Removing Barriers to Higher
Education
Texas Association of Chicanos
in Higher Education
February 15, 2008
Presenters
Doyle Valdez
Past President,
Austin ISD Board of
Trustees
doylevaldez@yahoo.com
512-627-7761
Leonard Rivera, Ph.D.
Director,
Off-Campus/College
Connection Programs
lrivera@delmar.edu
361-698-2404
Mary Hensley, Ed.D.
Vice President,
College Support Systems
and ISD Relations
mhensley@austincc.edu
512-223-7618
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
College Makes a Difference

Doyle Valdez
Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board’s
Strategic Plan
“Closing the Gaps”
Overview
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
College Connection
Overview
Education Beyond High School
Increases earning potential
and employment
opportunities
U.S. Department of Education
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
Total High
School
Graduates
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
3,856
1,111
29%
737
19%
2,008
52%
Bastrop
460
105
23%
73
16%
282
61%
Blanco
76
36
47%
13
17%
27
36%
319
32
10%
58
18%
229
72%
Dripping Springs
240
95
40%
62
26%
83
35%
Eanes
555
280
50%
59
11%
216
39%
Elgin
169
45
27%
29
17%
95
56%
Fredericksburg
227
88
39%
33
15%
106
47%
Coupland**
Del Valle
Doss**
*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
Georgetown
Total High
School
Graduates
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
519
214
41%
98
19%
207
40%
46
29
63%
3
7%
14
30%
Hays
559
177
32%
96
17%
286
51%
Jarrell
44
14
32%
8
18%
22
50%
Johnson City
45
16
36%
6
13%
23
51%
Lago Vista
73
32
44%
21
29%
20
27%
Lake Travis
318
144
45%
62
19%
112
35%
1,052
371
35%
263
25%
418
40%
Liberty Hill
120
46
38%
24
20%
50
42%
Lockhart
219
62
28%
36
16%
121
55%
Harper
Leander
*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 *
Luling
87
24
28%
9
10%
54
62%
Manor
131
26
20%
16
12%
89
68%
65
12
18%
9
14%
44
68%
964
319
33%
234
24%
411
43%
Round Rock
2,158
765
35%
373
17%
1,020
47%
San Marcos
448
98
22%
56
13%
294
66%
Smithville
125
31
25%
28
22%
66
53%
Wimberley
146
44
30%
45
31%
57
39%
McDade**
Nixon Smiley
Pflugerville
Prairie Lea**
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
Del Mar Service Area
College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2006
Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2006
School District
Agua Dulce ISD
Total High
School
Graduates
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
27
6
22%
4
15%
17
63%
219
60
27%
30
14%
129
59%
Port Aransas ISD
40
16
40%
5
13%
19
48%
Aransas Pass ISD
107
17
16%
27
23%
63
59%
Banquete ISD
50
19
38%
7
14%
24
48%
Bishop CISD
78
37
47%
7
09%
34
44%
Calallen ISD
307
128
42%
81
26%
98
32%
Aransas County ISD
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.PDF
Del Mar 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
Corpus Christi ISD
Students
Enrolled in
Texas
Universities
Students
Enrolled in
Texas 2-year
Colleges
Students Not
Located in
Texas Higher
Education *
2041
442
22%
565
28%
1026
50%
Flour Bluff ISD
345
106
31%
107
31%
132
38%
Gregory-Portland ISD
298
105
35%
60
20%
133
45%
Ingleside ISD
105
23
22%
15
14%
67
64%
Mathis ISD
97
11
11%
27
28%
59
61%
Odem-Edroy ISD
71
31
44%
11
15%
29
41%
Dr. ML Garza-Gonzalez**
**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.PDF
Del Mar 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 *
Richard Milburn Alternative
41
2
05%
8
20%
31
76%
Riviera ISD
38
18
47%
5
13%
15
39%
Robstown ISD
192
48
25%
44
23%
100
52%
Sinton ISD
137
34
25%
20
15%
83
61%
59
22
37%
6
10%
31
53%
229
51
22%
72
31%
106
46%
96
15
16%
16
17%
65
68%
4,577
1,191
26%
1,117
24%
2,261
50%
Taft ISD
Tuloso-Midway ISD
West Oso ISD
TOTAL
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.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.
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).
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 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
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
Lifetime Acceptance “at ACC”

