Hispanic Outlook Magazine

INNOVATIONS/PROGRAMS

DC-CAP: Fast Forward... Amazing Results!

by Melissa Campbell

year was 1999, and Argelia in-state and out-of-state tuition. In return, DC- her DNA. The daughter of renowned mathemat - Rodríguez’s goal was clear: CAP would mobilize private funds to prepare ics educator Argelia Vélez-Rodríguez, Rodríguez transform the entire city of D.C. students for college and provide them with recalls that her mother always knew her daugh - TWashhingtone , D.C., by improving the educational support while in college. ter would somehow enter the field of education. attainment patterns of its students. The odds According to Rodríguez, “they lined up on After working for a top New York consulting were against her: only 30 percent of public high both sides of the aisle” in support. In 1999, the firm, Rodríguez established an education con - school students were going on to college at the District of Columbia College Access Act was sulting practice in Washington, D.C., which ulti - time, far fewer than the national college-enroll - signed into law, allowing high school graduates mately led her to her current position as presi - ment rate; and of those who did, less than 15 who are D.C. residents to attend public colleges dent and CEO of DC-CAP. In this role, she over - percent actually graduated. As a consequence, and universities nationwide at in-state rates to sees the operation of 34 college information too few D.C. students were being prepared to which they gain admission. Each student can centers, a staff of about 30 counselors and a participate in or contribute to the region’s eco - receive up to $10,000 per year, with a maximum small administrative staff. She administers more nomic growth. of $50,000 in federal tuition assistance. The leg - than $2.7 million in scholarship funds each year A former engineer and Harvard Business islation also provides up to $2,500 per year, with and is responsible for marketing, strategic plan - School graduate turned education consultant, a maximum of $12,500, for students to attend ning, fundraising, community outreach and pro - Rodríguez was president and CEO of a newly private colleges and universities in the D.C. area. gram development. formed organization, the DC-College Access Fast forward to today, and the results have The job is rewarding but never easy. It is a Program (CAP), handpicked by a group of D.C.- been amazing: 62 percent of the city’s students major challenge to convince students that col - based business and civic leaders who founded now go on to college, and the graduation rate lege is a viable option, not an impossible dream. DC-CAP because they knew change was needed. has increased threefold to 45 percent. Students To that end, DC-CAP counselors are physically The first thing they needed to address was from Washington, D.C., are attending more than located in every public and charter school in the removing the most obvious barrier to college for 500 colleges and universities across the country. city, ensuring access to each and every one of D.C. students: access to only one “in-state” Since its inception, DC-CAP has helped more the 16,000 high school students the program school at which they could enjoy in-state tuition. than 13,000 students, has awarded more than serves. Advisors provide direct college-counsel - Unlike students in any of the country’s 50 states, $18 million in scholarships and stands proudly ing services to all high school students and their D.C. students had limited choice when it came to behind the 2,700 young women and men it has parents through individual meetings, group ses - affordable schools. DC-CAP lobbied Congress to helped to graduate since the program began. sions, written materials and specialized work - allow district students to attend any state school While her professional credentials at first shops. in the country at in-state tuition rates, with the glance may seem mismatched with the mission The outreach begins in ninth grade, impart - government subsidizing the difference between of DC-CAP, Rodríguez has education reform in ing to students that college is important. Guest

