Rural Educational Partnerships That Promote Social Equity And Opportunity

Rural Community College Alliance Conference

Presentation by Dr. Barbara MinkMember, Board of Trustees, ACC District &

Professor, Fielding Graduate University

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Strategic Plan:

Closing the Gaps

Austin Community College Service Area

ACC Programs Serving Rural Areas

◦ College Connection

◦ Early College Start

◦ Capital Area College Tech Prep Consortium

◦ ACC Centers

Fredericksburg Center

Lockhart Center

◦ Summer Youth Programs

◦ Mobile Go Centers

Goal 1: Close the Gaps in Participation

Goal 2: Close the Gaps in Success

Goal 3: Close the Gaps in Excellence

Goal 4: Close the Gaps in Research

• 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 expects 15,000 more students by 2015.

Service Area

7

Black = In-district

Green = Out-of-District

Rural Areas

Rural Areas

Rural Areas

Overview

Provide admission and pre-enrollment services to seniors on their high 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

*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

Rural districts indicated in red.

School DistrictSchool District

Total High Total High School School

GraduatesGraduates

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas

UniversitiesUniversities

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges2-year Colleges

Students Not Students Not Located in Texas Located in Texas

Higher Education *Higher Education *

AustinAustin 3,8563,856 1,1111,111 29%29% 737737 19%19% 2,0082,008 52%52%

BastropBastrop 460460 105105 23%23% 7373 16%16% 282282 61%61%

BlancoBlanco 7676 3636 47%47% 1313 17%17% 2727 36%36%

Coupland**Coupland**

Del ValleDel Valle 319319 3232 10%10% 5858 18%18% 229229 72%72%

Doss**Doss**

Dripping SpringsDripping Springs 240240 9595 40%40% 6262 26%26% 8383 35%35%

EanesEanes 555555 280280 50%50% 5959 11%11% 216216 39%39%

ElginElgin 169169 4545 27%27% 2929 17%17% 9595 56%56%

FredericksburgFredericksburg 227227 8888 39%39% 3333 15%15% 106106 47%47%

Austin Community College District Service Area

College Transition Rates

School DistrictSchool District

Total High Total High School School

GraduatesGraduates

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas

UniversitiesUniversities

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges2-year Colleges

Students Not Students Not Located in Texas Located in Texas

Higher Education Higher Education **

GeorgetownGeorgetown 519519 214214 41%41% 9898 19%19% 207207 40%40%

HarperHarper 4646 2929 63%63% 33 7%7% 1414 30%30%

HaysHays 559559 177177 32%32% 9696 17%17% 286286 51%51%

JarrellJarrell 4444 1414 32%32% 88 18%18% 2222 50%50%

Johnson CityJohnson City 4545 1616 36%36% 66 13%13% 2323 51%51%

Lago VistaLago Vista 7373 3232 44%44% 2121 29%29% 2020 27%27%

Lake TravisLake Travis 318318 144144 45%45% 6262 19%19% 112112 35%35%

LeanderLeander 1,0521,052 371371 35%35% 263263 25%25% 418418 40%40%

Liberty HillLiberty Hill 120120 4646 38%38% 2424 20%20% 5050 42%42%

LockhartLockhart 219219 6262 28%28% 3636 16%16% 121121 55%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

Rural districts indicated in red.

Austin Community College District Service Area

College Transition Rates

School DistrictSchool District

Total High Total High School School

GraduatesGraduates

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas

UniversitiesUniversities

Students Students Enrolled in Texas Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges2-year Colleges

Students Not Students Not Located in Texas Located in Texas

Higher Education *Higher Education *

LulingLuling 8787 2424 28%28% 99 10%10% 5454 62%62%

ManorManor 131131 2626 20%20% 1616 12%12% 8989 68%68%

McDade**McDade**

Nixon SmileyNixon Smiley 6565 1212 18%18% 99 14%14% 4444 68%68%

PflugervillePflugerville 964964 319319 33%33% 234234 24%24% 411411 43%43%

Prairie Lea**Prairie Lea**

Round RockRound Rock 2,1582,158 765765 35%35% 373373 17%17% 1,0201,020 47%47%

San MarcosSan Marcos 448448 9898 22%22% 5656 13%13% 294294 66%66%

SmithvilleSmithville 125125 3131 25%25% 2828 22%22% 6666 53%53%

WimberleyWimberley 146146 4444 30%30% 4545 31%31% 5757 39%39%

TotalTotal 13,02113,021 4,2164,216 32%32% 2,4512,451 19%19% 6,3546,354 49%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

Rural districts indicated in red.

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.

Program is an important and effective outreach to rural students.

