College Connection

TASA Conference Presentation December 4, 2007

Agenda

• • College Connection Overview College Connection Results

Presenter

Presenter

Luanne Preston, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Early College Start and College Connection [email protected]

512-223-7354

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Strategic Plan

“Closing the Gaps” Overview

Closing the Gaps in Participation

•

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 over 15,000 more students by 2015.

Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/ClosingtheGaps/ctgtargets_pdf.cfm?Goal=1

College Connection Overview

Education Beyond High School

Increases earning potential and employment opportunities U.S. Department of Education

Learn to Earn

90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Le ss th an H S H S D ip loma Some C ol le ge A ss oc iate Bac he lor 's M as te rs P h.D

.

P rofe ss ion al Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY

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.

Austin Community College District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006

School District

Austin Bastrop Blanco

Total High School Graduates

3,856 460 76

Students Enrolled in Texas Universities

1,111 105 36 29% 23% 47%

Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges

737 73 13 19% 16% 17%

Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education *

2,008 282 27

52% 61% 36%

Coupland** Del Valle 319 32 10% 58 18% 229

72%

Doss** Dripping Springs Eanes Elgin 240 555 169 95 280 45 40% 50% 27% 62 59 29 26% 11% 17% 83 216 95

35% 39% 56%

Fredericksburg 227 88 39% 33 15% 106

47%

*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 District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006

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 *

Georgetown Harper Hays Jarrell Johnson City Lago Vista Lake Travis Leander Liberty Hill Lockhart 519 46 559 44 45 73 318 1,052 120 219 214 29 177 14 16 32 144 371 46 62 41% 63% 32% 32% 36% 44% 45% 35% 38% 28% 21 62 263 24 36 98 3 96 8 6 19% 7% 17% 18% 13% 29% 19% 25% 20% 16% 207 14 286 22 23 20 112 418 50 121

40% 30% 51% 50% 51% 27% 35% 40% 42% 55%

*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 District Service Area College Transition Rates Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006

School District

Luling Manor McDade**

Total High School Graduates

87 131

Students Enrolled in Texas Universities

24 26 28% 20%

Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges

9 16 10% 12%

Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education *

54 89

62% 68%

Nixon Smiley Pflugerville Prairie Lea** Round Rock San Marcos 65 964 2,158 448 12 319 765 98 18% 33% 35% 22% 9 234 373 56 14% 24% 17% 13% 44 411 1,020 294

68% 43% 47% 66%

Smithville Wimberley 125 146 31 44 25% 30% 28 45 22% 31% 66 57

53% 39% Total 13,021 4,216 32% 2,451 19% 6,354 49%

*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

How It Works

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.

 During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College District.

Students Receive Services at the High School:

Required

• Admission application • ASSET or COMPASS • Pre-advising • Academic advising • Graduation letter

Recommended

• Senior presentation • Financial aid application

Optional

• Student life info • Teleconference • Campus tours • Registration • Other

College Connection Activity Grid Sample

ISD District Lead: Sandra Dowdy, Assistant Superintendent, 512-386-3040, [email protected]

Del Valle HS Lead: ACC District Lead: Jean MacInnis, Principal, 512-386-3210, [email protected]

Admin. Assistant: Nadene Norwood, 512-386-3211, [email protected] Mary Hensley, 223-7618, [email protected]

Exec. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, [email protected]

College Connection Lead: Luanne Preston, 223-7354, [email protected]

Admin. Assistant: Laurie Clark, 223-7354, [email protected]

Senior Count:400 Activity High School Planning Committee Meeting

College Connection

Agreement Senior Presentation Kickoff Activity Admissions Application Make-Up Day Date August 9, 2007 Prior to beginning Fall semester September 13, 2007 October 10, 2007 Time 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location Equipment Del Valle Admin 5301 Ross Road Del Valle, TX Auditorium Rooms A205, C216, D130, D208 Communication • E-mail • Announcement • Notice in parent newsletter • Notice on high school website *Sarah Mabry Sarah.mabry

• Non-citizen students must obtain alternate ID before completing application *Sarah Mabry Sarah.mabry

SHADE/BOLD – Required

College Connection

Activities Del Valle HS Contact (*Lead Contact) name@del valle.k12.tx.us

*Jean MacInnis Jmacinnis *Sandra Dowdy Sdowdy ACC District Contact (*Lead Contact) [email protected]

*Luanne Preston luanne *Luanne Preston luanne *Ashley Williams awillia4 *Pat Colunga pcolunga

