Valley Outreach Center

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Valley Outreach Center
Go Centers
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College For Texans Campaign

• Education Go Get It.
• Not an easy task. Reality for hundreds of
  thousands of Texas students is that higher
  education seems out of reach. (Significant
  concern for the state of Texas).
• In 2001, Texas Legislature mandated the creation
  of the College for Texans campaign through Senate
  Bill 573.
• Working to close the gaps by 2015.
• Aims to undo these trends and has gone beyond
  media outreach to grassroots efforts that enhance
  programmatic ties between students, their
  parents, and community partners who can offer
  hands-on support.

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Collegiate G-Force Mentorship Program

• 45 Members
• Educational Talent Search - 10
• Financial Aid 5
• Texas Prep 2
• Camp 3
• Valley Outreach Center 25
• Mother Daughter Program 2
• Go Center -23

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Collegiate G-Force Training

• 8-hour training
• Go Centers
• Job description
• Different counselor updates
• ACT preparation
• SAT training
• Financial Aid updates
• Apply Texas

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Collegiate G-Force Mentors

• A Collegiate G-Force mentor is the key element of
  a Go Center.
• Composed of university students
• Promote college awareness
• ASSIST, MENTOR and PREPARE K-12 students to
  pursue higher education.

• Assistance Offered
• Train high school and middle school G-Force
  members
• How to recruit other students, pass on the
  college-pursuing message
• Assist in the launching and running of new Go
  Centers
• Participate in career and financial-aid fairs
• Present valuable, up-to-date sources of
  information

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Who runs the Go Centers?

• Collegiate G-Force Mentors
• High School G-Force Members
• Go Center Sponsor

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Go Center Services

• Assistance/Advisement
• Collegiate G-Force Mentors
• High School G-Force Members

• Resources
• University Brochures
• College Catalogs
• Financial aid information
• Posters promoting higher education
• College posters and pennants
• Scholarship information
• Resources to
• help guide students in choosing the right college
  
• help students find their interests when choosing
  a major

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Where are they located?

• 2007-2008 High Schools 27 Total

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Cont..

• 2007-2008 Middle Schools 6 Total

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UTPA Valley Outreach Center Home to a Community
Go Center

• Valley Outreach Center Features
• 26 Computer Stations
• Equipped w/internet and printer access, Microsoft
  Office
• Collegiate G-Force readily available
• College resource center
• Classroom

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Wait there's More!!!
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A Mobile Go Center?

• YES!!! We have a Mobile Go Center that helps the
  Community find Higher Education Opportunities.
• Purpose
• To provide college-going resources to individuals
  and their families
• Increase the number of students enrolled and
  succeeding in higher education programs in Texas.
  
• It is an extension of the College for Texans
  Campaigns broad efforts to achieve the
  participation and success goals of Closing the
  Gaps by 2015.

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Mobile Go Center Services

• Career Cruising
• Students will focus on career exploration to help
  them determine where they want to attend college.
• EXPLORE career options by completing career
  interest surveys
• RESEARCH colleges and training opportunities
• LEARN how to prepare for college during high
  school years
• FAFSA
• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is
  offered to all students who are pursuing higher
  education.
• GAIN awareness of different types of financial
  aid that is available
• TOPCAT
• Students will be able to get ready for life
  after high school.
• PREPARE for SAT/ACT tests
• RESEARCH scholarships
• APPLY for specific colleges and trainings
• Community Events
• In some cities, a Mobile Go center will be able
  to travel to Festivals, colonias and community
  events.
• PROVIDE students and their families the
  opportunity to gain information on preparing for
  and succeeding in college

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Collegiate G-Force Mentoring

• CGF are assigned to attend Mobile Go Center
  events to mentor students, parents and community
  participants.
• Services Offered
• Offer assistance in filling out college and
  financial aid applications
• Prepare students through SAT/ACT online prep test
• Guide students in choosing career options
• Promote college awareness to festival, sporting
  and community functions.
• Assist in planning educational events
• Assist in documenting events

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Mother Daughter Program

• Mothers are

• Mission

• Focus of programs is based on improving the
  mother/daughter relationship, personal growth,
  cultural awareness, community service, academic
  enhancement, and leadership skills.

• actively involved in the educational process
• better informed and able to assist their
  daughter in making decisions that will maximize
  future career and academic opportunities

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Eligibility Criteria

• 7th and 8th grade young women from participating
  middle schools 16 Total
• Donna ISD A.P. Solis, D. M. Sauceda, Veterans
• Edcouch-Elsa ISD Carlos Truan Jr. High
• La Joya ISD Ann W. Richards, Cesar Chavez, Dr.
  Javier Saenz, Irene M. Garcia, Memorial, Lorenzo
  De Zavala
• Lasara ISD Lasara Elementary
• PSJA ISD Austin, Alamo, San Juan, Liberty
• Santa Rosa ISD Jo Nelson

• Good academic standing
• Be a college bound student
• Attend monthly evening and school-based sessions
• Attend quarterly program-wide events

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Services Provided

• Academic Enrichment
• Personal Growth
• Career Exploration
• Social Development
• Cultural Awareness
• Community Outreach

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Collegiate G-Force Mentoring

• CGF are assigned schools to mentor the Mother
  Daughter Program participants.
• Participants are provided with
• soft skills that will help them be successful in
  college
• how to handle stress, good study, communication
  and leadership skills
• sessions where information on such topics is
  provided
• encouragement to run their middle school Go
  Center

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• Any Questions or Comments?