program activities Assist in expanding ACC’s outreach efforts

63. ACC’s Mobile Go Centers Visit: ◦ Festivals ◦ Sports Events ◦ Supermarkets ◦ Shopping Malls ◦ Schools ◦ Other www.austincc.edu/go

64. 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:

65. “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

66. THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2009 Ten Colleges Receive Implementation Grants ($100,000) 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

67. THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2008 Five Colleges Receive Planning Grants ($5,000) Cedar Valley College Cisco Junior College Northeast Texas Community College Paris Junior College Victoria College

68. 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

69. Programs started in: Arkansas California Connecticut Florida Hawaii Maine New Hampshire Virginia National Interest:

70. Program Branding

71. College Connection Logo

72. 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

73. Austin Community College Website Participating schools Links to school pages Link to college pages of interest Press coverage/special events

74. Del Mar College College Connection Website www.delmar.edu/collegeconnections

75. For copies: PowerPoint Presentation: www.austincc.edu/isd/tache/021508Presentation.ppt

76. Questions and Answers