CREATING A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE

Transcription

1 CREATING A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE Nw that students have cmpleted their applicatins and FAFSA, it is time t keep enthusiasm high in the days and weeks leading up t Cllege Decisin Day. Students wh have expectatins frm their parents, schl, and cmmunity that cllege is the next step after high schl see cllege as the nrm. Hwever, the idea that cllege is the next step after high schl may seem unrealistic fr thse students wh are frm ne r mre f the fllwing grups: lw achievers, middle t lw-incme levels, underrepresented minrities, disabled yuth, yuth in fster care, and families where n ne has attended cllege befre. 1 The fllwing resurces are ffered t help yur schl find ways t build a cllege-ging culture in yur schl and cmmunity

2 What is a cllege-ging culture? Cllege Talk engaging everyne, at all times, in a variety f places, in talk abut cllege ensures that n matter where students turn r wh they are talking t, cllege is being discussed and the questin f where are yu ging t cllege? is asked by all t all. Clear Expectatins cmmunicating and reinfrcing the belief that all students can g t cllege and can take the steps t fficially enrll in a cllege. Infrmatin and Resurces cnnecting students t relevant and necessary infrmatin abut hw t take the steps t fficially enrll in cllege, and what t d if the student hasn t yet applied t cllege r been admitted. Cmprehensive Cunseling Mdel helping students and families with nt nly the steps invlved in preparing fr and enrlling in cllege, but als in dealing with the related stress f the cllege preparatin, applicatin and enrllment prcesses. Testing and Curriculum supprting students thrugh the cllege test preparatin and exam prcess, what t expect with cllege placements exams, and hw perfrmance n these tests may impact a student s pstsecndary jurney. Faculty Invlvement engaging educatrs bth within and utside f the classrm t create a cllege-ging culture amng students. Tap int the schl s teachers t be part f the Decisin Day celebratin bth inside and utside the classrm. Family Invlvement engaging family members t increase the chances f student success in the cllege preparatin, applicatin and enrllment prcess. Cllege Partnerships develping relatinships between schls and pstsecndary institutins t supprt the fficial enrllment prcess and transitin t cllege. Articulatin weaving in cllege access thrughut a student s life, starting at the earliest pssible pint and supprting the student all the way thrugh high schl graduatin (and beynd)! Dn t frget t engage yur middle schl students and families in Cllege Decisin Day activities t get them prepared early fr what it takes t fficially enrll in cllege. 2

3 Ask Me Abut It! Activity Purpse T identify staff members by their institutins f higher educatin. T engage students in dialgue with faculty and staff members regarding cllege access, cllege preparatin, applicatin, enrllment, etc. Activities Have the entire faculty and staff display an 8 ½ x 11 pster that lists alma maters (clleges and/r universities where they cmpleted degrees). Pst cllege signs and display them all year. Create a scavenger hunt during a specific time frame (i.e., during hmerm) and allw students t cmplete the challenges fr as many different schls as they can find, the schl farthest away, the schl with the mst alumni, etc. Award small prizes. Preparatin a sample sign like the ne included in this Handbk t all faculty and staff and designate a psting date. Scavenger hunt: prvide cpies t every hme rm. Bing: prvide cpies t every hme rm. 3

4 (Cllege/University Name) (TEACHER/STAFF MEMBER S NAME) 4

5 Cllege BINGO Activity Activity fr 9 th -11 th grade. Cmplete yur BINGO card by lcating teachers r ther schl staff members that experienced the fllwing cllege scenaris r can answer yes t the fllwing questins. Be sure t get the individual t sign in the space. Yu can nly use each persn fr ne space. B I N G O Attended a 4- Year Cllege Lived at Hme While Attending Cllege Wrked Full- Time While Attending Cllege Is Still Clse Friends with His/Her Cllege Rmmate Studied Abrad While in Cllege Attended a Cllege in Flrida Went t Cllege n a Schlarship Changed Majrs 2 r Mre Times Attended a 2- Year Cllege Majred in Math Majred in Science Attended an Outf-State Cllege FREE SPACE Wrked fr the Schl Newspaper, TV Statin, r Radi Statin in Cllege Met His/Her Partner in Cllege Lived n Campus Is Currently Enrlled in a Cllege Prgram r Curse Had a Mentr r Other Clse Advisr in Cllege Was President r Leader f a Schl Club Has Cmpleted Graduate Schl Attended 2 r Mre Clleges Wishes They Were Still in Cllege Ate Ramen Ndles Several Times a Week While in Cllege Played Sprts in Cllege Tk Out Student Lans t Pay fr Cllege 5

6 Cllege Alumni Family Night - Activity Purpse T familiarize families and students with cmmunity and fur-year public and private clleges and universities T prvide netwrking pprtunities Activities Have staff and parents represent the clleges and universities. Ask parents and staff t wear cllege and university shirts and hats and display flags r ther items f interest t represent their institutins f higher educatin. Invite cllege admissin ffices t send materials fr display r t send admissin staff t attend. Preparatin Schedule an evening, pssibly in cnjunctin with a PTSA meeting. Reserve a space and make a prmtin plan. Ask parents and the PTSA fficers t prvide refreshments and cllege paraphernalia dr prizes. Invite parents and staff t represent clleges and universities fr yur student bdy. Invite admissin cunselrs frm nearby clleges t set up infrmatin tables. Create sign-in sheets fr each cllege/university represented t recrd attendance and cllect cmments. Create a Gd Questins t Ask sheet fr students t use as they visit alumni and cllect infrmatin n their selected schls f interest This guide was created based n a tlkit riginally prduced by the Michigan Cllege Access Netwrk (MCAN). A special thanks t MCAN fr permissin t adapt this guide t Flrida. The Flrida Cllege Access Netwrk (FCAN) serves as the statewide crdinatr fr Flrida Cllege Decisin Day, prviding hw-t materials and supprt. FCAN s missin is t create and strengthen a statewide netwrk that catalyzes and supprts cmmunities t imprve cllege & career preparatin, access, and cmpletin fr all students. Our Big Gal is t increase the prprtin f wrking-age adults in Flrida wh hld a highquality pstsecndary degree r credential t 60% by the year