8 HISPANIC OUTLOOK • 07/12/2010 speakers and college tours help drive the mes - ating financial aid packages and securing addi - percent of the first year’s class, a considerable sage home to students, but Rodríguez believes tional resources from local, federal, institutional improvement over the 50 percent dropout rate engaging the parents is equally important. “This and private funders. before the program started, and 100 percent of is a group effort,” she explains. “Parents have to DC-CAP college representatives are physically the next two classes. Still in pilot phase, the pro - be involved; it is a partnership.” located at major institutions, including Delaware gram includes 400 students in five schools, with According to Rodríguez, DC-CAP is unique State University, Norfolk State University, North 150 freshmen this year, but Rodríguez hopes to among college-access programs. “We accept Carolina A&T State University, Norfolk Carolina expand the program to all 41 of the city’s every student regardless of academic achieve - Central University and Virginia Commonwealth schools. ment; we do not cherry-pick the best and bright - University. This desire leads to perhaps the most critical est,” she said. “Our operating philosophy is that The program currently supports about 5,300 component of her position: fundraising. Because all students are entitled to a college education. college students who are enrolled in more than of the organization’s unique model and pioneer - We start with the assumption that every child 500 institutions across the country. The growth ing focus on college retention, DC-CAP has could be raised to the level that we expect them of D.C. freshmen enrollment has been dramatic enjoyed tremendous support from both local to achieve. In essence, we say to the students at many colleges and universities, notably and national corporations and foundations, that you are college material unless you prove American University, Bowie State University, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, otherwise.” Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State Carnegie Foundation, Eli and Edythe Broad But face time with students is just the begin - University, Virginia State University, North Foundation, and Dell. These important private ning. Many D.C. public school students and their Carolina A&T University, Temple University, funds complement the federal authorization of families live close to or below the federal poverty Norfolk State University and Virginia Union $35 million, which covers the cost difference level, calculated at less than $20,000 a year for a University. between in-state and out-of-state tuition. But as family of four. More than two-thirds of the fami - Beyond the core components of the outreach new programs are created and expanded, and as lies DC-CAP serves qualify for free or reduced program, DC-CAP has been proactive in making college costs continue to rise, increasing the size lunch programs. The gap between college costs changes that significantly alter the playing field of the waiting list for Last Dollar Scholarships, and available family resources often makes col - for D.C. students. In 2007, the Sallie Mae Fund, additional funding is always needed. lege a financial impossibility. As a result, there is a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Rodríguez is not only an excellent fundraiser, a long history of chronically undereducated fam - Mae, the giant lender, awarded DC-CAP funds to she has been recognized with the nonprofit ilies in the city with no framework or experience extend DC-CAP’s outreach to include charter “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for her in navigating the college process. So advisors schools. That year, four schools served as a judicious use of funds. Under her leadership, spend a great deal of time helping families over - pilot. Today all of the city’s charter schools are DC-CAP has been certified as a Four Star non - come the financial obstacles by helping students serviced by DC-CAP. With more than a quarter of profit organization by Charity Navigator, obtain waivers for application and test fees, D.C.’s school-age children now attending charter America’s largest independent charity evaluator. complete financial aid applications, find funds schools, that expansion was critical. The four-star rating, its highest, indicates that for books and transportation and apply for cor - The organization’s newest initiative is the DC-CAP is exceptional at managing its finances, porate internships. Advisors also determine Alpha Leadership Project, which focuses solely exceeds industry standards and outperforms whether students qualify for DC-CAP “Last on young men, providing them with a structured most other charities in its cause category. Dollar” Awards, which help close the gap community intended to keep them out of gangs. But Rodríguez is quick to share the acco - between available financial aid and college costs. “We did a lot of research on this issue,” said lades, pointing out the involvement of parents, Qualifying students are eligible for up to $2,000 Rodríguez, “and what we kept hearing in focus teachers, counselors, mentors, principles, cor - per year for five years. groups is that these young men felt very alone. porations and foundations. “You can even fix a However, getting kids to college is just the Using the concept of a fraternity as a model, we city,” she said of the collective effort. beginning. According to Rodríguez, getting stu - developed a yearlong training program covering Just how much it has been fixed is the sub - dents into college turns out to be easier than get - aspects such as gangs, personal responsibility, ject of another DC-CAP initiative: a survey of the ting them out, i.e., graduating. DC-CAP continues manhood and study habits, complemented by a city’s last six classes to complete college. Slated to provide individual counseling and support to mentoring program.” for the summer, the survey will try to find out college students for up to five years through a Ninth-graders who complete the program are where DC-CAP alumni are living, working and toll-free hotline, on-campus visits by retention invited to join the Alpha Leadership Project, what they are earning. Rodríguez suspects that staff, regular financial aid and scholarship cor - which, like a fraternity, has a strong emphasis on many of the city’s natives are in fact returning, respondence, college tours, summer pre-college integrity, excellence and service. They also but she wants to know for sure. programs and written materials. receive a leather jacket upon induction, similar “What we knew all along was that kids will When the organization was established, its to a college varsity jacket, as a visible badge of rise or fall to your level of expectations,” she focus on college retention was unique, but today their membership. To maintain good standing in said. “We gambled on that, and we won.” And it is a more widely pursued goal by likeminded the group, students are required to participate in thanks to Rodríguez and the DC-CAP collective, organizations. Through the retention aspect, community service and student government, as the students of D.C. and the city itself will contin - many DC-CAP students have benefited from hav - well as earn good grades. ue to win as well. ing their schedules adjusted, getting help negoti - In its third year, the program has retained 88 “Care to comment? Click here ” 07/12/2010 • HISPANIC OUTLOOK 9