Application never discarded

Provides a permanent college home

Reasons students come to ACC District◦ Full-time or part-time student◦ Co-enroll while attending 4-year institution◦ Summer courses for transfer◦ College courses after military service◦ College courses after career changes

2003-04 Year 1

San Marcos

2004-05Year 2

Austin

Bastrop

Del Valle

Leander

San Marcos

2005-06Year 3

Austin

Bastrop

Del Valle

Hays

Leander

Manor

Pflugerville

San Marcos

2006-07Year 4Austin BastropBlanco Del ValleElginFredericksburgHarper Hays Jarrell Johnson City Lago Vista Leander Liberty Hill Lockhart Luling Manor Nixon-SmileyPflugerville Prairie Lea Round Rock San Marcos Smithville

2007-08Year 5

Austin BastropBlanco Del ValleDripping SpringsEanesElgin FredericksburgGeorgetownHarper Hays Jarrell Johnson CityLago Vista

Lake TravisLeander Liberty HillLockhart Luling Manor Nixon-SmileyPflugerville Prairie Lea Round Rock

San Marcos Smithville Wimberley

Rural districts indicated in red.

“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 ParedesCommissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardJanuary 6, 2005

“The state must look for successful programs with statewide potential, such as ACCs College Connection program, in which seniors in participating high schools are given help with financial aid forms and required to fill out applications.”

Raymond ParedesState Higher Education Commissioner

Austin American Statesman, April 16, 2006

College Connection College Connection Program National Acclaim Program National Acclaim

& Recognition& Recognition

Access to scheduled

activities for students,

parents, and school officials

Calendars of activities

Links to pertinent ACC

school district sites

www.austincc.edu/isd

Overview

Serves juniors and seniors in high school

Take up to two college courses per semester

Overview

Start a college technical major in high school

After high school continue at Austin Community College

Earn college credit through articulated courses

Exemplary Rural Centers◦ Fredericksburg Center◦ Lockhart Center

Fredericksb

urg

Center

Lockhart Center

Alliance for Innovative Nursing Education

◦ Funded by a National Science Foundation grant

◦ Partnership with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

◦ Augmented with online delivery to accelerate students receiving BA or BSN degree

Grant pays for:◦ Faculty◦ Curriculum development◦ Travel

Addresses critical shortages of nurses in rural areas◦ LVN program◦ Fast track LVN to ADN (RN)

Lecture instruction delivered via IVC

Clinicals conducted at community hospital

Two ACC full-time nursing faculty housed at Fredericksburg Center

Nursing prerequisite courses (microbiology, etc.) delivered in high school laboratories equipped by ACC and community resources

Exemplary dual-credit program in small, rural high school

Juniors and seniors take two college courses per semester during school day

◦ Juniors take: History English Composition

◦ Seniors take: Government Economics Literature Psychology

Students routinely graduate with 18-24 transferable core curriculum college hours

Classes offered during school day by ACC adjunct faculty◦ LHS has some

adjunct-qualified faculty

119 participants – 43 from rural areas

Purpose:◦ Provides opportunities

for career and college exploration

◦ Supports interest in math, science, and technology

◦ Fosters a college-going culture

Offered to students in 4th-8th grade in two-week sessions on ACC campuses

Taught by ACC professors in a day-long format

Provides follow-up sessions during school year to monitor commitment to stay and succeed in school

Trailer ◦ Length, 34 Feet◦ Air-Conditioned

Equipped with:◦ 17 Computers◦ Printers◦ Scanner◦ Copier◦ Satellite Internet Acquiring second Mobile Go

Center – October 2007

Provided by:

◦ College for all Texans Foundation

◦ Texas Pioneer Foundation

◦ Advanced Micro Devices

◦ AT&T Foundation

◦ Austin Community College District

Provides college information for all institutions of higher education

Staffed by ACC student services personnel

Virtual one-stop, college-information facility

Visits:◦ Rural Communities◦ Festivals◦ Sports Events◦ Supermarkets◦ Shopping Malls◦ Schools◦ Other

Assists students:◦ College Information◦ College Admissions ◦ Financial Aid

Enables ACC to reach individuals where they live, work, and/or attend school

Supports College Connection program activities

Assists in expanding ACC’s outreach efforts to rural areas

“For our state to have a strong and vibrant future, we must all continue to work to ensure that every Texas child who dreams of attending an institution of higher education gets the opportunity to do so.”

John Montford

AT&T Senior Vice President,

State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs

Board Chairman,

College for All Texans Foundation

Austin Community CollegeBoard of Trustees

5930 Middle Fiskville RoadAustin, TX 78754

Office: (512) 223-7613

www.austincc.edu/isd/RCCA/091007Presentation.ppt