Modeling Excellence in Collaborative Teacher Education

University of Houston-Downtown/Lone Star Collaboration offered at Lone Star College-Kingwood

Dr. Noel Bezette and Louis Evans

Program Inception

• Spring 2007 LSC-Kingwood agreement signed• Creates seamless transition from 2 to 4 year

institution. • Recruits paraprofessionals already known to

the school districts • Classes are offered at the community college

campuses• All credits transfer

Why the Program Works

• Convenient locations (for rural students)• Convenient class times (working students with

families)• Joint admission to both institutions• Students simultaneously earn the Associate of

Arts in Teaching (AAT) and Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) with Teacher Certification.

Tarkington Paraprofessional Group

• Tarkington is approximately 40 miles from LSC-Kingwood and approximately 70 miles from the University of Houston-Downtown campus…

Tarkington Five

“Achieve the Dream” Goals

1. Closing the Gap in Student Participation 2. Closing the Gap in Student Success3. Closing the Gap in Academic Achievement

THECB STAR AWARD aligns with the Achieve the Dream Initiative in Closing the Gaps in Higher Education

• The Star Award began in 2001 to recognize educational institutions, groups and individuals for their exceptional contributions toward one or more of the goals of “Closing the Gaps by 2015” in the Higher Education Plan for Texas.

THECB STAR AWARD REQUIREMENTS

• The plan’s four goals in closing the gap are participation, success, excellence and research. To meet the goals and thus earn the high award, LSC-Kingwood had an outstanding contribution to achieving the goals and targets in “Closing the Gaps,” had at least two years of successful outcomes, and had a history of excellence in academic instruction, student support services or partnerships.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) STAR AWARD

Student Participation

Spring 2007Fall 2007

Fall 2009Spring 2010

0200400600800

100012001400

EnrollmentIn AAT/Baccalaureate

Program Classes

First Year Growth in EDUC course enrollments

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

010203040506070

EnrollmentsNumber of

Sections

36

3

70

5Fall 2007

Spring 2008

First Two Years Enrollment Increases

• In Spring 2006 the Associate of Arts in Teaching program had a total enrollment of 18

• In Fall 06’ I started implementing my program building strategies and articulated an agreement with UHD

• By Spring 2007 enrollment was at 61• By Fall 2007 enrollment was at 104• By Spring 2008 enrollment was at 131

Current Enrollment-Spring 2011

• 426 enrollments at LSC-Kingwood on the lower division side

• 347enrollments on the UH-D upper division side

Ancillary Growth at Kingwood

• Increasing AAT/BAIS enrollment increases enrollment in other subjects

Student SuccessAAT Graduates: 2006-2010

3

42

Cost Effectiveness

• Source: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/

LSC/UHD Partnership

$55,668 $79,484

Average TX University Student Savings

$23,816

Cost Break-Down

• The savings derives partly from the lower LSC tuition

Student Achievement- First Cohort Statistics

• TExES exam passing =92%

• 60% Graduated from UHD with honors

• All graduates were employed in local school districts.

2010 Graduating Class UHD at LSC- Kingwood: Joint Admissions Education program