Increasing the Chances of Reaching Postsecondary Education

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Increasing the Chances of Reaching
Postsecondary Education
A Rural Community College Initiative North
Florida Community College Project
Linking K-12 and Community College Interventions
Mr. Morris Steen, President, North Florida
Community College Mr. Clyde Sperring, Human
Resources, Suwannee County School District, Live
Oak, Florida Dr. Theophilos Mantzanas, Community
Initiatives Coordinator, North Florida Community
College
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Barriers to Post-Secondary Educational Access

• Inequality of neighborhood resources
• Inequalities in K-12 schools
• Quality of instructional offerings
• Quality of teachers
• Counseling
• Low expectations and aspirations
• Lack of peer support

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Barriers to Post-Secondary Educational Access

• Inequalities in familial cultural and social
  capital
• Lack of knowledge to promote academic preparation
  and achievement
• Lack of knowledge of college processes of
  application and admission
• Lack of knowledge of financial costs
• Lack of knowledge of available financial resource
  options

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Early Intervention as a Response

• Given the significant barriers to college and the
  declining numbers of underrepresented students
  attending college
• Early Intervention Programs at K-12 level linking
  the school districts and programs at the
  community college can produce Ameliorating
  Strategies

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Key Intervention Strategies in K-12 and College

• Student-Centered Programs
• Strengths and weaknesses for the Project
• School-Centered Programs
• Strength and weaknesses for the Project

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Meeting Common Goals

• Linking K-12 programs in Suwannee County School
  District with programs at North Florida Community
  College
• Strategies, action plans, and timelines

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Suwannee County School DistrictK-12 Level
Intervention Strategies

• Six Core Strategies
• After-School programs
• Access to rigorous curriculum
• Academic enrichment programs
• Counseling focused on college
• Cohort building
• Parent (and student) workshops for information

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Suwannee County School District K-12 Level
Interventions

• Ameliorating Strategies
• After-school programs
• Emphasis on teacher certification and college
  level curriculum
• High achieving peer groups, special programs with
  NFCC to create cohorts
• Workshops for parents on financial aid and
  scholarships workshops on postsecondary options
  role of parents in academic preparation

• Perceived Deficit
• Neighborhood resources
• Unequal schools
• Lack of peer support
• Unequal family resources

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NFCCCollege Level Intervention Strategies

• Five Core Strategies
• Mentoring
• Academic support
• Psychosocial support
• Professional opportunities
• Financial aid

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NFCC (College-Level) Interventions

• Ameliorating Strategies
• Summer bridge program, developmental courses,
  tutors, study skills workshops, learning
  communities
• Counseling, peer study/social groups, mentors
• Service learning, faculty sponsors, research
  opportunities
• Work-study opportunities, scholarships and grants

• Perceived Deficit
• Academic Weakness
• Self-confidence, motivation
• Career knowledge
• Financial resources

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Effectiveness of K-12 and College Level
Interventions

• K-12 Suwannee County School District
  Interventions
• College North Florida Community College
  Interventions

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Q A

• Point of Contact
• Dr. Theophilos Mantzanas
• North Florida Community College
• RCCI Team Leader
• mantzanast_at_nfcc.edu
• 850.973.1304