Column originally published Sunday, January 27, 2008The leaders of two area community college systems have strikingly different opinions on how well high schools prepare students to enter college and succeed there."Students come to us very well prepared, with strong skills," said Terry Calaway, president of Johnson County Community College."Many students are not prepared to do college work when they come to us," said Jackie Snyder, chancellor of the five-campus Metropolitan Community College in Missouri.The demographic differences in their enrollments are just as stark.Three-fourths of the students at Calaway’s college graduated from high schools in Johnson County, the most affluent county in the metropolitan area. Most of their parents attended college.Students on Snyder’s campuses are much more likely to come from low-income families in which no adult has attended college.In today’s economy, education beyond high school is essential for any young person seeking a rewarding job and decent pay.It’s up to communities and school districts to provide the help that impoverished and first-generation students don’t find at home. Some are doing a good job; others have a long way to go.In recent weeks, The Star has printed editorials calling for schools to do a better job preparing students for college success. Students and school superintendents have shared stories and ideas. Today, college leaders talk about their challenges and ideas for leveling the playing field.Editorials on college access, profiles of five college-bound students and excerpts of interviews with school superintendents can be found at <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/">www.kansascity.com/</a> opinion, in a special report, Paths to College.SEEKING SKILLS, DIVERSITYTerry Calaway, Johnson County Community College president.His challenge: Increasing minority enrollment;keeping courses current with workplace demands.His focus: Mentoring programs, diversity initiatives and strong scholarship programs.On skills for college: "First and foremost is a student’s ability to read. Math skills are really critical. And one of the things I think is really important is the ability of students to work together. Employers are saying, ’give us someone with a team approach.’ "Leveling the playing field: "Every student has the capacity to learn. I don’t think anyone should lose the opportunity to participate in an educational experience because of the cost of instruction. One of the biggest steps we can take is working with local communities to build good scholarship programs, be they need-based or merit-based."MAKING UP FOR LOST TIMEJackie Snyder, Metropolitan Community College chancellor.Her challenge: Catching students up to college levels.Her focus: Aligning high school preparation with college expectations; introducing teenagers to a college culture.On getting students college-ready: "We go into high schools and begin testing students in the 10th grade. They get a score and we send it to their parents and give them information...If you scored low in math, here’s what you need to do to get ready for college."Leveling the playing field: "Every student needs to go to the best high school possible. But if students don’t do their homework, get some sleep at night, get up and have breakfast and get to school, it doesn’t matter. One of the things that would help the most is a community that cares enough to tell kids they have to go to school. Successful schools have teachers and families and communities intricately involved in the lives of students."EXPANDING ACCESS IS A FOCUSGuy Bailey, University of Missouri-Kansas City chancellor.His challenge: Expanding access to more students in an admissions climate that rewards exclusivity.His focus: Offering college credits for courses at area high schools; participating in an "early-college" program at Southwest High School.On affording college: "Dual credit courses are the best way to reduce the financial burden. If you can graduate from high school with 30 college credits, you’ve saved a lot of money. The other thing we’re trying to do is put together scholarship and financial aid packages."Leveling the playing field: "Community colleges do a good job of remedial education. But the remedial work should be offered to students in high school. We often partner with public school districts to offer college credit to their best students. What if we took other students and started remedial work in the 10th or 11th grade?"EXTENDING A WARM WELCOMEJon Wefald, Kansas State University president.His challenge: Reaching out to first-generation and minority students.His focus: Outreach in high schools with substantial minority enrollments; Spanish-speaking admissions representatives for heavily Latino areas.On high schools offering college-level courses: "I would say it would be a good idea for more students, whether they’re in the very sophisticated high schools of Johnson County, or in smaller districts out west, to try one or two dual-credit classes. Because they find out, ’Hey, I can write a college term paper.’ I think it’s nothing but good."Leveling the playing field: "The first step is to let families know they have financial aid and scholarship help. The second thing is to say to students, look, you are somebody. We are going to help you fulfill your dreams. If you work hard and attend class, there’s no question that you can do it."PLENTY OF HELP IS AVAILABLEHigh school students and others seeking help with college preparation and admissions can find resources in the Kansas City area and on the Internet. Some suggestions:Educational Opportunity Center, 3100 Main St. A free service funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The staff provides help with college selection and applications, financial aid and scholarship searches. On the web at <a href="http://www.mcckc.edu/eoc">www.mcckc.edu/eoc</a> or by telephone at 816-759-4400.An Educational Opportunity Center is also located in Kansas City, Kan., at Gateway Tower II, 4th & State Ave, Suite 105. By appointment only, 913-709-6906.Mary Friend, the college coordinator at Blue Valley Northwest High School, maintains a Web site that is loaded with information about college, careers and school success. It can be accessed by parents and students from any district. The link is <a href="http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvnwss">www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvnwss</a>.Nelnet, a student loan service based in Lincoln, Neb., maintains a college planning Web site that includes helpful information on selecting schools, preparing for entrance exams and financing a college education. The link is www.collegeplanning. nelnet.net.The College Board, the organization best known for developing the SAT and PSAT exams, has a helpful site at <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com">www.collegeboard.com</a>.1st Financial Bank USA has a free online advisory service for college-bound students and parents that contains, among other things, useful information about college costs. The link is <a href="http://www.collegedata.com">www.collegedata.com</a>.

