11/05/2013 Mr. Jose Luis Gomez University of Texas at El Paso 500 W.

University El Paso, Texas 79902 Re: Early College High School Initiative Expansion to The University of Texas at El Paso and Further Funding

Dear Mr. Gomez: We are pleased to present this proposal for your review. We look forward to having your participation and approval for the Early College High School Initiative to be implemented at the University of Texas at El Paso. The objective of the Early College High School Initiatives participation at UTEP is to expand and give more underprivileged and underrepresented high school students a greater chance for success in their futures. Since 2002, underprivileged and underrepresented high school students have been given the opportunity to dually earn high school and college credit through this program. This has further given participating students, not only a taste of college, but the opportunity to get a head start at earning college credit. It has allowed these students to become more successful and competitive in their future endeavors. We appreciate you taking interest in considering UTEP as a partner institution, to further assist these students with an opportunity to succeed. Please contact us via telephone at 000-000-0000 or email at EarlyCollegeHighSchoolInitiativeProposal@UTEP.edu if you require further information concerning this proposal. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Eduardo Lozano Leopoldo Hernandez Elizabeth Soto

Early College High School Initiative Expansion to The University of Texas at El Paso and Further Funding

Submitted To: Jose Gomez, Greater Texas Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas November 5th, 2013

Eduardo Lozano Elizabeth Soto Leopoldo Hernandez University of Texas at El Paso Work Place Writing Students 500 West University Avenue El Paso, Texas 79901

Project Abstract The Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI) is a program created since 2002 serving more than 75,000 students in 28 states and the District of Colombia. This program was created so that underprivileged and underrepresented youth can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associates degree or up to two years of credit towards a Bachelors degree at no cost to them. According to a 2009 study on the demographic characteristics of Texas High School graduates, 38% of these graduates are economically disadvantaged. Approximately 82% of El Paso Countys 19,842 students are provided the opportunity of an education at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Since El Paso, Texas is a border city, it not only serves local students but also foreign student visa holders from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, approximately 10% of the student population at UTEP. Currently, The El Paso Community College (EPCC) is the designated/partner institution coordinating this program. Since the creation of The Early College High School Initiative, in Texas alone, the enrollment in this program has in creased 138% from 2003 to 2009. While UTEP accepts transferring credit hours, it is proposed that The University of Texas at El Paso become an addition as a partner institution of this program to accommodate the growing enrollment population. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation currently fund the Early College High School Initiative. Since it is only Start-up funding, further funding is needed to maintain this program at its respective institutions. Since the program works in conjunction with Colleges and High Schools, appropriated funds are assigned at the participating High Schools. The cost to maintain this program is approximately 5 to 12 percent more than the cost of normal public high schools. In order maintain this program, more funding is needed to allow these underprivileged and underrepresented students to have a greater chance at not only earning college credit, but also a head start to earning a college degree at no cost to them. Statement of Need According to an overview of the ECHSI, only 65% of low-income students who start high school will obtain a diploma. Forty-five percent of students who obtain a diploma will enroll in college and only 11% who enroll in college will complete a postsecondary degree. Another educational overview study done in 2009 of El Paso, Texas, states that almost 50% of high school graduates do not enroll in Post Secondary Education immediately after. Only 1% of these students ever complete a degree. UTEP has more than 22,740 students enrolled of which it is approximated that less than 35% of undergraduates will complete their coursework in 6 years as opposed to a preferred 4 year degree plan. There are many factors responsible for such low percentages. Poverty is a main contributor along with opportunity. Since The El Paso Community College is the designated ECHSI institution, expansion will eventually be necessary to the growing enrollment of this program. Many of the courses that are dual credit can only be taken at the El Paso Community College and later are transferable to UTEP. With the addition of UTEP as a partner ECHSI entry

institution, a greater opportunity will be provided for these students to get a head start at their college careers and have a greater chance at completing a degree plan without having to transfer schools. Since The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation only provides start-up funding, additional funding is essential not only for the implementation of this program at UTEP but to continue to assist in the current participating institutions. According to an overview of the ECHSI, start-up resources are catalytic, but they are minimal compared to the ongoing operating budgets of early college high schools. It is estimated that early college high school funding ranges from 5 to 12 percent more than the costs of regular public high schools. Another estimated $130 million to date in funding for the ECHSI has been utilized to provide this opportunity to enrolled students. These two factors are essential in assisting these students to attend college at an early stage in which they will have a greater chance to continue and acquire a degree. Cost Analysis As stated before, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are the initial funders for the start-up of the ECHSI at the respective partnership of participating institutions. According to a 2004 study conducted by Michael Webb, Ed.D., implementation of the ECHSI on a university campus, specifically UTEP, total costs for pre-implementation/planning of the program would be an estimated $485,232. The cost of actual implementation would be an estimated $11,547,539. This brings the total cost of implementation and continuation of the ECHSI at UTEP to approximately $12,032,771. Since this approximation was taken from the mentioned 2004 study, some consideration must be taken on growing tuition fees based on time and region. Program Description The Early College High School Initiative allows students to graduate from High School with a High School Diploma and college credit towards an Associates or Bachelors degree. Since the only college level entry institution participating at this time is The El Paso Community College, expansion of the program to UTEP would be giving the growing enrollment of these underprivileged and underrepresented students the opportunity to enroll and participate. Continuing funding would further create the accessibility to the growing enrollment rate as well as any and all students that would like to participate. Since The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation only provide start-up funding, additional funding is essential not only for the implementation of this program at UTEP but to continue to assist in the current participating institutions.

References National Early College Conference is a website providing an Overview of Early College High School and Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.earlycolleges. Org/). Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Changes in the Demographic Characteristics of Texas High School Graduates. (2003-2009). Retrieved from http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2454.PDF?CFID=3144467&CFTOKEN=7 8804274 Webb, M., Ed. D. (2004 November) What Is the Cost of Planning and Implementing Early College High School? Retrieved from http://www.earlycolleges.org/Downloads/FinanceReport.pdf (2013-2014). Early College High School UTEP Handbook. Retrieved from The University of Texas at El Paso, Office for Undergraduate Studies Web site: http://academics.utep.edu/Portals/1897/images/Online%20Forms/2013-2014ECHS-Student-Handbook.pdf FSG Social Impact Consultants. (2011 February). El Paso Regional Overview. Retrieved from http://greatertexasfoundation.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/03/El-Paso-Short-Research-Loop-FINAL.pdf Bowen, S. (2010, October 14). Funding Early College High Schools. Maine Freedom Forum. Retrieved from file:///Users/kalel22829/Documents/Funding%20Early%20College%20High%20S chools%20%7C%20Maine%20Freedom%20Forum.webarchive Tresaugue, M. (2007, January 30). UTEP graduation rate among lowest in nation. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.chron.com/news/houstontexas/article/UTEP-graduation-rate-among-lowest-in-nation-1841168.php Goals and Objectives The overall objective of this proposal is to expand the opportunity for, not only, underprivileged and underrepresented students to participate in the Early College High school Initiative, but to also give a higher volume of students the opportunity to participate. By proposing the program to designate The University of Texas at El Paso as a participating institution, it accommodates the growing enrollment of these students as well as another option to pursue this opportunity to obtain college credit towards an Associates and or Bachelors degree. In Addition to the expansion, further funding assists with the continuation of this program. Overall success will be

based on the enrolled students opportunity to obtain college credit towards a postsecondary educational degree.