Institution:
Victoria College
Academic Level:
Associate
Designation:
Examples of Excelencia
Address:
2200 E. Red River St.
A federally funded TRiO Student Support Services project, the KEY Center (Knowledge, Exploration, and You) is dedicated to providing an academically enriching and supportive environment for its 160 student participants who are either first generation, low-income, and/or have a documented disability. The KEY Center focuses on expanding the students' knowledge base by providing individualized and group tutoring, intensive career and academic advising, counseling services, and educational enrichment workshops addressing such topics as time management, procrastination, critical thinking, financial planning, various academic workshops, and personal enrichment to further enhance students' college experiences. The program also assists students in exploring their options by providing mentoring, job shadowing, university field trips, and scholarship and grant opportunities. Additional benefits include financial aid assistance, transfer assistance, club participation, a computer lab, and access to KEY Center's varied resources. All components of the program work in sync to cultivate the academic abilities of the student.
Goal/Mission:
The goal of the KEY Center at Victoria College is to retain students who are first generation, low-income and/or have disabilities until they graduate with an associate degree and/or receive a certificate or transfer to a four-year university.
Outcome:
The KEY Center students have demonstrated higher retention rates compared to Victoria College students over a three-year period. Retention rates for Fall to Spring: (2009-10) Campus Wide: 71%, KEY Center: 86% • (2010-11) Campus Wide: 72%, KEY Center: 90% • (2011-12) Campus Wide: 71%, KEY Center: 83%. Retention rates for Fall to Fall: (2009-10) Campus Wide: 47%, KEY Center: 66% • (2010-11) Campus Wide: 51%, KEY Center: 71% • (2011-12) Campus Wide: 50%, KEY Center: 67%. KEY Center students also have higher graduation rates compared to Victoria students. Percent of Hispanic students that graduated in each program year: (2009-10) Campus Wide: 29%, KEY Center: 39% • (2010-11) Campus Wide: 31%, KEY Center: 42% • (2011-12) Campus Wide: 34%, KEY Center: 80%. In November 2011, the KEY Center was named one of the Star Award finalists by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The successful retention and graduation rates for Hispanic students can be attributed to the deliberate retention strategies and supportive services provided by the KEY Center in collaboration with other Victoria College campus offices.