KansasCity.com

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Colleges need more well-prepared students

By Barbara Shelly

More News

Column originally published Sunday, January 27, 2008

The leaders of two area community college systems have strikingly different opinions on how well high schools prepare students to enter college and succeed there.

"Students come to us very well prepared, with strong skills," said Terry Calaway, president of Johnson County Community College.

"Many students are not prepared to do college work when they come to us," said Jackie Snyder, chancellor of the five-campus Metropolitan Community College in Missouri.

The demographic differences in their enrollments are just as stark.

Three-fourths of the students at Calaway’s college graduated from high schools in Johnson County, the most affluent county in the metropolitan area. Most of their parents attended college.

Students on Snyder’s campuses are much more likely to come from low-income families in which no adult has attended college.

In today’s economy, education beyond high school is essential for any young person seeking a rewarding job and decent pay.

It’s up to communities and school districts to provide the help that impoverished and first-generation students don’t find at home. Some are doing a good job; others have a long way to go.

In recent weeks, The Star has printed editorials calling for schools to do a better job preparing students for college success. Students and school superintendents have shared stories and ideas. Today, college leaders talk about their challenges and ideas for leveling the playing field.

Editorials on college access, profiles of five college-bound students and excerpts of interviews with school superintendents can be found at www.kansascity.com/ opinion, in a special report, Paths to College.

SEEKING SKILLS, DIVERSITY

Terry Calaway, Johnson County Community College president.

His challenge: Increasing minority enrollment;keeping courses current with workplace demands.

His focus: Mentoring programs, diversity initiatives and strong scholarship programs.

On skills for college: "First and foremost is a student’s ability to read. Math skills are really critical. And one of the things I think is really important is the ability of students to work together. Employers are saying, ’give us someone with a team approach.’ "

Leveling the playing field: "Every student has the capacity to learn. I don’t think anyone should lose the opportunity to participate in an educational experience because of the cost of instruction. One of the biggest steps we can take is working with local communities to build good scholarship programs, be they need-based or merit-based."

MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME

Jackie Snyder, Metropolitan Community College chancellor.

Her challenge: Catching students up to college levels.

Her focus: Aligning high school preparation with college expectations; introducing teenagers to a college culture.

On getting students college-ready: "We go into high schools and begin testing students in the 10th grade. They get a score and we send it to their parents and give them information...If you scored low in math, here’s what you need to do to get ready for college."

Leveling the playing field: "Every student needs to go to the best high school possible. But if students don’t do their homework, get some sleep at night, get up and have breakfast and get to school, it doesn’t matter. One of the things that would help the most is a community that cares enough to tell kids they have to go to school. Successful schools have teachers and families and communities intricately involved in the lives of students."

EXPANDING ACCESS IS A FOCUS

Guy Bailey, University of Missouri-Kansas City chancellor.

His challenge: Expanding access to more students in an admissions climate that rewards exclusivity.

His focus: Offering college credits for courses at area high schools; participating in an "early-college" program at Southwest High School.

On affording college: "Dual credit courses are the best way to reduce the financial burden. If you can graduate from high school with 30 college credits, you’ve saved a lot of money. The other thing we’re trying to do is put together scholarship and financial aid packages."

Leveling the playing field: "Community colleges do a good job of remedial education. But the remedial work should be offered to students in high school. We often partner with public school districts to offer college credit to their best students. What if we took other students and started remedial work in the 10th or 11th grade?"

EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME

Jon Wefald, Kansas State University president.

His challenge: Reaching out to first-generation and minority students.

His focus: Outreach in high schools with substantial minority enrollments; Spanish-speaking admissions representatives for heavily Latino areas.

On high schools offering college-level courses: "I would say it would be a good idea for more students, whether they’re in the very sophisticated high schools of Johnson County, or in smaller districts out west, to try one or two dual-credit classes. Because they find out, ’Hey, I can write a college term paper.’ I think it’s nothing but good."

Leveling the playing field: "The first step is to let families know they have financial aid and scholarship help. The second thing is to say to students, look, you are somebody. We are going to help you fulfill your dreams. If you work hard and attend class, there’s no question that you can do it."

PLENTY OF HELP IS AVAILABLE

High school students and others seeking help with college preparation and admissions can find resources in the Kansas City area and on the Internet. Some suggestions:

Educational Opportunity Center, 3100 Main St. A free service funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The staff provides help with college selection and applications, financial aid and scholarship searches. On the web at www.mcckc.edu/eoc or by telephone at 816-759-4400.

An Educational Opportunity Center is also located in Kansas City, Kan., at Gateway Tower II, 4th & State Ave, Suite 105. By appointment only, 913-709-6906.

Mary Friend, the college coordinator at Blue Valley Northwest High School, maintains a Web site that is loaded with information about college, careers and school success. It can be accessed by parents and students from any district. The link is www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvnwss.

Nelnet, a student loan service based in Lincoln, Neb., maintains a college planning Web site that includes helpful information on selecting schools, preparing for entrance exams and financing a college education. The link is www.collegeplanning. nelnet.net.

The College Board, the organization best known for developing the SAT and PSAT exams, has a helpful site at www.collegeboard.com.

1st Financial Bank USA has a free online advisory service for college-bound students and parents that contains, among other things, useful information about college costs. The link is www.collegedata.com.