Amarillo College launched its No Excuses Poverty Initiative to help a growing number of economically disadvantaged students better their odds of achieving their dreams. 

Gains have been made, confirmation of which came Oct. 12 when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) released its list of 2015 Star Award finalists. The short list of seven includes AC’s No Excuses Poverty Initiative: Creating a Systemic Approach to Overcoming Poverty Barriers in Higher Education.

The winners will be revealed Nov. 20 during the THECB’s annual Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference in Austin.

Long a bellwether of successfully innovative endeavors across the Texas higher-education landscape, the Star-Award program was established in 2001 to recognize exceptional programmatic efforts in support of the THECB’s long-range strategic plan, which all along has been Closing the Gaps by 2015. That ends this year, however, when a new plan takes its place: 60x30TX (60 percent of “Generation Texas” will have a postsecondary credential or degree by 2030).

AC’s No Excuses Poverty Initiative will be staying the course in collaborative support of this lofty new goal.

“We’re thrilled by this recognition because it means our systemic approach to helping students overcome poverty-related barriers is making a difference right here at home,” Jordan Herrera, social services coordinator at AC, said. “If our unique strategies for helping students stay in school and finish what they started becomes a blueprint for other colleges in Texas, fantastic.”

Five distinct sectors comprise AC’s poverty initiative:
•    Social Services—the hub from which students are seamlessly steered to a plethora of College and community resources
•    Food Pantry—where students who need a little extra help can obtain non-perishable food and toiletries, on three campuses
•    Mentoring Program—through which first-year students (champions) are paired with faculty or staff (coaches) to ensure personal attention and quell uncertainties
•    Career and Employment Services—an on-campus destination for those seeking everything from money-management skills to help mapping a career
•    Predictive Modeling—a technology-driven predictor of when tutoring can move the needle on individual student success 

Thanks to the No Excuses Poverty Initiative, in conjunction with other ongoing initiatives that are in full swing at the College, AC has demonstrated gains over the past three years in the percentage of students who: complete initial college-level courses; persist from one semester to the next; complete courses with a grade of C or better; and either earn a certificate or degree or successfully transfer credits elsewhere.

Other Star-Award finalists are Alamo College, Houston Community College, Lone Star College—Montgomery, Lone Star College—University Park, North Central Texas College, and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Should AC capture a Star Award in November, it will be the second one brought home to Amarillo in the past six years. AC’s Mathematics Outreach Center claimed the prestigious accolade in 2009.

October 14, 2015