Missouri College Advising Corps Celebrates College-Bound High School Seniors; Program Records 6.3 Percent Increase
May 6th, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Over the past three years, the Missouri College Advising Corps (MCAC) has partnered with high schools across Missouri to encourage students to attend college. Now, 12 high schools in Missouri are celebrating the success of their students with “Decision Day” events, where students will declare their choices of colleges.
“Decision Day is a great way for schools and communities to celebrate the future of their senior classes,” said Nicole Hurd, founder and executive director of the Advising Corps. “The purpose of this event is to promote the accomplishments of our high school seniors and to launch them on a path to degree attainment on the road to lifelong success.”
According to The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, about 47 percent of ninth graders in Missouri go on to attend college. After only two years, MCAC officials have reported an average increase of 6.3 percent in the number of students going to college from high schools that partner with the MCAC.
Since March 2010, MCAC representatives held more than 9,000 individual advising meetings with students and reached more than 10,000 Missouri students in group settings. MCAC advisors have met with family members, helped with ACT preparation, held financial aid workshops and helped students complete financial aid forms and scholarship applications. Advisers also orchestrated campus tours which led to 1,614 students attending colleges that they toured.
“We are very pleased by the progress our advisers are making in Missouri schools,” said Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, executive director of the MCAC. “The program is committed to help Missouri students who might not otherwise see the inside of a college classroom, and our impact is evident this year in the increased number of students attending college.”
Recently Michael Middleton, MU’s deputy chancellor and professor of law, was named to the National College Advising Corp (NCAC) Board of Directors. Missouri has been part of the NCAC since 2007 when it was founded.
Missouri Decision Day events started on April 29 and will continue through May 20. Details on upcoming celebrations are attached. For more information about MCAC, visit mcac.missouri.edu or visit the National College Advising Corp at advisingcorp.org.
2011 Missouri Decision Day Activities
Sponsored by the Missouri College Advising Corps
Many Decision Day events will include activities that give high school seniors the chance to announce what school they plan to attend in the fall as well as free food and giveaways to attendees.
College: East Central College “Celebrating Transfer” Day, Union
Date: Friday, May 6, 11 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Lawn outside the Café
School: Bourbon High School, Bourbon
Date: Friday, May 6
School: Salem High School, Salem
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 12:00 – 3:06 pm
School: Ritenour High School, St. Louis
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 11 am – 1:30 pm
School: Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Kansas City
Date: Wednesday, May 11
Location: Soccer field and in the cafeteria.
School: East High School, Kansas City
Date: Tuesday, May 17
Location: Football Field or front lawn
School: Northeast High School, Kansas City
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 3:00 – 5:30 pm (during Northeast’s Senior Week)
Location: School cafeteria
School: Van Horn High School, Independence
Date: Friday, May 20, 12:30 – 2:13 p.m.