The Alamo Colleges District

2020 Impact Award Winner

Systems designed to serve the underserved How Alamo Colleges District created a culture of student success

The Alamo Colleges District (ACD) is a network of five institutions: Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, and St. Philip’s College (SPC). Serving over 60,000 students, the colleges are designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), with SPC as the only tandem Historically Black College/ University and HSI in the United States.

The Alamo Colleges District sought to create a student experience that emphasizes positive outcomes by combining affordability combined with comprehensive support. By focusing on student success they were able to address critical issues among diverse communities—and do it at scale across all institutions.

Alamo’s culture shift has brought results in improving student outcomes, as well as increasing their institutional reputation. ACD leveraged a Critical markers of comprehensive understanding of student data, compiled using Ellucian student success Banner, to develop new university policies that enhanced the overall college experience and drove higher success markers among students. In 2018, • 325.9% increase in 3-year ACD became the first community college district to win the Baldrige National graduation rate (2006–2018) Quality Award, with four of the five colleges appearing in the Aspen Institutes’ top 150—and in 2019, Palo Alto College was named a finalist and Rising Star. • 197.7% increase in 4-year graduation rate (2006–2018)

A framework for student success • 50% increase in the overall ACD has developed creative programs like AlamoPROMISE, where graduation rate (2014–2017) high school seniors have a chance for a no-cost community college education; AlamoADVISE, which integrates academic advising at scale; and • 61.5% increase in Hispanic AlamoINSTITUTES, which illustrates how to earn their degree with no lost time. graduation rates (2015–2018) ACD created a comprehensive outline of the student experience, from entry to completion, with its MyMAP pathways framework using Ellucian Degree • 50% increase in African- Works to support these programs. Implemented along with AlamoADVISE American graduation rates case management and academic advising and AlamoINSTITUTES for targeted (2015–2018) academic pathways, students were able to fully visualize their progress toward their degree and reduce excess credit hours. • 29% increase in veterans’ graduation rates (2015–2018) Using data for good “ACD has created an information and knowledge management ecosystem “AlamoINSTITUTES that hardwires new practices and procedures in support of the student success agenda,” Salahuddin says. With Ellucian Banner and Degree Works has resulted in in place, ACD was able to build out specific, actionable milestones for their students, and drive positive outcomes for its most vulnerable populations. decreasing time to degree from 4.6 to “Student success hinges on the effective use of student information at key decision points in the student lifecycle connection to completion. Over the 3.88 years.” years we have strengthened each area, designing, and implementing large- scale strategies and programs,” says Salahuddin. Dr. Mecca Salahuddin Director of strategic initiatives and Sustainable Change performance excellence

For such a comprehensive implementation to work, the ACD affirmed its commitment to student success, and socialized its goals across the entire college network. From initial training and scenario training to follow up and observation, the Ellucian system helped drive technological innovation as well as a new approach to student achievement.

The results are proving to be sustainable for the future, as ACD continues its work to help eliminate financial barriers to higher education. A model that prioritizes student success and positive outcomes has created a meaningful, sustainable foundation for the future of the Alamo Colleges community.