University Crossroads, a partnership of 50 universities, chambers of commerce, non- profits, and the Dallas ISD are sharing the joy of the holiday season! University Crossroads sponsored by Capital One Bank, UT Arlington, and their member institutions selected Dallas’ Stewpot and the Saturday School as the beneficiaries of their holiday service project. The organization collected over 700 coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, backpacks filled with supplies, and much more for Dallas families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.
University Crossroads Mission: To expand access to and success in higher education for first- and second-generation students from low-to-moderate income households. This mission is critical to Texas given the state’s increasing demographic shift and ethnic under-representation in higher education.
University Crossroads is one of 40 recognized P-16 Councils in the state developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to meet the state’s goals to improve college and career readiness and to annually award 210,000 undergraduate degrees and certificates.
PROGRAMS
University Crossroads runs 17 programs designed to prepare students academically, financially, socially, and culturally for educational pursuits beyond high school. These programs focus on college awareness and readiness, career exploration, and financial preparation and served 9,658 students in 2011-12.
SAT Preparation: Courses held on Saturdays and during the summer served 863 students (grades 7-12) in 2011-12 and increased scores an average of 68 points.
College Awareness: Awareness programs begin as early as sixth grade and served 7,118 students in 2011-12. These programs seek to create a college-going culture among students and their parents. Programs include visits to college campuses, interviews with college representatives, district-wide events promoting college, parent workshops in English and Spanish, and community service projects.
Finances and Scholarships: To address the financial hurdles involved in attending college, University Crossroads facilitates financial aid workshops, coordinates classes in financial literacy in partnership with community organizations, and actively raises scholarship money. Last year these programs served 1,677 students and distributed $4.7 million to 273 students through the Stars on the Rise program with the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
PRIORITIES
- Create a college-going culture among students and parents in Dallas and surrounding districts.
- Increase college awareness and advocacy throughout the 6th-12th grade continuum.
- Align programming with the “Closing the Gaps” initiative of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with the following data-driven outcomes:
- Increase the number of students who take and pass the SAT/ACT;
- Increase the number of students completing and submitting the Apply Texas admission application;
- Increase the number of students completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
