By Nick Georgiou
Special to the Star

An Austin-based nonprofit educational organization recently announced partnership with Central Texas universities for a new program intended to help low-income high school students go to college.

Texas State, along with the University of Texas and Huston-Tillotson University, are potential partners in the College Forward program. St. Edward’s University and Southwestern University have already joined.

Admission Control, the educational organization that created College Forward, will be the lead agency in the partnership.

“We’re looking at it very closely, and I feel we will become an official partner,” said Michael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Admission Control has a strong business model, and they have shown that they can make a difference for students.”

The program will offer free college counseling to economically disadvantaged students at several high schools in the area. The participants will be able to receive more than 400 hours of tutoring during their last two years of high school.

Heintze said College Forward complements similar programs like Upward Bound, a program providing support for participants in their preparation for college entrance.

College Forward distinguishes itself, Heintze said, because it provides specific information and training.

“I think the program is unique in our state because it offers a broad range of services,” he said.

Important features of the program include preparation for standardized tests, assistance with college and financial aid applications and overnight college visits.

The after-school counseling sessions will be taught by students from participating universities, who, in exchange for their services, will earn AmeriCorps or work-study credit.

With 74 percent of Admission Control students being Hispanic, College Forward will also help benefit the Texas State Diversity Plan.

“Part of our strategic plan is to diversify the student body,” Heintze said. “Admission Control can help cultivate and encourage more students to access higher education and thus help diversify the student body.”

According to the Education Commission of the States, only 16 percent of economically disadvantaged students have a chance to attend college each year.

“A lot of low-income students simply don’t have the resources, and a lot don’t even realize it’s possible to go to college,” said Neily Jennings, a public relations coordinator for Admission Control.

Harold Whitis, the associate director of financial assistance, said another factor contributing to the grim statistic is that many low-income high school students feel it is necessary to go to work after they graduate. However, Whitis said, if provided with the right information, those students would realize that they could both work and attend college.

If those low-income high school students saw what a college degree could do for future earnings, many of those students would want to go to college, Heintze said.

“A college degree will help open up doors of opportunity,” he said.

College Forward is partially funded by an almost $100,000 grant from the TG Public Benefit Program. TG has given almost $2 million to 20 institutions and nonprofit organizations since January 2006.