NACAC 2016 Columbus_Using Mentors and Advisors_9_23_2016_1

Carla Amaro-Jimenez, University of Texas Arlington, TX Melondy Doddy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth TX... FWISD GO CentersGO Centers are resource rooms that exposes students to

F5: Using Mentors and Advisors to Increase College

Access Services

Dr Anita Perry, Fort Worth Independent School District, TX

Dr Stacy Burrell, Fort Worth Independent School District, TX

Tonni Grant, Fort Worth Independent School District, TX

Dr Carla Amaro-Jimenez, University of Texas Arlington, TX

Melondy Doddy, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth TX

FWISD Student Profile

19 traditional and specialized high schools

• Economically Disadvantaged 77.2%

• English Language Learner 30.6%

• Gifted & Talented 7.5%

FWISD GO Centers

GO Centers are resource rooms that exposes students to the vast array of post-secondary opportunities

Services Provided:

 College Admission Awareness

 College Application Assistance

 Financial Aid Application Assistance

 Financial Aid Advising

GO Centers Activities

by Grade Level

9th – 10th graders spend time:

 exploring career options

 researching colleges and training opportunities

 learning how to adequately prepare for college and workforce during their high school years

 strengthening writing skills for future essays and application narratives

 researching and applying for scholarships

11th and 12th graders spend time:

 getting ready for life after high school by preparing for the SAT/ACT tests

 researching and applying for scholarships

 researching and applying for specific colleges and training programs

 applying for financial aid.

FWISD GO Centers Usage

FWISD Scholarship Amounts Awarded

FWISD Scholarship Offers

FWISD FAFSA Completion

FWISD GO Center StaffCounselors

 Cohort Model

College & Career Coaches

 Grant funded, Title I, School District’s Local funds

G-Force Peer Mentors

 University of Texas Arlington, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas Women’s University; Texas Christian University, University of North Texas- Denton; Tarrant County College

College Advising Corp

 Texas Christian University Department of Education

Educational Talent Search

 Tarrant County Boys & Girls Club

Counselors’ Role in GO Center

 Promote post-secondary opportunities to every student!

 Organize college & career professionals and para-professional staff to ensure district’s targets are being met

 Coordinate activities related to creating a college going culture

in collaboration with all college & career readiness

professionals (CCR activities calendar)

 Establish a system where para-professionals staff check-in

 Ensure GO Center systems help students with researching

career, financial aid, and higher education options

 Be an liaison with school administrators for resources for the

GO Center programming

 Assist college & career readiness staff in preparing, launching, and running the GO Center

College & Career Readiness Coach

 Promote post-secondary opportunities to every student!

 Full-time employees of FWISD

 187 contracted days; earn additional pay for summer

employment

 Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred

 Do not have to be certified teacher or counselor (attract

professionals from other disciplines such as student personnel, social work, and family sciences)

 Work at the school location; may have flexible schedule to

accommodate before and after school activities

 Support school counselors and other student support

professionals

UTA G-Force Peer Mentors

University of Texas Arlington (UTA) and FWISD

• Partnership that has evolved over time and includes

various efforts (e.g., college access, teacher training)

• Emphasis on meeting ACTUAL needs vs PERCEIVED

needs

• Making different stakeholders a critical part of the

design, implementation, and evaluation of services

provided

• Making the most out of what REALLY WORKS

UTA G-Force Peer Mentors

• Maintain records of all students who attend the GO

Center

• Help students register for the SAT and ACT

• Inform and help students with college and scholarship

applications, resumes, and essays

• Explore different academic programs and schools

• Assist students with financial aid forms such as

FAFSA/TAFSA

• Guide students with the application process

• Answer questions pertaining to college life and

organizations

Our Team

MISSION STATEMENT

TCU College Advising Corps works to increase the number of low-income, first-generation college, and underrepresented high school students who enter and complete higher

education.

Our Model

Near-peer college advisers serve full-time in

high schools

Research-based, “college match and fit” strategy

Open-door, whole school (non-cohort) approach

No cost to students and families

Serve students through partnership

Anchored at and co-invested by postsecondary institutions

Our program serves all 13 traditional high

schools in Fort Worth ISD.

Presence & Impact

Our Students Are:

110% more likely to attend a financial aid workshop

77% more likely to take an ACT; 33% more likely to take the SAT

45% more likely to apply to six or more institutions

68% more likely to be admitted to multiple

institutions

39% more likely to receive a federal grant for

postsecondary study

GO Center Promotion

1634465083496878/videos

https://www.facebook.com/FWISD-Go-Centers-Lessons Learned From Partnerships

• Shared vision with realistic outcomes

• Constant communication

• Connect school and district systems with higher education partners systems

• Transparency in programming objectives

• Flexibility and adjustments

• Understanding all assessment and evaluation outcomes

• Collaborate on programming opportunities

• Align pre-existing resources to leverage new ideas- DO NOT

DUPLICATE

• Establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), if applicable

• Be creative and innovative

Strategies for Implementation

 K-12 Level

 Joint professional development and training

 Seamless transition of GO Center staff working with students

(collaborations)

 Higher Education level

 Universities/Colleges establishing a collegiate peer mentoring

program like G-Force

 All levels

 Implement a process to evaluate program success and outcomes

 Establish a collective impact focused on college and career

readiness with key stakeholders

Strategic Opportunities for Collaborations

 College Colors Day – September 2, 2016

 Education Go Get It / GenTX Week – September 12 – 16, 2016

 College Night – September 19, 2016

 Counselor Fall Update – ACT / SAT – September 30, 2016

 Financial Aid Help Sessions (October – April)

 College Application Drive – November, 2016

 NACAC Essentials Professional Development – February 3, 2017

 Hispanic College Fair – February 16, 2017

 College Signing Day – May 5, 2017

 MS College & Career Expo – May 18, 2017

 College Application Bootcamp – June 14-15, 2017

 Summer Link Program – (June – Aug)

FWISD GO Centers

Education & Director of Pathways to College Access and

Career Readiness, Dept of Curriculum & Instruction, University