Blueprints College Access Initiative

 

Testimonies

 

 

“Forming relationships with the students is really important. I know their names and I can specifically help them. That is what is going to make this program successful.” -Blueprints Mentor

 

“I learned today that I can afford to go to college when I thought I couldn’t!” -Blueprints participant, Francis-Marion High School

“I learned that I could get scholarships from Ketchup and Walmart. I had no idea!” -Blueprints participant, Montevallo High School

Why Blueprints?

Alabama is the 7th poorest state in the nation. Over 1 in 6 Alabamians – and almost 1 in 4 children – live below the federal poverty line.

Alabama’s median household income is $9,443 less than the national average.  According to the Southern Education Foundation, 60 percent of that gap is due to Alabamians’ low educational attainment.  For every dollar earned by individuals with a bachelor’s degree, high school dropouts only earn 32 cents and high school graduates only earn 51 cents.

College graduates elevate their personal earning capacity and bring nearly $1 million in spending power back to their local communities.  Educational attainment is also a key factor in employers’ site location decisions, which in turn can create a healthier economy for all of us.

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2005, 84.1 percent of Alabama adults had a high school diploma, while only 23.1 percent had a bachelor’s degree or more.  This is far below national rates of educational attainment and negatively impacts the college-going culture. In 2006, 78 percent of students whose parents obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher enrolled in college immediately after completing their high-school education.  Students whose parents had completed high school but not college had a college enrollment rate of 56 percent, and those students who had less than a high school diploma had a college enrollment rate of 43 percent.

Alabama’s high poverty rate also adversely affects the college-going culture. According the State of Education report, in 2006 low-income students immediately enrolled college at a rate of 50.9 percent, versus 61.4 percent for middle-income students and 80.7 percent for high-income students.

The Blueprints College Access Initiative creates a college-positive culture, inventories existing college access programs, holds college access workshops, creates opportunities for parents to engage in the college application process, builds community support, provides multiple opportunities for high school students to visit college campuses and equips new high school graduates for college success.

What is Blueprints?

Blueprints is a direct service-learning experience for college students to provide college access counseling and mentoring to low-income high school students. Eight in-classroom workshops are combined with after-school support, financial aid information and relationships with college mentors to create a college-positive culture. Sessions cover topics from financial aid and financial literacy to career assesments, resume building, interview skills and choosing the right school.

Blueprints creates opportunities for both students and parents to engage in the college application process, builds community support, provides opportunities for high school students to visit college campuses and equips new high school graduates for post-graduation success. After piloting the program with high school juniors and seniors, the Blueprints Initiative has adapted to address the needs of freshman and sophomore students, giving them plenty of time to plan, prepare and pursue their desired career or college plans.

Blueprints is a partnership between APP, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Montevallo, Judson College, Center High School, Woodlawn High School, Montevallo High Schoool and Francis Marion High School.

Sponsorship

Blueprints receives funding from the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, Walmart Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Independent Presbyterian Church Foundation and BBVA Compass Foundation.

Get involved:

  • Organize college visits with local high school students: email Hannah Selles to get started.
  • Become a mentor: connect with Blueprints programs currently underway in Tuscaloosa (at the University of Alabama), Marion (through Judson College), Montevallo (at the University of Montevallo) and Birmingham (with UAB).
  • Donate to APP to help cover the costs of materials and staffing