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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neily Jennings
Admission Control
512-452-4800
03/30/2006
ADMISSION CONTROL ANNOUNCES NEW COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM
College Forward partnership for higher education
AUSTIN, TX — Admission Control, a non-profit college access program based in Austin, announced a partnership with Central Texas universities on March 30. The new College Forward partnership will offer free college counseling programming to low-income students in several area high schools.
“We are combining our proven curriculum with a new, cost-effective business model that is truly collaborative,” said Lisa Fielder, Executive Director of Admission Control. Her organization will serve as the lead agency in the partnership.
Only 16% of economically-disadvantaged graduates from Texas high schools have a chance to attend college each year, according to the Education Commission of the States. Yet 100% of Admission Control students are accepted into colleges, and 81% start at four-year institutions. The College Forward partnership will enable more students to participate in this program.
St. Edward’s University and Southwestern University plan to join College Forward. Other potential partners include Texas State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Huston-Tillotson University.
Students from partner universities, working as AmeriCorps members or work-study students, will lead after-school college prep classes. Each participant and his or her family will receive over 400 hours of instruction during the last two years of high school. Preparation for standardized tests such as the SAT, assistance with college and financial aid applications, and overnight college visits are key features of the program.
The development of College Forward is partially funded by a $98,883 grant from the TG Public Benefit Grant Program, an initiative of the non-profit Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation. TG awarded more than $1.8 million to 20 institutions and non-profit organizations in January 2006 to further student success in preparing for and earning college degrees.
Admission Control first launched its program at high schools in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District in February 2004. “Hays CISD works diligently to expand college access,” said Fielder. “They care enough to actively seek extra support for students and families, they’re innovators, and they have been excellent mentors for us.”
“With my financial status,” said former Hays student Gabriel Carmona, now a college freshman, “I never would have thought I could come to college. Getting to know [Admission Control] has really opened my eyes.”
Admission Control is a non-profit educational organization that provides college-preparatory and college retention services to motivated, low-income students, in order to facilitate their transition to college and make the process exciting and rewarding. They believe that access to higher education is the right of every young Texan.
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