LearnmoreMN Blog

Minnesota College Knowledge Month provides support to increase college access

By Chris Franken, September guest blogger

College Knowledge Month — a statewide effort to help high school seniors explore, plan and apply for college will occur during the month of October. For the past three years, I have had the opportunity to represent the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC) on the MN College Knowledge Month (CKM) Steering Team. The steering team is comprised of individuals who represent a broad network of Minnesota educational institutions, agencies, organizations and non-profits. First launched in 2011, the initiative evolved in 2012 to include 106 registered high school sites and nearly 200 volunteers impacting approximately 16,000 students.

There are 109 sites registered to participate in CKM events and activities for fall 2013. CKM steering team members helped craft a calendar of exploration, planning and application resources to benefit students throughout the month. Application fees and fee waiver information for Minnesota colleges and universities have also been compiled.

College Knowledge Month aims to:

• Help schools establish and/or build upon a culture of college-readiness.
• Communicate to all students the importance of preparing for and applying to college.
• Engage and inform underrepresented students (first-generation college students, students of color, and low-income students) about postsecondary opportunities, culminating in the application process.
• Provide a statewide message and excitement about exploring and planning for college.
• Increase the number of Minnesota seniors who apply to college.

A month-long effort will allow students to do more than just submit an application. Applying is only one step of the college application process — the result of thoughtful exploration and planning. Within this expanded time frame, students can participate in the application process at their own pace — and find the best college fit for them. Counselors and high school staff will have more time to draft recommendations, secure transcripts and/or application fee waivers and support underrepresented students. Schools can build upon or establish a college-going culture by utilizing the college exploration activities that already take place in the fall of the academic year. October is a natural time for this to occur, since there are already college exploration opportunities taking place across the state (i.e. NACAC National College Fair, local MACAC college fairs, early application deadlines, college visits).

The impetus for improving college access in Minnesota by launching a college application initiative is an effort to address challenges faced by our state. Changing demographics suggest a majority of projected growth among Latino and African-American students. These same students are often first-generation and may come from lower-income families. Rising college costs and financial aid issues, as well as perceptions of students themselves all play a role in creating barriers. Although there is likely no aspiration gap among underrepresented students, without role models or supportive adults to help guide them, many of these students may feel as if college is not a realistic or attainable goal.

College matters. It matters to our nation, our state, and our communities. And, it matters to our students. Through MN College Knowledge Month, representatives from institutions, agencies and organizations will collaborate at a very local level in an effort to remove barriers and increase access — because college matters.

The achievement gap: not someone else's problem

By Mike Ciresi, March guest blogger

The achievement gap that exists between our K-12 students of color and white students will have profound effects on higher education in the state in the coming years and, therefore, on our economy unless we work diligently to close the gap. If we do that, we will help ensure that our students are ready for college and the workforce of the 21^st century.

In a state that boasts the highest ACT scores in the nation, 40 percent of our high school graduates entering public colleges and universities require some type of developmental course in math or English or science. Many are students of color. The achievement gap in K-12 has led to what many experts call a college-readiness gap.

Our colleges and universities have to spend millions of dollars on these courses.

Now consider that by 2018, 70% of the jobs in Minnesota will require some post-secondary education. There will be fewer jobs for people without a high school diploma and those jobs won’t pay enough to support a family. Our businesses will need highly trained and highly skilled workers to compete nationally and globally.

On an individual level, a college graduate earns $650,000 more over a 40-year career than a high school grad, according to the Pew Research Center.

Add to that the changing demographics of the state. For example, Minneapolis is now 40% people of color. In a few decades, the state’s largest city will be majority people of color. If the achievement gap persists, we will as a community leave behind a generation of young people and we will shortchange what our businesses need to grow and prosper in a highly competitive world.

But if we begin to close the achievement gap and graduate students of color at the same rate as white students (in Minneapolis, for example, fewer than half the students of color graduate on time), we can add $1.3 billion annually to our state’s economy by 2020. And better educated residents will mean less reliance on social programs, lower crime rates, higher rates of voting and volunteering, and more students prepared for college and high-skilled jobs.

