1. College Connection TASA Conference Presentation December 4, 2007

2. Agenda College Connection Overview College Connection Results

3. Presenter

4. Luanne Preston, Ph.D. Executive Director, Early College Start and College Connection luanne@austincc.edu 512-223-7354 luanne@austincc.edu Presenter

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

6. 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

7. College Connection Overview

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

9. Learn to Earn Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY

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. College Connection How It Works

15. 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.

16. 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

17. College Connection Activity Grid Sample ActivityDateTimeLocation Equipment CommunicationDel Valle HS Contact (*Lead Contact) name@del- valle.k12.tx.us ACC District Contact (*Lead Contact) name@austincc.edu High School Planning Committee Meeting August 9, 2007 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Del Valle Admin 5301 Ross Road Del Valle, TX E-mail Announcement *Jean MacInnis Jmacinnis *Luanne Preston luanne College Connection Agreement Prior to beginning Fall semester *Sandra Dowdy Sdowdy *Luanne Preston luanne Senior Presentation Kickoff Activity September 13, 2007 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. AuditoriumNotice in parent newsletter Notice on high school website *Sarah Mabry Sarah.mabry *Ashley Williams awillia4 Admissions Application Make-Up Day October 10, 2007 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Rooms A205, C216, D130, D208 Non-citizen students must obtain alternate ID before completing application *Sarah Mabry Sarah.mabry *Pat Colunga pcolunga ISD District Lead:Sandra Dowdy, Assistant Superintendent, 512-386-3040, sdowdy@del-valle.k12.tx.us Del Valle HS Lead:Jean MacInnis, Principal, 512-386-3210, jmacinnis@del-valle.k12.tx.us Admin. Assistant: Nadene Norwood, 512-386-3211, nadene.norwood@del-valle.k12.tx.us ACC District Lead:Mary Hensley, 223-7618, mhensley@austincc.edu Exec. Assistant: Esther Buzard, 223-7618, ebuzard@austincc.eduebuzard@austincc.edu College Connection Lead:Luanne Preston, 223-7354, luanne@austincc.edu Admin. Assistant: Laurie Clark, 223-7354, lclark2@austincc.edu Senior Count:400 SHADE/BOLD – Required College Connection Activities

18. 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

19. 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

20. Program Results

21. Connection School Districts 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 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

22. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2006-2007 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors YearStarted Austin ISD 124,2002004 Bastrop ISD 15602004 Blanco ISD 1772006 Del Valle ISD 23672004 Elgin ISD 22342006 Fredericksburg ISD 12362006 Harper ISD 1332006 Hays CISD 36652005 Jarrell ISD 1602006 Johnson City ISD 1492006 Lago Vista ISD 1892006 Leander ISD 41,3862004

23. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program 2006-2007 School District Number of High Schools Number of Seniors YearStarted Liberty Hill ISD 11382006 Lockhart ISD 23762006 Luling ISD 11242006 Manor ISD 22262005 Nixon-Smiley CISD 1732006 Pflugerville ISD 24362005 Prairie Lea ISD 1202006 Round Rock ISD 52,5972006 San Marcos CISD 24842003 Smithville ISD 11152006 Total (22) 4812,545

24. Del Mar College College Connection Programs Expansion Timeline 2004/05 (Year 1)2005/06 (Year 2)2006/07 (Year 3)2007/08 (Year 4) CCISD (2) Sinton Robstown West Oso CCISD (5) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso CCISD (7) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso CCISD (7) Calallen Flour Bluff Odem Robstown Sinton Taft Tuloso-Midway (2) West Oso * Added 12 Remaining ISDs Total: 5Total:14Total:16Total: 28

25. 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

26. The College Connection Program Works! Blue=Year College Connection started 1-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0961.pdfhttp://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0961.pdf 2-Source: http://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0963.pdfhttp://www.txhighereddata.org/Reports/PDF/0963.pdf 3-Source: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDFhttp://www.thecb.state.tx.us/Reports/PDF/1161.PDF ISD 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 NumberPercentNumberPercentNumberPercentNumberPercent San Marcos27366%21955%23459%29466%0 % Austin2,15556%2,06656%2,00554%2,01452%4 % Bastrop28669%23457%23954%28261%-4 % Del Valle29377%31280%23666%22971%9 % Leander44448%45948%42242%41840%8 % Hays28157%30956%29055%28651%5 % Manor5157%7457%8762%8968%-6 % Pflugerville19447%20147%20448%15646%2 %

27. College Connection Diversity of Participants 2006-07

28. 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 Traditionally Underrepresented in Higher Education - Students Enroll at ACC District

29. 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

30. Related Initiatives Mini-College Connection for Adult Education College Connection Scholarships

31. Program Recognition

32. College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition

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

34. 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

35. Other Texas Community Colleges Express Interest in College Connection Program Vernon College Odessa College Central Texas College El Paso Community College

36. State and National Interest in Expansion

37. 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” National Interest:

38. “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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 42 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

43. Mobile Go Centers

44. “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

46. 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