Lifetime Acceptance

• Application never discarded • Provide a permanent college home • Students come to ACC District ▫ In summer for transfer ▫ After military service ▫ After career changes ▫ Co-enroll while attending 4-year institution • Cohorts can be tracked by semester of entry; ACC District collects longitudinal data for retention, completion and success

Guaranteed transfer

• • • • Arts & Sciences courses transfer seamlessly to Texas public universities ACC is UT’s largest source of transfer students Students who start at ACC do as well as, or better than, students who begin as freshmen at UT ACC is a great auxiliary resource for students who already have confirmed college plans

Program Results

2003-04 Year 1 San Marcos

College Connection

School Districts

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 Elgin 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

17,000 + Seniors expected in Year 5

School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2006-2007 School District

Austin ISD Bastrop ISD Blanco ISD Del Valle ISD Elgin ISD Fredericksburg ISD Harper ISD Hays CISD Jarrell ISD Johnson City ISD Lago Vista ISD Leander ISD

Number of High Schools

12 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 4

Number of Seniors

4,200 560 77 367 234 236 33 665 60 49 89 1,386

Year Started

2004 2004 2006 2004 2006 2006 2006 2005 2006 2006 2006 2004

School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2006-2007 School District

Liberty Hill ISD Lockhart ISD Luling ISD Manor ISD Nixon-Smiley CISD Pflugerville ISD Prairie Lea ISD Round Rock ISD San Marcos CISD Smithville ISD

Total (22) Number of High Schools

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 5 2 1

48 Number of Seniors

138 376 124 226 73 436 20 2,597 484 115

12,545 Year Started

2006 2006 2006 2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 2003 2006

Del Mar College College Connection Programs Expansion Timeline 2004/05 (Year 1)

CCISD (2) Sinton Robstown West Oso

2005/06 (Year 2)

CCISD (5) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso

2006/07 (Year 3)

CCISD (7) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso Total: 5 Total:14 Total:16

2007/08 (Year 4)

CCISD (7) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso

* Added 12 Remaining ISDs

Total: 28

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

The College Connection Program Works!

ISD San Marcos Austin Bastrop Del Valle Leander Hays Manor Pflugerville Students NOT located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 2003

Students NOT located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 2004

Students NOT located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 2005

Students NOT located in Texas Higher Education

Fall 2006

2006 Increase of Students in Higher Ed Since Implementation Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

273 2,155 286 293 444 281 51 194

66%

56% 69% 77% 48% 57% 57% 47%

219

2,066 234 312 459 309 74 201

55%

56% 57% 80% 48%

56% 57% 47%

234 2,005 239 236 422 290 87 204 59

%

54% 54% 66% 42%

55% 62% 48%

Blue=Year

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

294 2,014 282 229 418 286 89 156 66

%

52

%

61

%

71

%

40

%

51% 68% 46%

0 % 4 % -4 % 9 % 8 % 5 % -6 % 2 %

College Connection

Diversity of Participants 2006-07

Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher Education - Students Enroll at ACC District

• More than 55% of College Connection enrollees are minorities • Higher percentage entering ACC District through College Connection than in the general ACC District student population

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

Related Initiatives

• Mini-

College Connection

for Adult Education •

College Connection

Scholarships

Program Recognition

College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

• THECB Star Award Award Recipient November 2006

Awards Received

• Excelencia in Education Award Semi-Finalist October 2006 • Bellwether Award Award Recipient January 2007

Texas Community Colleges Adopting College Connection Program

• • • • • • Alamo Community College District Coastal Bend Community College Del Mar Community College Houston Community College District Temple Community College Victoria Community College

Other Texas Community Colleges Express Interest in College Connection Program

• • • • Vernon College Odessa College Central Texas College El Paso Community College

State and National Interest in Expansion

National Interest:

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.

 Support from “Compact for Higher Education”

“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

•

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2009

Ten Schools 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

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion 2007-2009

•

Five Schools Receive Planning Grants

• • • • • Cedar Valley College Cisco Junior College Northeast Texas Community College Paris Junior College Victoria College

THECB Statewide College Connection Expansion

•

Schools 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

College Connection

Draws External Funding

▫

TG Public Benefit Grant

$155,000 ▫

Texas Pioneer Foundation

$398,188 ▫

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

$108,000 ▫

Round Rock ISD

$18,000 ▫

Two Mobile Go Centers

$147,218  Advanced Micro Devices    AT&T Foundation College For All Texans Foundation Texas Pioneer Foundation 42

Mobile Go Centers

“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

Austin Community College College Connection Website

www.austincc.edu/isd

• Access to scheduled activities for students, parents, and school officials • Calendars • Links to pertinent ACC school district sites