Cohorts can be tracked
by semester of entry

Longitudinal data
collected for
◦ Retention
◦ Completion
◦ Success
Student Recruitment
Senior Kickoff
Presentation
See, it didn’t
hurt!
Recruiter’s name
prefix@austincc.edu
ACC 101 – New Student Pre-Advising
http://www.austincc.edu/acc101/index_content.html
Program Results
Austin Community College
College Connection School Districts
2003-04
Year 1
2004-05
Year 2
2005-06
Year 3
2006-07
Year 4
San Marcos
Austin
Austin
Bastrop
Bastrop
Del Valle
Del Valle
Leander
Hays
San Marcos
Leander
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
Manor
Pflugerville
San Marcos
2007-08
Year 5
Austin
Lake Travis
Bastrop
Leander
Blanco
Liberty Hill
Del Valle
Lockhart
Dripping Springs Luling
Eanes
Manor
Elgin
Nixon-Smiley
Fredericksburg Pflugerville
Georgetown
Prairie Lea
Harper
Round Rock
Hays
San Marcos
Jarrell
Smithville
Johnson City
Wimberley
Lago Vista
School Districts Participating in the College
Connection Program 2007-2008
School District
Number of High
Schools
Number of Seniors
Year
Started
Austin ISD
12
5,189
2004
Bastrop ISD
2
609
2004
Blanco ISD
1
72
2006
Del Valle ISD
2
544
2004
Dripping Springs ISD
1
265
2007
Eanes ISD
1
650
2007
Elgin ISD
2
264
2006
Fredericksburg ISD
1
247
2006
Georgetown ISD
2
791
2007
Harper ISD
1
62
2006
Hays CISD
3
723
2005
Jarrell ISD
1
48
2006
Johnson City ISD
1
52
2006
Lago Vista ISD
1
89
2006
School Districts Participating in the College
Connection Program 2007-2008
School District
Number of High
Schools
Number of Seniors
Year
Started
Lake Travis ISD
2
415
2007
Leander ISD
4
1,518
2004
Liberty Hill ISD
1
180
2006
Lockhart ISD
2
387
2006
Luling ISD
1
131
2006
Manor ISD
2
255
2005
Nixon-Smiley CISD
1
57
2006
Pflugerville ISD
4
1,385
2005
Prairie Lea ISD
1
17
2006
Round Rock ISD
5
2,790
2006
San Marcos CISD
2
483
2003
Smithville ISD
1
140
2006
Wimberley ISD
1
169
2007
58
17,532
Total (27)
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
Del Mar College
College Connection School Districts
2004-05
Year 1
2005-06
Year 2
2006-07
Year 3
2007-08
Year 4
Corpus Christi
Calallen
Calallen
Sinton
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi
Robstown
Flour Bluff
Flour Bluff
West Oso
Odem
Odem
Robstown
Robstown
Sinton
Sinton
Taft
Taft
Tuloso-Midway
Tuloso-Midway
West Oso
West Oso
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
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
Austin Community College
College Connection
Diversity of Participants 2006-07
Austin Community College
Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher
Education - Students Enroll at ACC

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
College Connection Positively Impacts
Other College Programs

ACC Fall Enrollments
◦
◦

Early College Start (Dual Credit)
Enrollments
◦
◦
◦

38% increase first year
59% increase over two years
26% increase in enrollment from ‘04 to ’05
45% increase in enrollment from ’04 to ’06
3,209 students enrolled Summer 2007 (recordbreaking 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
Program Recognition
College Connection Program
National Acclaim & Recognition
Awards Received
• THECB Star Award
• Excelencia in
Education
Award
Award Recipient
November 2006
Semi-Finalist
October 2006
• Bellwether Award
Award Recipient
January 2007
Regional, State and National
Expansion
College Connection Related
Initiatives
 Mini-College
Connection
for Adult Education
 College
Connection Scholarships
 Mobile
Go Centers
Mobile Go Centers
ACC’s Two Mobile Go Centers

MGC #1
◦ Length, 34 Feet
◦ Air-Conditioned
◦ 14 Computer Stations

MGC #2

Equipped with:
◦ Length, 42 Feet
◦ Air-Conditioned
◦ 16 Computer Stations
◦
◦
◦
◦
Printers
Scanner
Copier
Satellite Internet
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
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
ACC’s Mobile Go Centers

Visit:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Festivals
Sports Events
Supermarkets
Shopping Malls
Schools
Other
www.austincc.edu/go
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.
“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 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
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
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
National Interest:
Programs started in:
 Arkansas
 California
 Connecticut
 Florida
 Hawaii
 Maine
 New Hampshire
 Virginia
Program Branding
College Connection Logo
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
Austin Community College Website
 Participating
 Links
schools
to school pages
 Link
to college pages of interest
 Press
coverage/special events
Del Mar College
College Connection Website
www.delmar.edu/collegeconnections
For copies:
PowerPoint Presentation:
www.austincc.edu/isd/tache/021508Presentation.ppt
Questions and Answers