OpInform 2013The State University of New York

College Readiness: How Can we Ensure

Students are Prepared?

The State University

of New York

OpInform 2013

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

United States Department of Education( 2010). . A blueprint for reform: The reauthorization of the elementary and secondary education act. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/blueprint.pdf

College Readiness

“ We must ensure that every student graduates from high school well prepared for college and a career.”

-President Obama, 2010

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Today’s Program

College readiness is a hot topic in admissions and counseling. This session will help you to understand the variables a college looks for to determine college readiness. Topics will address strategies for high school course selection, developing financial literacy and assessing career interests.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

The Definition of College Readiness

The point at which a student has mastered the combination of skills, knowledge, and behaviors to fully participate in college level courses (courses at the 100 level or above) to completion.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Preparing for the Pathway

College Readiness is less about applying for college, than it is about helping a student see the pathway between high school, college and career.

High School prepares for college. College is the gateway to a career.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

How do we Measure Readiness? Colleges look at the overall academic record to

determine college readiness for their specific school and for specific majors.

Measurements colleges use are typically class grades, Regents tests, SAT, ACT, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, GED, AP and IB scores, as well as participation in honors courses.

Colleges review admissions applications to determine if a student is ready to succeed at their college.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

What Preparation is Required? Students need strong academic skills in reading,

writing, and mathematics. Students are choosing to forego taking math in

their senior year. This creates a gap in college readiness, and could delay their college graduation.

Research has shown that students often do not realize they have not taken the right courses until theirsenior year.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

What Preparation is Required? Some specific campus examples

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

How Ready are They Today?

About 60% of community college students enroll in at least one developmental education course.

At four-year colleges, about 20% of freshman students enroll in remedial classes.

Q. Do you know how many students in your last graduating class needed pre-college courses?

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Seven Principles for Preparing Students for Postsecondary Study

1. Create and maintain a college-going culture in school. 2. Align the instructional program with college and career

readiness.3. Teach key self-management skills and expect students to

use them. 4. Prepare all students to apply to college.5. Require assignments that approximate college

expectations.6. Make the senior year the most challenging. 7. Build partnerships with and connections to postsecondary

education.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Strengthening Academic Performance

Emphasize a rigorous high school core curriculum, both to students and parents.

Partner with community colleges that offer traditional college placement tests to assess students’ reading, writing, and math skills for college level placement prior to senior year.

Partner with area colleges to align high school and college curriculum, for a seamless transition.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Strengthening Academic Performance

Offer students the opportunity to participate in college courses through dual credit programs.

Encourage students to take advantage of AP, IB and CLEP testing to receive college credit.

Emphasize the need for students to take math in their senior year.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

But College Readiness is more than the 3 R’s….

Financial barriers represent the single greatest obstacle to enrolling and persisting in college for moderate- and low-income college students.

It is misleading to believe that financial barriers are limited to lack of financial aid.

Students need to have an understanding of finances, budgets and determining the real cost of college.

Retrieved from http://www.acenet.edu/the-presidency/columns-and-features/Pages/America%E2%80%99s-Community-Colleges-The-Key-to-the-College-Completion-Challenge.aspx

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Strengthening Financial Literacy

Explain the total cost of attending college by using net price calculators – www.suny.edu/howmuch.

Share links for scholarships offered by individual colleges – www.suny.edu/scholarships.

Encourage parents to investigate company-sponsored tuition plans.

Emphasize the need for students, parents and extended family to start saving money toward college.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Strengthening Financial Literacy

Encourage students to attend local financial aid workshops as well as SUNY Statewide Student Financial Aid Days on January 25 and February 22, 2014.

Help students compare costs using the federal financial aid shopping sheet.

Increase students’ overall financial literacy. Watch for SUNY Smart Track’s launch of literacy tools.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

College Readiness is More Than the 3 R’s“Eighty percent of college-bound students have yet to choose a major, according to Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com. But they are still expected to pick schools, apply to and start degree programs without knowing where they want to end up. It is little wonder 50 percent of those who do declare a major, change majors — with many doing so two and three times during their college years...”

- Gayle Ronan

Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10154383/ns/business-personal_finance/t/college-freshmen-face-major-dilemma/#.UgvOmaz4L14

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Determining a Major

Encourage and promote the High School College and Career Center to both students and parents/caregivers.

Require students to complete an interest and ability assessment and review the results with a School Counselor or Career Counselor.

Highlight local and regional job opportunities by bringing in speakers.

Encourage and promote volunteer opportunities.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

Strategies for Determining a Major

Job Shadowing – Provide an outline to students on how to set up a Job Shadow. Provide extra credit upon completion.

Promote to students the research opportunities in areas that seem interesting.

Encourage students to talk to people that they know about their careers and how they got there.

OpInform 2013The State University of New York

In Conclusion Create a system in your school to promote college

readiness. Follow up with your graduates yearly. Cheer them

on to the finish line. Partner with local colleges. We are in this together!

Let’s take the last part of our presentation today to share some examples of College Readiness initiatives in your district, and/or partnerships with area colleges.