Collaboration Between North Texas Colleges And Universities Honored With Partnership Award

4 Feb 2009

Partnership Works Closely with Dallas ISD Students

DALLAS—University Crossroads: A Partnership of Colleges and Universities in North Texas has won the College Board's 2009 School College Partnership Award which will be presented at the board's Southwestern Regional Conference in Oklahoma City, OK, February 4-6.

The award recognizes outstanding partnerships with strong collaboration across segments of education working together to connect more students to college success and opportunity.

University Crossroads works hand-in-hand with the Dallas ISD College and Career Readiness Department, non-profit agencies, community-based organizations and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Community partners include: Education is Freedom, LULAC National Educational Service Center, the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, University Outreach and others.

Since August 2005, representatives from each of these organizations have worked collaboratively to ensure a seamless transition for students and to develop an enhanced college-going culture in Dallas ISD schools. Some of the partnership's successes include the following:

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• During the first year of implementation, 174 students completed and submitted college applications at the College Roundup event. This number grew to 720 this year.
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• During the Fall, Spring and Summer Camp SAT Math Prep sessions, more than 600 students were able to receive college exam preparation and tutoring free of charge.
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• More than 2,000 students attended the first districtwide College Fair in October 2007, and more than 3,000 attended in 2008.
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• More than 50 college field trips were scheduled during the 2007-2008 school year.
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• More than $400,000 in scholarships were awarded at the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber's Rising Star Scholarship event.
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University Crossroads partner institutions include: Austin College, Dallas County Community Colleges, Midwestern State University, Paul Quinn College, Southern Methodist University, Tarrant County Colleges, Texas A & M University, Texas A & M University - Commerce, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas Woman's University, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas, University of North Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas.

For more information, email kwilson@collegeboard.org.

As part of the Reform Governance in Action training program, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees has developed its vision and a set of core beliefs and commitments. The vision of the board is to be the best urban district in the United States. The third of their beliefs is: We believe that educational equity and excellence will eliminate the achievement gap.