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Dunham Early College Academy

Dual Credit Model for College Readiness

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Partnerships within the Community

•1.1 million dollar grant from the Dunham Fund• Academy set up• Tuition and books• Laptops• “Dunham Difference”

•East and West Aurora High Schools• 25 students from each high school• Recruitment of students for program

•Waubonsee Community College (WCC)• Location of Academy at the downtown Aurora Campus• WCC Instructors• WCC support services

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Dunham Early College Academy Scholars

•Under-served Population• Under-represented in higher education• First generation college students• Low income families

•Enter Academy as Juniors• Must have a 10th grade reading level

•2007-2008 Junior Cohort• 32% White, 56% Latino, 6% Black, 6% Other

•2008-2009 Junior Cohort• 16% White, 65% Latino, 16% Black, 3% Asian

•Students do not have a G.P.A. requirement to enter program

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Dual Credit Classes

•2007-2008 Cohort (total of 24 college credit hours)• Junior Year (12 college credit hours)

> Fall 2007: COM 100 Speech & HIS 121 US History until 1865

> Spring 2008: PHL 110 Critical Thinking & HIS 122 US History after 1865

• Senior Year (12 college credit hours)> Fall 2008: ENG 101 Composition 1 & HUM 102 Global

Villages> Spring 2009: ENG 102 Composition 2 & ENG 215

American Literature

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Dual Credit Classes cont.

•2008-2009 Cohort (total of 24 college credit hours)• Junior Year (12 college credit hours)

> Fall 2008: COM 100 Speech & PSY 100 Intro to Psychology or PSC 100 American Govt.

> Spring 2009: PHL 110 Critical Thinking & PSY 100 Intro to Psychology or PSC 100 American Govt.

• Senior Year (12 college credit hours)> Fall 2009: ENG 101 Composition 1 & HUM 102 Global

Villages> Spring 2010: ENG 102 Composition 2 & ENG 215

American Literature

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Dunham Difference = College Readiness

•College Skill Workshops• Note taking, text book reading, test taking, etc…

•Career Counseling• Testing• Personalized counseling sessions with student and parent• Dedicated Dunham Academy support staff person

•Life Skill Workshops• Fiscal Literacy, Civic Duty, Leadership and Peer Mentoring

•Laptops• Specialized training in MS Office software• Can keep laptop after Academy completion & High School

graduation

•Instructors• Waubonsee Community College Instructors• Both full-time and adjunct Instructors dedicated to the program

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The First Year Outcomes

•Thirty-eight (38) of 50 earned the full 12 college credit hours.•Dunham Academy Scholars earned a higher

percentage of satisfactory grades (C or higher) as compared to the overall WCC student population.• 95% vs. 71% in fall & 83% vs. 73% in spring

•COMPASS Placement exam scores from spring 2007 to spring 2008 resulted in a decrease of the need to take developmental English from 60% to 35%. •Development of a sense of community with

students from rival high schools.

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Student’s Experience

•“I’m a minority. I do not want to be another statistic. The privilege to earn a college education has turned into an honor. The Dunham Early College Academy has given me a reason to believe I can go to college!” Mayra Almeraz (East Aurora)•“I think it has made me realize my full potential.”

Ryan Ward (West Aurora)•“It has made me a better student because it has

made me care about school and makes me want to do good in school.” Lisa Ann Partipilo (West Aurora) •“The Dunham Early College Academy has given

me more real life experience, has made me more mature and preparing me for college.” Mykle Warren. (West Aurora)