A College Awareness Month Initiative
Sponsored by:
Muskegon Opportunity
www.muskegonopportunity.com
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Welcome - Introductions and identification of what you would
like out of this session
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College Awareness Month “Back-story”
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College-Going Culture Rubric
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Survey Results
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College access and awareness grade level recommendations
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Let’s play a game!
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Time for a good book?
www.muskegonopportunity.com
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Marissa Higgs
◦ Coordinator, Muskegon Opportunity
◦ Licensed School Counselor
◦ Former program coordinator for a division of a
Fortune 500 company
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Brian Barber
◦ Director of White Lake Area Community Education
◦ Co-chair and co-founder, Muskegon Opportunity
www.muskegonopportunity.com
www.muskegonopportunity.com
www.muskegonopportunity.com
Indicators
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College Talk
Examples of Evidence
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Clear Expectations
Information &
Resources
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Students are engaged in
conversations about college as an
option for them
Staff connect their subject matter
with its relevance to college majors
and careers
Senior clearance includes key
activities they need to complete
the transition to college
Information about key steps and
activities in the college preparation
process (Explore, PLAN, ACT) are
visible throughout the school,
regularly updated and available in
centralized locations
www.muskegonopportunity.com
Indicators
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Testing and Curriculum
Examples of Evidence
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Faculty Involvement
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Family Involvement
www.muskegonopportunity.com
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Students are prepared to succeed on
Explore, Plan and ACT tests
Students have access to rigorous
college-prep coursework and more
students enroll in advanced classes
Curriculum is aligned with college
requirements
Faculty consistently maintains a
college-going culture and integrates
college information and the idea of
college into regular classroom activities
Faculty is up-to-date on important
“college knowledge” and participates in
PD to help actively prepare students for
college
They have opportunities to gain
knowledge about the college process
and become aware that the college
option is open to everyone
Indicators
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Comprehensive
Counselors
College Partnerships
Examples of Evidence
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Articulation
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Dedicated spaces, posted hours, and
efficient process to help students get
ready for college
Schools make college preparation a
priority and provide appropriate support
and clear expectations for school
counselors?
Partners facilitate college-related
activities
Partners host visits of colleges with
good persistence rates and supports for
students
Instruction is aligned across the grades
The college message is constant as
students move through their
educational journey
Is seamless between elementary,
middle, high school & onto college
www.muskegonopportunity.com
www.muskegonopportunity.com
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Why
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What
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When
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Who
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Where
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How
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To convey the importance of actively
participating in college access & readiness
College access and readiness
At different stages in academic career of
their children
Parents and students both play important
roles in the process
At home, at school, online,
Setting high expectations, meeting those
expectations, exploring all options, and
having fun!
www.muskegonopportunity.com

Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire – Mascot
101
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◦ Middle School
◦ High School
◦ Upper Elementary
◦ Middle School
◦ High School
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Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire: College
Knowledge
◦ Middle School
◦ High School
Jeopardy the College
Way
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School based
creations
◦ March Madness!
www.muskegonopportunity.com
www.muskegonopportunity.com
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Superintendents
Liaisons
Michigan Higher Education Institutions
WZZM 13 –
◦ Lakeshore – Jon Mills
◦ Grand Rapids – Lauren Stanton
www.muskegonopportunity.com
www.muskegonopportunity.com