We should applaud efforts such as the recently announced GradMinnesota initiative, co-chaired by Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon and Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. The initiative seeks to increase the current high school graduation rate in Minnesota from 77 to 90% by 2020.

As I mentioned in my post earlier this month, the Minneapolis Foundation, with a host of community partners, has launched “RESET Education,” a public awareness campaign aimed at closing the achievement gap. It emphasizes five successful strategies that are working effectively in some Minneapolis district and public charter schools and in schools around the country. RESET stands for: Real-time use of data; Expectation not Excuses; Strong Leadership; and Effective Teaching and Time on Task. Business leaders, educators and parents can get involved and help make a difference. Many colleges are already working closely with local high schools and middle schools and their students.

The achievement gap is not someone else’s problem. It is our problem. And we must solve it sooner, not later, for the sake of our K-12 students, who are our future college students and high-skilled workers. Find out more about RESET Education and what you can do to make a difference.

Let’s give first-generation students a jumpstart on college

By Awo Ahmed, November guest blogger

We often hear in the news about first-generation, low-income students. The context of these discussions is always about American-born students. Rarely do we talk about immigrant students and the difficulties they face. In both cases, students don’t have a parent who attended or graduated from college to guide them through the challenges and steps necessary to get accepted to an accredited institution of higher education.

We need to develop strategies for working with low-income, first generation students. These strategies can come in many forms. The earlier students are exposed to the idea or connection between attending colleges and the possible careers they can pursue, the more engaged and active students will be.

The demographics of our state are changing drastically; first-generation Minnesotans will have a vital role to play as our population dynamics change. Unfortunately, research shows that low-income and first-generation students are less likely to complete college. We need to increase the retention rate for low-income, first generation students.

After I graduated from college, I joined College Possible as an AmeriCorps college coach for low-income, first-generation and immigrant students. One of the challenges these students face when they attend college is financial struggles. Low-income, first generation and immigrant students often work outside the campus and feel disconnected. If financial struggles overwhelm them, the student will more likely choose his/her job over their college education because they have a stronger connection with their job.

Colleges need to develop strategies to keep these students more engaged in campus activities. Finding a job on campus can help the student stay connected. Awarding institutional scholarships based on need can reduce the financial worries. As a college coach, I acted as a mentor to about 82 students and they benefited greatly. They would come and talk about their problems in class or in their family life and I would direct them to campus resources and staff and faculty who could help.

Low-income, first-generation students don’t seek support when they need it most. A lot of colleges have the TRiO program, where students meet with an academic adviser to talk about classes, career plans and so much more. This is a vibrant resource which promotes both academic success and campus engagement.

These student support services can help the student stay connected and increase student graduation rates across the board. When parents can’t help their child solve problems with school, students need guidance from their school in order to succeed. Colleges also need to get families involved early, discussing financial aid, the application process, scholarships and possible careers their child can pursue. This will enable families to get a basic understanding of how the system works and ways they can help motivate their child in the process.

Institutions of higher education also need to show their presence in high school career and college fairs. They can encourage the students to take AP classes, provide after school information nights for students and families, and arrange campus visits with high school counselors.

Getting the message out early and supporting them when they get to college — will give these students a glimpse of hope.

Vanishing Graduates & Minnesota's Future

Don't miss "Vanishing Graduates & Minnesota's Future," a public TV show airing on TPT-Channel 17 this Sunday, April 13 at 7 p.m. This thought-provoking documentary examines why a shrinking number of Minnesota's students will be graduating from college and what that means for our economy. Education experts, business leaders and students share their experiences and discuss the state's education challenges. They highlight the need to do a better job of helping more students succeed in school — and how everyone can play a part.

Find out more about the show and view clips. The whole program will be available for viewing next week sometime. TPT will air it again on May 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Check it out and tell your friends and family about it!