This highly interactive workshop will focus on the collaboration between a community-based organization and higher education institutions. It will concentrate on how the College Success Foundation – D.C. is bridging the pipeline from their HERO (Higher Education Readiness Opportunity) program for young men into the Achievers Scholarship Program, and how it strategically builds relationships to strengthen programs and the success of underrepresented students in college. Workshop participants will learn best practices for fostering and sustaining effective collaborations to better support underrepresented minority and first generation students, and will walk away with tangible information to apply to their organizations. The workshop will also explore the importance of establishing relations with all involved. Participants will share valuable tips around goal setting, effective communication, and developing creative, non-traditional strategic efforts to reach first generation underrepresented students.

1. Moving Beyond Access:
Exploring a Continuum of Collaboration
and Care to Promote College Success of
Underrepresented Students

2. WHO ARE WE?
 The College Success Foundation
(CSF) has over 10 years of proven
experience, inspiring underserved,
low-income students to finish high
school, while providing the unique
integrated system of supports and
scholarships they need to graduate
college and succeed in life.

3. 5 Components of College Success
Early
College
Readiness
Programs
College
Alumni Advising &
Services Mentoring
Programs
Scholarship
Mentoring and College
Programs

4. Who Are Our Students?
 Mostly first-generation to college
students
 96% qualify for free or reduced
lunch
 99% African-American
 Average GPA 2.6
 Many do not live with a biological
parent
 Many are significantly
underprepared for college level
work

5. HERO Achievers
Program Program
 Starts in middle school and continues
 Recruits students in their junior
through 12th grade year
 Focus on drop out prevention &  Low income, high potential youth
assisting young men achieve their full
potential
 Selected using non-cognitive
factors (William Sedlacek)
 Increase black men graduating from
college  Students get up to $50,000
 6 week summer program component  4 week summer experience
 80% receive the Achievers scholarship  “one stop shop”: college choice,
application, financial aid, final
selection, send them on their way
 Increase college readiness and while holding their hand
awareness

6. What’s Our Impact?
• HS Graduation Rate:
HERO 95%
Achievers 99%
•80% of Achievers enroll in college
immediately graduating from high
school
• 80% retention rate from 1st to 2nd
year of college
•68% who initially enroll in a 4 year
college graduate
•100% have 2 or more mentors for
duration of program

7. Four-Year On-time High School
Graduation Rates
CSF Achievers Scholars High
99%
School Graduation Rate
National High School Graduation
51%
Rate (African-American)
National High School Graduation
Rate (general student 69%
population)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Source: Editorial Projects in Education (2009). Education Week, Diplomas Count
2009 .

8. College Completion Rates for Bachelor’s Degree
Seeking Students (graduation within six years)
National College Completion Rate
61%
(general population)
National College Completion Rate
39%
(African-American)
National College Completion Rate
49%
(low-income students)
CSF Achievers Scholars College
68%
Completion Rate
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Source: Knapp, et al (2010). 2008 completion rate for first-time, full-time students within
six years.
NCES (2010). BPS. Six-year rate for students seeking bachelor’s degrees.

9. How Do We Do It?
Culture
 100% Commitment
 100% Cooperation
 Call & Response
 Brother Sister Keeper
 Unconditional Love
 Unconditional Support
 Unconditional
Acceptance
 Bridge Builders

10. How Do We Do It?
Culture
All of our participants get T-shirts,
hats, pens, jackets, backpacks,
etc.
Our motto is,
"If we can put our logo
on it…”

11. How Do We Do It?
Peer-to-Peer Support and
Mentoring
 High School level
 College level
 High School/College
level

12. Who is our Partner?
Colleges & Universities
 Trinity Washington
University
 Gallaudet University
 McDaniel College
 PENN STATE
ALTOONA

13. Collaboration: Finding What You Each Need
CSF –DC Penn State Altoona
Colleges and Universities with:  Diverse students
 Large student support services
 Students that have funding (grants
and scholarships)
 Solid retention and graduation
rates  Students that are college ready
(academically, socially and
emotionally)
 On campus housing
 CBO Staff that understands the
 Good financial aid packages Penn State system
 CBO staff that supports students
 Staff that understands the needs of throughout college
our student population

14. We are…Penn State!
Penn State Altoona
 Overview of the Penn
State University
system
 Goal: 15% of class
starting in 2013 will be
underrepresented
students

15. We are….Penn State!
Strategies for Success
 College Multicultural
Programs
 Paul Robeson Cultural
Center
 Fast Start Program
 Student Multicultural
Advisory and Recruitment
Team
 Tutoring Programs
 Academic Advising
 And More!

16. Our Collaborative Success
DC & CSF DC Students
Accepted to PSU
70
60
50
40
DC --
30 Altoona
20 CSF -- PSU
10
0
2010 2011 2012

17. What We’ve Learned
 Be Picky
 FERPA issues
 Think outside of the box
 Communication is Key
 “It Takes A Village”
 It truly IS Win-Win
 The more connected to the
students, professional, and
committed each partner is –
the more successful the
collaboration

18. Phillip Tucker: A Student’s Perspective
 HERO Student
 Achievers Scholar
 Maya Angelou PCS graduate
 Freshman at Penn State
Altoona

19. Your Turn!
QUESTIONS?

20. Your Turn!
Collaborate!
1. What do you do?
2. What do you need?
3. How can you help?
4. Exchange business cards and follow up!

21. Contact Us!
Brett Gotlib Web
bgotlib@collegesuccessfoundation.org www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/dc
www.aa.psu.edu
Kenny Macklin
khm3@psu.edu Like PSU Altoona on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/PSAltoona
Kevin L. Mungin Like the College Success Foundation-DC
kmungin@collegesuccessfoundation.org on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DC-College-Success-
Foundation/122182192625
Phil Tucker
ptucker27@gmail.com