The leadership at Amarillo Colleges in Texas wants nothing more than for its students to succeed. And they knew that in order to empower every student to make the most of their potential, they need to understand every student. But how? The college has operated in its community for 90 years, and the makeup of the community and the needs of students have changed dramatically over time.
In this episode, Amarillo Colleges Regent Jay Barrett and President Russell Lowery-Hart profile the college's most significant student, Maria, and explain how getting to know her has transformed the institution.
Maria is a “the typical student at Amarillo College. She’s...female. She’s first-generation; 71 percent of our students are first generation. She goes to school part time; 60 percent of our students go to class 12 (credit) hours a year. She’s working two part-time jobs. She’s the mother of at least 1.2 kids, and she’s 28 years old," according to Lowery-Hart. She is highly intelligent and tenacious—but she won't reach her potential without higher education. Maria is a composite representative of the typical Amarillo College student, and understanding her needs and motivations has proven to be the key to success for the college.
By empowering Maria as a secret shopper, asking her to write the college values, and redesigning systems around her, completion rates at the college improved from 19 percent to 48 percent over three years.
This episode was recorded live during the 50th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in San Francisco, California.
EP 136- Leadership Unlocked: The Tala Alahmar Story
EP: 135- Emerging Technologies: The Community College's Role in the Innovation Economy
EP 134- Broadening Basic Needs: Prioritizing Student Parents on Community College Campuses
EP 133: Kids on Campus: Insights and Solutions from the Field
EP: 132- Equitably Serving Learners: Lessons from the Non-Credit Alignment Lab
EP 131: The Road to NLS: A Brief Overview of the Latest Action in Washington
EP 130: Black Learner Success: Are We Missing the Mark?
EP 129: SNAP E&T (Pt. 3)- Community Colleges as Third-Party Providers
EP 128: SNAP E&T (Pt. 2): Selecting the Best Contract Structure for Your Institution
EP 127: Building a National Approach to SNAP E&T Third-Party Partnerships
EP 126: Silent Sufferers: Addressing Mental Health in the Modern Community College
EP 125: Increasing Workforce Equity through Skills-Based Hiring
EP 124: Houston Community College System vs. Wilson (featuring Ira Shepard)
On Your Radar: A Closer Look into the Legislative Priorities of the 118th Congress
Understanding the Digital Learning Pulse Survey with Cengage and Bay View Analytics
What Community Colleges Need to Know about the 2022 Federal Budget
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh Addresses Community College Leaders
Get to Know ACCT Board Chair Judge Jim Cooksey
Lumina Foundation’s Million Dollar Community College Challenge
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Addresses Community College Leaders
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
Heal, Survive & Thrive!
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast