Texas College Access Network Austin Community College s Highland Business Center

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1 Texas College Access Network Austin Community College s Highland Business Center Adriana Contreras, Ph.D. SAEP Executive Director Rebeca Gonzalez cafécollege Program Manager June 19, 2015 cafecollege.org saedpartnership.org

2 Agenda History of SAEP Programmatic Components The Birth of cafécollege Accomplishments Data Staffing Data Challenges/Lessons Learned Virtual Tour

3 History For more than 25 years, the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) has made college possible for students who take personal responsibility for their own future Under then Mayor Henry Cisneros, leaders from five major groups created the Partnership City of San Antonio Corporate sector Local colleges and universities School districts Communities Organized for Public Service (C.O.P.S.) and Metro Alliance Created to be a sustainable private public initiative

4 Mission Statement We create college opportunities, access, and success for our community. Making our students San Antonio s leaders of tomorrow.

5 Programmatic Components Road to Success Outreach, services to 9-12 graders at 25 High Schools 80% of seniors receive direct services Navigate the college process Advisors serve as adjunct staff Relieve crisis of 450 students to 1 counselor Cafécollege City-wide college access and opportunity center Targets K-12 graders and parents, adult learners, stop out and transfer students, school staff Student focused services and atmosphere Scholarships Seniors at 25 SAEP High Schools 80% average upon HS graduation 95% attendance rate upon HS graduation Demonstrated Financial Need Incentive Scholarships Transfer Scholarships

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7 cafécollege Initiative of Mayor Julián Castro City of San Antonio issued a Request for Proposals in spring of 2010 SAEP submitted a proposal and was awarded the contract did not reinvent the wheel; proposed to provide same services from Road to Success component City provided facility (formerly a training center) and subsidized renovations; cafecollege pays rent to the City of $1/yr cafécollege opened to the public on September 28, 2010

8 Vision Goal of cafécollege is to increase attainment of college degrees, to create a more educated workforce to increase San Antonio s brainpower Offer an accessible and centrallylocated center, which provides an array of support services to achieve the goal of more San Antonians attaining college degrees

9 Aligned with SA2020 By 2020, San Antonio has orchestrated one of the greatest turnarounds in education in the United States: 50% of adults will have a degree. 80% of high school graduates enroll in college.

10 cafécollege Centrally located in downtown San Antonio Operated and managed by the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP); not affiliated with any IHE Student-focused atmosphere: Classroom space Coffee bar Conferencing Offices Free parking Computer Lab On VIA bus route Open study areas Free Wi-Fi

11 Services Cafécollege assists students through one-on-one advising and workshops. Our services include any/everything related to the college access process. Target Audiences: Students from elementary school to high school Adult learners Stop-outs Students pursuing college for the first time Students wishing to change careers First-generation college students

12 Phase 2 August 2011 Accomplishments Added 9,000 square feet Provided space for SAEP administrative & advisor offices Cafécollege now serves as the focal point for college access in city the hub for college access and success trainings, meetings, etc. Through shared space SAEP has fostered collaborative efforts among community based organizations, businesses, and colleges/universities

13 Accomplishments Local collaboration includes: Lumina Foundation Latino Student Success Initiative Diplomás Lead organization for SA CAN Transition Team Destination College City of San Antonio s college week City s first financial aid initiative: Student Aid San Antonio (SASA) Part of Serve SA: Education Call to Service (SA 2020) SAEP remains committed to many more decades of strengthening San Antonio s families and building hope for a better future. Nichole Salzillo Bank of America

14 Numbers FY 1 over 6,100 students (Phase 1 only) FY 2 over 12, 500 students FY 3 over 13,400 students FY 4 over 12,100 students FY 5 over 6,900 students through April (Unduplicated numbers) To date, we have serviced more than 43,500 students! (Several return students from year to year.)

