Even MORE Texas Wackiness

Ah, the CoBoard — in administrationese — created by John Connally before he went over to the Dark Side (Richard M. Nixon) to coordinate higher ed — more administrationese — in the Lone Start State. This 12-member board has lost its collective mind. Governor Goodhair slashed the higher ed budget! What is the CoBoard thinking? Budgets slashed statewide and the CoBoard wants to swell the enrollment to parity with California, New York, Illinois, and the like. Hell, it would take an education Marshall Plan to enable Texas to enroll those target numbers. That's the answer anyway, fill the classrooms with unprepared and clueless students. Raise the frustration level. By 2015, we can expect a shootout on the Amarillo College campus. If this be (fair & balanced) treason, make the most of it. (Or use the SapperMail link to voice your opinion.)

Press Release Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Texas Launches Statewide Pilot Mentoring Program Aimed at Boosting College Enrollment

Monday August 25, 1:37 pm ET

Hundreds of Texas High School and College Students Staffing New 'Go Centers'


DALLAS, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Students, teachers and education leaders gathered today at Pinkston High School in Dallas to kick off an unprecedented statewide mentoring initiative that is part of the College for Texans campaign. This year for the first time, some Texas high schools participating in this special pilot program are offering a new resource to help motivate and prepare students to pursue the path to college.

At 45 locations across Texas, pilot Go Centers will begin operating on high school campuses as well as at area colleges. Highly focused mentoring and academic assistance centers, the new Go Centers, such as the one opened today at Pinkston High School, will be staffed and operated primarily by students for students. These student peer mentors, called G-Force members, recently returned from an intensive statewide training summit in North East Texas.

"We learned so much," said Pinkston 11th grade student Elicia Garcia. "From mentoring strategies and techniques to how to help students overcome barriers to making it to college."

Garcia and her fellow Pinkston G-Force members unveiled the strategic plan they developed for assisting their fellow students who might otherwise not be college bound.

"I think the Go Center can really make a difference," said Garcia. "Many high school students who are not currently aiming for college could make it with just a little bit of encouragement and support, and that's why we're involved."

"College-going rates are too low in Texas, lagging behind California, New York and other large states," said Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Chair-Elect Jerry Farrington. "Texas' future prosperity depends on having an educated workforce. Otherwise, the best jobs will go elsewhere. That's why today we are opening one of Texas' first high school Go Centers here at Pinkston High School."

Program planners hope that the new Go Centers, which involve intense peer and community support networks, will expand to as many as 200 schools with low college-going rates in the coming year.

The GO Campaign efforts in the North Texas Region are spearheaded by Texas Campus Compact institutions including Brookhaven College, Collin County Community College District and the University of North Texas. In an effort to promote community engagement, these area colleges are encouraging their students to serve as GO Center peer leaders and mentors. Partners in the North Texas Regional Collaborative include area Chambers of Commerce, Independent School Districts, and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

The College for Texans campaign, which includes the new Go Centers, is a key strategy identified in the state's Closing the Gaps by 2015 education plan, which was adopted by the Coordinating Board in October 2000 and has become widely accepted throughout the state. The plan calls for closing student participation and success gaps within the state, and when Texas is compared with other states, by 2015. See Closing the Gaps