Alamo Community Colleges News & Events

Contact: Carmen Vázquez-González or Melissa Woolard
Date: April 29, 2008

College Connections Dramatically Increases Student College Enrollment

(left to right) Dr. Robert J. Durón, SAISD Superintendent, Vincent Estrada, SAC student,
Dr. Bruce Leslie, Alamo Community Colleges’ Chancellor

Click Here to View Video of the Press Conference

Officials from the Alamo Community Colleges and SAISD today attributed the College Connections program with an impressive 32 percent increase in enrollment at ACC over the last year. As a result, 737 SAISD students enrolled in the fall of 2007, up from 559 in 2006.

“This increase speaks to our mission, which is to graduate our students prepared for success in higher education,” said Dr. Robert J. Durón, SAISD superintendent.

College Connections is a partnership program with the Alamo Community Colleges. All seniors at SAISD have an opportunity to apply to ACC schools online with representatives there to assist them. After applying, students who have not already assessed for college readiness through other avenues will take the online Accuplacer academic assessment exam.

"The enrollment increase that we have experienced due to the College Connections program is evidence that our partnership with SAISD has been very effective,” said Alamo Community Colleges’ Chancellor Dr. Bruce H. Leslie.  “This is one of the many innovated initiatives we are undertaking to ensure that more of our high school students continue on to college,” he added

While accessible to all, College Connections particularly is designed for those students who may not otherwise have considered higher education. Upon graduating, eligible seniors will already be accepted into any ACC campus.

SAISD numbers show that even more students in the Class of 2008 have participated in College Connections than last year. This makes key staff members extremely optimistic that the numbers will continue to rise. The result will be more students enrolled at ACC which gives more students the opportunity to graduate.

Completing this process also guarantees students will have a place reserved for them at the Alamo Community Colleges, even if they initially choose to enroll in another college or university.

College Connections is part of a Districtwide effort encouraging all SAISD students to seek higher education.