# Presentation: 821976

## Sharing the Aid Awareness Challenge: How to Reach Diverse Groups in Urban and Rural Settings 

- Jane Collins
- Cissy VanSickle

***Session 23***

## Session Summary

- Providing college _access_ and college _awareness_ programs present challenges whether they are in highly populated and diverse urban settings or in sparsely populated rural areas.
- What are those challenges common to both?
- What challenges are unique?
- What strategies are used to overcome these?

## What is College Access? 

- Programs and services designed to  open the doors
- to postsecondary education by providing:
- College, career and financial aid information
- College visits
- College and career guidance
- Application assistance
- Tutoring
- Test preparation courses
- Last dollar scholarships
- Parent awareness activities and more

## Why College Access?

- College-going rates among low-income, minority students is still far below an acceptable level.
- Good middle-class jobs increasingly require the additional skills gained through higher education.
- Unemployment rates for high school grads is four times that of college grads.
- Our country’s future depends on an educated workforce.

## College Access Needs: Urban Students

- Indicators of need:
- More than 63% of DC public school students come from families with total incomes less than $50,000
- More than 95% 0f DC public school graduates are members of under-represented minority groups
- In some sections of the city, less than 12% of adults have completed a four-year college degree

## Challenges for Urban Families

- Lack of knowledge about college planning processes and resources
- Misinformation about college costs
- Unfamiliarity with financial aid programs
- Limited access to college preparation programs and resources
- High case loads for school-based student services staff

## Low Level of Academic Achievement

- Low scores on standardized tests
- Fewer course offerings for AP classes and challenging electives
- Higher drop-out rates

## Conflicting Opportunities for Students

- Jobs (may be expected to contribute to family resources)
- Family responsibilities
- Gangs, parenthood, etc.
- Multiple programs competing for same students

## Low Levels of Parental Involvement

- Parental involvement decreases as child ages
- Limited English proficiency
- Lack of familiarity with college planning and need for family support
- Long work hours – often in multiple jobs
- Lack of knowledge of resources and support systems

## High Numbers of Out-of-School Youth and Adult Learners

- Need for additional academic and financial resources to meet specific needs
- Family/work responsibilities conflict with school
- Concerns about college costs vs. family living expenses

## Other Issues

- Immigration and residency issues
- Non-traditional families (broad range of official and unofficial guardianships, family situations)
- Conflicting family values – work vs. education

## Successful Strategies

- Community-based College Resource Centers
- Open to everyone
- Walk-in, ‘as needed’
- Advising and application assistance are key services
- Minimal registration, participation requirements

## Successful Strategies

- Why do community-based centers work?
- Welcoming environment for students of all ages
- Focus is on providing information – helping families understand and successfully navigate the processes
- Housed within the communities they serve

## Postsecondary Encouragement Programs

**Financially Fit for College**
- Combines financial literacy with college planning
- Focuses on middle school families
- Expands view of college as a family investment
- Helps families develop individual plans and strategies for college and introduces them to other resources who can assist with specific issues

## Postsecondary Encouragement Programs

- Kids2College
- Pairs middle schools with colleges
- Encourages interaction between current college student and middle school students
- Emphasizes academic skills
- Provides follow-up activities through high school
- Stresses community involvement

## Successful Strategies from Session Participants

- Programs, services that have been successful in your area?
- Promotional, recruitment ideas that have been effective in encouraging families to participate?
- Feedback from families that can inform others about successful activities?

## College Access Issues: Rural Students

- Family incomes low statistics (e.g. Western MD income)
- Lack of opportunity-lack of motivation
- Resources are limited to the dedicated few
- Overwhelmed counselors
- Travel distances

-   Role models
-   Reduction in program of interest
-   Other responsibilities stats on births + underage

## Rural Families 

- College costs~average income
- Overwhelmed with the process
- Expectation to help
- Student may be expected to contribute to family income
- Culture shock

## Programs 

- GEAR-UP follows 2001 6th grade cohort
- Early Intervention – community college programs
- Career and Me programs
- Career Fair sessions
- High School Nights/Days
- Open Houses

## Employment and Family IncomeHousehold Median Income Rank 2000

| County | 1998
  | 1997
 | 1996
 | 1995
 | 1994
 | 1993
  | 1992
 | 1991
 | 1990 | 2000
 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 33.4 |
| Garrett | 23
 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22
 | 22
 | 23 | 33.5 |
| Average | 23.5 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23.5 | 33.45 |

## Employment and Family Income Government Payment as % PersonalIncome 2000

| County | Ranking | % of Income |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 17 | 30.0% |
| Garrett  | 20 | 23.8% |
| Average | 18.5 | 26.9% |

## Education Outcomes % of Population with High School Diploma 2000

| County | Ranking | % of Pop 2000 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 17 | 71.0% |
| Garrett | 20 | 68.4% |
| Average |  |  |

## Education Outcomes % of Population with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

| County | 2000
 Ranking | % of Persons | 1990
 Ranking | % of Persons | 1980 
Ranking | % of Persons | 1970
Ranking | % of Persons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany |  |  | 19 | 11.4% | 19 | 9.30% | 15 | 6.70% |
| Garrett |  |  | 24 | 9.5% | 24 | 7.9% | 23 | 3.90% |
| Average |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Employment and Family Income Unemployment Rank by County 1990-1997

| County | 1990
  | 1991
 | 1992
 | 1993
 | 1994
 | 1995
  | 1996
 | 1997
 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Garrett | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Average | 3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 2.5 |

## Public Health – Children Under 18 Living in Poverty

| County | Ranking | % in Poverty Income |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 3 | 25.5% |
| Garrett | 5 | 22.5% |
| Average | 4 | 24.0% |

## Public Health % of Births to Mothers Under 20

| County | Ranking | % in Poverty Income |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 5 | 15.1% |
| Garrett | 11 | 11.5% |
| Average | 8 | 13.3% |

## Public Health of Population Enrolled in Medicaid, 1996

| County | Ranking | % in Poverty Income |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 2 | 25.5% |
| Garrett | 2 | 22.5% |
| Average | 2 | 24% |

## Population Trends – % Change in Population 90-97

| County | Ranking | % in Poverty Income |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allegany | 19 | 4.95% |
| Garrett | 23 | 13.5% |
| Average | 21 | 9.2% |

## Statistical Resources

- _[http://](http://researchtools.choosemaryland.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3)__[researchtools](http://researchtools.choosemaryland.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3)__[.](http://researchtools.choosemaryland.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3)__[choosemaryland](http://researchtools.choosemaryland.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3)__[.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3](http://researchtools.choosemaryland.org/Comparison/index.asp?FA=3)_

## Technical Assistance

**Jane Collins**
- Phone: (202) 393-1100, ext. 11
- Email:jcollins@collegeinfo.org

**Cissy VanSickle**
-     Phone: (202) 468-1160, ext 233
-      Email: Cvansickle@ctsmd.com

- We appreciate your feedback and comments.  We can be reached: