The University of Texas at Austin

Austin College Access Network (ACAN) “Staying Powers” Project

July 1, 2011 Leave a Comment

Principal Investigator:	Deanna T. Schexnayder
Sponsor:	TG Public Benefit Program
Research Partners:	E3 Alliance
Project Duration:	December 2010 – July 2011
Description:	In partnership with E3 Alliance, the Ray Marshall Center (RMC) is participating in the Austin College Access Network (ACAN) college persistence project entitled “Staying Powers: Building College Persistence for our Most Challenged Students.” The project’s goal is to conduct a program to enhance the collaboration of participating organizations in the Austin College Access Network to improve college persistence for the region’s low-income and first-generation students at several area colleges and universities. In particular, the program will help establish data capabilities and provide resources for engaging higher education partners to develop shared programming to improve retention.Under the project, RMC will: Participate in strategic planning with partners to develop a Central Texas Plan for College Persistence with identified strategies and associated activities and also create an identified protocol and system of tracking ACAN students in higher education. Work with ACAN partners to develop a tracking model for students and alumni of ACAN programs. Develop a matching cohort of Central Texas high school seniors to serve as a comparison group for evidence-based evaluation of ACAN programs outcomes to a cohort of like students not receiving support services and provide evidence-based evaluation of ACAN programs. Additionally, RMC will work with project partners to identify priority strategies and activities to help first generation and low-income college students succeed.
Reports Available:	Development of a Student Tracking System for ACAN Participants Authors: Deanna Schexnayder, Patty Rodriguez, and Greg Cumpton Date: January 2012 Publication Type: Report, 9pp. The Ray Marshall Center’s 2011-2012 project with the Austin College Access Network, as well as available reports, are accessible via this link: ACAN

Leave a Reply Cancel reply