University Business - September 2006 - (Page 40)

COMMUNIT Y COLLEGES dents get from two-year schools to four- structional Services, and Ramiro Casso, a two types of campuses, Dowd says. year institutions. In her work on the Eq- political leader and physician, took people Aid officers from two-year and four- uity for All project, Bensimon has seen that out to lunch to discuss the benefits of help- year schools should also interact to give the most important factor in transfer rates ing students. Now STC employees can potential transfers the most accurate in- is the presence of individuals who take re- donate to the Valley Scholars via payroll formation possible. Students can be mis- sponsibility for helping students through deductions. The funding is important, advised about their opportunities and the the process. These transfer agents can be says Juan E. Mejia, who currently holds costs and potential benefits, says Dowd. faculty members, counselors, administra- Metke's position, but we also want to tors, or community members. see the retention rates and we want to see MONEY AND MENTORSHIP Shirley Levin, a college admissions them continue to additional degrees. Honors colleges are rather new to com- counselor and president of College Bound munity colleges, and more schools are in Rockville, Md., knows from working TARGETED POPULATIONS developing programs that guide students with many immigrant families that a com- Honors colleges and scholarship programs through the transfer process. In both munity college can be an ideal place for cases, private donations support program promising students. Community college funding and scholarships. Building a diverse pool is an easier, more comfortable transition South Texas College is a prime ex- of students who transfer for the children of many of these families. ample. The school of 17,000 for-credit remains a goal of many But the goal, in terms of the best route to students serves two primarily low- and the future, is the same no matter how they middle-income counties adjacent to the IHE leaders. start off. The goal is the bachelor's degree. border with Mexico. STC has imple- mented a scholarship program to draw in ACCESS FOR ALL can provide valuable pathways. But in talented students and encourage them to Equipped with funds as well as opportuni- today's competitive admissions environ- complete degrees. ties for collaboration with four-year insti- ment, how can administrators ensure that The Valley Scholars program focuses tutions, programs such as Houston Com- low-income and under-represented mi- on financing students' education and pro- munity College's honors college will likely nority students not get left behind? viding them with guidance. Students in help boost transfer rates between two-year Community colleges should moni- the program between 40 and 60 each schools and elite institutions. tor the proportion of their students who year cannot drop a class, withdraw, re- The ball is already rolling: The Jack are transfer ready or close to it and peat courses, or change majors without Kent Cooke Foundation announced in actually make the transition, says Estela approval from the academic excellence March the investment of $27 million for Mara Bensimon, director of the Center advisor or the Valley Scholars coordinator, eight elite four-year institutions to improve for Urban Education at the University of according to Helen Escobar, coordinator access for low-income community col- Southern California. of Public Relations for STC. lege students. That helped USC, for one, Community colleges can also recruit Valley Scholars Coordinator Marie establish a transfer partnership with East people who are dedicated to helping stu- Olivarez takes students on trips to four- Los Angeles Community College and Los year institutions, where they participate in Angeles Trade-Technical College. meetings with admissions representatives, Resources In Maryland, the Maryland Transfer students, and administrators. Valley Schol- Advantage Program is flowing more stu- ars have transferred to 20 different institu- Miami Dade College Honors College: dents from Prince George's Community tions, including Texas A&M University, www.mdc.edu/honorscollege College and Montgomery College both the University of California, Los Angeles, South Texas College Valley Schol- of which serve large numbers of minority and Emerson College Mass. . STC's fac- ars: www.southtexascollege.edu students to the University of Maryland. ulty now includes Valley Scholar graduates /valleyscholars A n d in Virginia, a new program who completed advanced degrees and re- Center for Urban Education at USC: smooths the transfer process for commu- turned to teach at the institution. www.usc.edu/dept/education/CUE nity college students. Funding about $2,000 per student Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: www Watch these efforts, and more, to see comes from community members .jackkentcookefoundation.org how higher education can offer greater ac- and individuals employed by the college. Equity for All project: www.usc.edu cess to promising students from all kinds When the program launched in 1997, /dept/education/CUE/projects of backgrounds. Michael Metke, then vice president for In- 40 | September 2006 universitybusiness.com Cmmnty906.indd 40 8/21/06 3:46:19 PM http://www.mdc.edu/honorscollege http://www.southtexascollege.edu/valleyscholars http://www.usc.edu/dept/education/CUE http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org http://www.usc.edu/dept/education/Cue/projects http://www.usc.edu/dept/education/Cue/projects http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - September 2006

Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Marketing
Human Resources
Money Matters
Community Colleges
Summer Conference Report
Learning After Loss
Not Your Typical Textbook Advice
A Greener Attitude
Mobile Technology: One For All
Lessons in Landlording
Business Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business - September 2006