Thanks to a trio of opportunities to build on the success of Gateway to College (GtC), we are proud to welcome eight new partner programs to the National Network. This is the single largest period of growth in our history, and we are excited to increase our reach to thousands more young people who have dropped out of high school or are not on track to graduate.

Gateway to College was included as a main component of Massachusetts' successful High School Graduation Initiative proposal. The resulting award allows us to work directly with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to replicate the GtC model at three colleges in the state. Recently, two of those program partners were identified: Bristol Community College (Fall River) and Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester). Bristol Community College has shown sustained interest in joining the Network since its initial visit to Portland several years ago, and the local partnership-building they have done in the interim facilitated a faster start-up phase than is common for new partner programs. Quinsigamond Community College has already demonstrated substantial flexibility and creativity as it moves to implement the Gateway program. Their addition brings the total number of Gateway to College programs in Massachusetts to five, the largest number in any one state.

Earlier last year, Gateway to College National Network was awarded a four-year investment from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service's Social Innovation Fund to build our organizational capacity and serve many more young people in need. Through this investment, we expect to select six new partner programs, the first three of which will be Contra Costa College (Richmond, CA), Christel House DropOut Recovery School (DORS) & Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN) and Hinds Community College (Raymond, MS). Contra Costa College joins Laney College in Oakland and City College of San Francisco as the third Gateway partner in the San Francisco Bay Area. "Already the host to a very successful Middle College High School, Contra Costa has a strong working relationship with its local school district and, along with the new program director, brings a wealth of knowledge about serving high school students in a college environment," says Nick Mathern, Gateway to College National Network's Associate Vice President of Policy and Partnership Development. Through a contract with the inspired and ambitious new DORS Charter High School, out-of-school 18-21 year-olds from across the metro area will be able to re-enroll in high school and take classes at Ivy Tech Community College. Hinds Community College, on the other hand, is already a partner in our work through an Innovation Collaborative grant. The college is recognized as a leader in innovative education across the state, and the development of a Gateway to College program is a great opportunity for Mississippi students and the National Network alike.

A grant from a consortium of funders, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Carnegie Corporation of New York, allows us to select the final three partner programs. Owens Community College (Toledo, OH) and Spokane Falls Community College (Spokane, WA) have already demonstrated their significant capacity for success and institutional commitment to serving underprepared young people with their outstanding piloting of the Project DEgree program, and we are very pleased to increase our already strong partnership with the colleges and their engaged leadership teams. Mott Community College (Flint, MI), on the other hand, is new to the National Network. The Mott Community College leadership is committed to transforming and empowering young people through reengagement in education. With these new additions, there are now 35 Gateway to College programs in 20 states, partnering with nearly 175 school districts. Please join us in welcoming each of them to Gateway to College National Network.

GtCNN staff and representatives from new partner programs at our Kickoff Training

Gateway Grad Confident in Change  

When Jose was just twelve years old, his father became a naturalized US citizen and moved the family from Mexico to Texas. It was a difficult transition for Jose. He had trouble being accepted and ultimately started hanging out with a group of kids he refers now to as "trouble." By high school, he was involved with a gang and skipping school regularly. Every time his mom heard an ambulance, she told him later, she thought it was for him.

After four years of high school, Jose had a total of seven credits. His high school eventually kicked him out, and he started attending a charter school where one of the faculty suggested he apply to Gateway to College at nearby Palo Alto College. He applied and got in, but it took him a while to adjust to the new environment and the new expectations. "Little by little, things started to go well with the program and support," he remembers. One day, he was complaining to his resource specialist during an appointment. She started rubbing her index finger and thumb together. At first, he didn't understand. "This is the smallest violin," she said. "Are you asking for pity?"

"I'll never forget that," Jose says. "She was right. I don't want that."

It was a turning point for Jose that helped him change his attitude about school. "I wanted better for myself, and I wanted to help others," he recalls. In his second semester, he took a psychology course. He had seen a psychologist when he first moved to the US and felt it was a field that would allow him to make a difference in the lives of others. He and his professor quickly struck up a strong relationship, and he excelled in the class.

Jose graduated from Gateway to College after two years, completing his high school diploma along with the first of what would be two associate's degrees. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school, but he didn't stop there. After graduation, he enrolled in Texas A&M University - San Antonio to pursue his Bachelor's of Psychology.

While enrolled at A&M, one of the Gateway to College resource specialists called to tell him about a job opportunity with Gateway to College. He got the job as a computer lab assistant, and through it he is able to interact with Gateway to College students on a daily basis. "[In my position,] I have to build relationships with them. I always let them know at the beginning that the program works. If you are committed, the resources are here."

Last December, Jose completed his BA and transitioned to the MA program. He's glad he can continue working at Palo Alto College while he studies, but he's eager to get started with his career and give back to the community. "I learned over the summer that the dropout rate is increasing with Hispanic males. I am confident I can help make that change." For himself, at least, he already has.