15 Additional data Measure FY FY # of unduplicated HS seniors served 1,874 2,518 # of students assisted with ApplyTexas * 2,902 # assisted with FAFSA/TASFA completion **406 4,170 Website traffic 50,400 94,739 Traffic flow 14,280 32,357 *Not measured in 2010 ** In 2010, measure was # of FAFSA/TASFAs completed

16 Center Staff Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 5 1 full time Program Coordinator 1 part time Program Coordinator (25 hours) 1 full time College Access & Success Advisor 1 full time Intake Specialist 3 part time G Force members 3 graduate interns SAEP R2S staff, when necessary Total Staff Year 1: 3 FT/3 PT 1 Program Manager 6 College Access and Success Advisors (FT) 1 Intake Specialist 1 Data Entry Specialist Graduate interns (2 3 per year) Community volunteers SAEP R2S staff, when necessary Total Staff Year 5: 9 FT

17 Staff Work Schedule SPRING 2015 STAFF WORK SCHEDULE Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 8:00 AM Beca, Beca, Beca, Beca, All Staff 8:30 AM Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, 9:00 AM Mayra, Rebecca Mayra, Rebecca Mayra, Rebecca Mayra, Rebecca 9:30 AM Petra Petra Petra Petra 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 11:00 AM Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, 11:30 AM Micaela Micaela Micaela Micaela 12:00 PM & Olivia & Olivia & Olivia & Olivia 12:30 PM Brent Brent Brent Brent 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:30 PM 8am 9am 11am 12pm 8am 9am 11am 12pm 8am 9am 11am 12pm 8am 9am 11am 12pm 8am 3:00 PM 5pm 6pm 8pm 8pm 5pm 6pm 8pm 8pm 5pm 6pm 8pm 8pm 5pm 6pm 8pm 8pm 5pm 3:30 PM 4:00 PM 4:30 PM 5:00 PM 5:30 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM CLOSED

18 cafécollege Google Calendar 18

19 Registration Pages Google Documents create registration pages that link to cafécollege website Also use Google Docs to upload scholarship applications, monthly calendar, other pertinent files for sharing among staff or with clients

20 Challenges/Lessons Learned

21 Challenge 1: Data Tracking Planned to use scanners and ID cards, but learned they were not ideal for our population. Some students visit only once to get the help they need.

22 Challenge 1: Data Tracking Some come repeatedly for assistance.

23 Challenge 1: Data Tracking

24 Challenge 2: Data Entry Need to report in a timely manner Keeping track of traffic flow and students serviced sign in sheets and member forms Created a system for data collection, labeling Increased traffic created the need for a staff member committed solely to data entry

25 Challenge 3: Marketing & Outreach Branding - identifying cafécollege as only one component of SAEP Traditional methods: movie theater ads, PSA s, commercials, posters, push cards, magnets, pens, t-shirts, etc. Marketing budget has decreased each year Rely on word of mouth e-newsletter (Café Alerts), monthly calendars, high school counselors/advisors, social media

26 Challenge 3: Marketing & Outreach Staff members are responsible for different outreach areas: Colleges & Universities High Schools Middle Schools Elementary Schools Community-based organizations Interns & Volunteers

27 Challenge 4: It s always different. All clients deserve the same quality of service and attention. Customer service goal to service clients effectively and efficiently. We assist a diverse population with navigating the system and understand the process(es). Requires constant training and research, attention to detail, and staying up to date with institutional, federal, and state policies, especially regarding financial aid.

28 Challenge 5: Managing the Space During peak times, challenge to direct students and others who are unfamiliar with the space Accommodating requests for use of classrooms, conference rooms, labs. Making sure students are serviced first. Acquiring proper documentation from large groups sign in and member forms. Setting up classrooms, preparing for large events (press conferences, Student Aid San Antonio, etc.), clean up. Keeping organized on very busy days: Everything is everybody s job.

29 Challenge 6: We don t have all the answers. Although highly trained staff, there are still occasions when students need the expertise of a college admissions counselor, financial aid counselor or an academic advisor. We re not meant to be the end all. We re the link. i.e. We cannot remove a hold from a student s account, but we can tell them the next steps. i.e. We can t change a student s financial aid award package, but we can give them advice, help them find the appropriate forms, etc. If students feel more empowered to take control of their education because we give them the tools and inform them of the processes, then they will be more successful.

30 Challenge 7: Staffing Staff capacity issues: Multiple requests for outreach: College Nights, Financial Aid Nights, College Fairs, etc. Requests for large groups at cafécollege: Staff must present workshops AND be available for advising Leaves little time for professional development/training

31 The Virtual Tour

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33 Classroom 1

34 Computer Lab 1

35 Phase 2 Lobby

36 Classroom 2

37 Classroom 3

38 Thank you! Adriana Contreras, Executive Director Rebeca Gonzalez, Program Manager cafecollege.org saedpartnership.org