Minnesota College Access Network is proud to partner with St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud School District, and St. Cloud Technical College for the development of a college access pathway 2008-2009. This project is being funded by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Access and Opportunity grant program. The collaboration is one of a limited number of projects funded this year through this Minnesota State Colleges and Universities grant program.

MCAN Director, Jennifer Godinez, has provided college access program development research analysis and best practices advice for the project since fall of 2007 for implementation fall of 2008.  The partners, including Dr. Robert Johnson primary investigator for the implementation and evaluation of the project, along with leaders from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Technical College and key administrators from St. Cloud School District all agree that MCAN will play a critical role in this project.

According to Dr. Robert Johnson of St. Cloud State University: “ MCAN has the expertise and track record to provide useful information and insight to local groups and institutions seeking direction or that are engaged in implementing programs to address disparities in college attendance. The MCAN staff strives to stay abreast of emerging trends, promising practices and useful resources that can be shared with its partners. MCAN is a part of Minnesota Minority Education Partnership (MMEP), which has a long history of advocacy for underserved students, and understands the needs and the issues. MCAN is a tremendous resource for the practitioner, the policy analyst, the researcher, the community activist, the parent and the student.”

The college access programming that this partnership will provide 600 students of color and low income youth include: summer programming for academic tutoring support, school-year tutoring support, intensive course-selection advising, admissions and financial aid counseling for college entrance, and test preparation for college entrance exams. Jennifer Godinez, of MCAN, has provided research analysis, case study examples, and overall advise on developing the college access pathway at St. Cloud.

To invite the Minnesota College Access Network for a presentation on academic trends in college access and promising practices utilized to “close the gaps” in college participation for youth of color and low-income youth, please contact her at 651-645-7400 x203 or visit our website at www.mncollegeaccess.org