Last year, Gateway to College National Network launched a new initiative for colleges interested in innovative approaches to increasing student success in developmental education. The Innovation Collaborative helps participating colleges create and scale learning communities and engaging pedagogy within their developmental education departments.

One of the twelve partner colleges that joined the Innovation Collaborative is Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.  As the 2011 fall term approached, Karrie Mitchell and Michele Anderson sought to design an integrated, project-based learning course for a learning community of students taking both math and college success courses.  Karrie has a bachelor's degree in exercise science, and the two quickly settled on a project that used nutrition and fitness themes as a means of learning math. 

Students used real life situations from the success course and coupled them with the math concepts they were learning to create a fitness plan. Karrie remembers one student who worked with Michele on a menu during class.  After a few minutes she exclaimed, "I've been making this so complicated the whole time. This is so easy."

At the end of the term, students presented their fitness plans to a packed house of faculty, administrators, and family members.  Karrie was impressed with the sophistication of the students on stage, "They were explaining linear equations on the board, and afterward the parents were telling their kids that they needed to teach them this stuff."

The final results were impressive.  Scores on the final exam were seven points higher on average, and the rate of those who passed the class was 17 percent higher than students who took the class the previous semester. Perhaps most impressive, 100% of those who took the class enrolled for classes the next term.  Karrie and Michele are refining the project and plan to offer it again to a new learning community in the spring.  

From Left: Jen, Tracy and Gaylen

"I'm happy to be part of a national effort to use developmental education research to implement best practices in support of underserved students," says Tracy Schiffmann, Gateway to College National Network's newest Manager of Project DEgree Training & Partner Support. Tracy worked as an instructional designer, coach, and trainer and authored over 20 curriculums, including a parenting curriculum for inmates.  Prior to joining GtCNN as a full-time staff member, Tracywas a coach on a consulting basis for nearly two years and has been integral in developing and implementing a process that Project DEgree teams have used to create active, project-based integrated curriculum for their learning communities. 

Gaylen Brannon-Trottier also served as a GtCNN instructional coach on a consulting basis over the past few years. In late December, she joined us full-time as a Manager of Gateway to College Training & Partner Support.  In addition to providing support and coaching to Gateway partners, Gaylen will continue her coaching work with the Project DEgree and Innovation Collaborative initiatives.  Gaylen has over twenty years of experience in the field of education, serving as a school change coach for the Oregon Small Schools Initiative and as a national trainer and workshop facilitator for the Waters Foundation: Systems Thinking in Schools. She is passionate about creating powerful learning experiences for both students and adults and is skilled at creating collaborative work environments.

Jen Aldrich is new to the organization, joining us as Finance Coordinator in early December.  Jen comes with a wide range of experience, most recent in accounting, but also in a variety of other positions with non-profit organizations such as SE Works, Children's Cancer Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility/Oregon Chapter.  She also worked for the US Department of Commerce.  We are pleased to have all three of them join us full-time.

 Upcoming Events

March 7: Backward Design - Information Management Using the GtCNN Student Data System (for GtC program directors)

Time: TBD

Details: Having trouble getting all the pieces in place for timely submission of your data? This tutorial will utilize the concept of backward design to help Gateway to College program directors map out the flow of information for students' records at their local program.  This map can then be used to effectively maintain the Gateway to College student data system's interaction with your college's record systems and help you to meet your reporting requirements to your school district partners.

To register: Check Gateway Live! for schedule & information.

March 8 & 9: Course Alignment and Setting Up Your MOU

Time: 10am -11:30am PST

Details: The implementation of a successful Gateway to College program includes the establishment of a favorable curriculum alignment structure and the development of an MOU that clearly outlines the parameters that govern the operation of a GtC program. During this webinar, we will share some considerations for aligning high school credit requirements for college credit as well as some considerations for moving forward with the process of MOU completion.

To register: Click here to register for March 8th and here for March 9th. 

April 2-6:  Managing the Application Process in the Database I

Time: TBD

Details: This tutorial walks you through the basics of adding and managing applicants in the Gateway to College data system. It will cover how to use the Applicant form, the Bulk update - Applicant form, and a select group of reports. We will also explain how to run the following reports to help you manage the application process: Lists and mailing labels report, Roster reports, Information session rosters, Evaluation scores, Demographic reports, and Monthly reports.

To register: Check Gateway Live! for schedule & information.

July 23-25, 2012: Peer Learning Conference

Location: Portland, Oregon 

Do you want to help give a young person a real second chance at an education and a better life?     

Click here for information on how to make a secure, online contribution.   

Gateway to College National Network is a recognized non-profit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3) (Tax ID 32-0237828), so your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.