Methods

What is college access? What do college access programs do?

College access services and programming are the means to build pathways and supports between secondary education and post-secondary education, and ultimately close the gap that exists between the two.

The gap between secondary and post-secondary education exists for a multitude of reasons, and so college access is carried out through many varying but interrelated methods. The gap can have to do with academic preparation and rigor, social and cultural norms and capital, infrastructure and administrations (or lack thereof), geography, socioeconomic status, and a multitude of other factors and barriers.

Because access to, and attainment of education affects and is critical to varying facets of our everyday life (namely our standard of living), college access work is carried out by several sectors - from direct service non-profits, economic and workforce development programs and systems, institutions of higher education, government, private businesses to school districts, themselves.

A 2009 study studied this gap and found that the supports necessary to help fill in the gap are academic and social supports that fall into five categories: Emotional, Instrumental, Informational, and Appraisal.

Members of the Ohio College Access Network seek to move the needle in terms of college readiness and success by employing these concepts. Their work is about action steps that build bridges, fill in, and ultimately close the gap between secondary and post secondary education for Ohio students.

The work of the network advances college attainment in Ohio by informing families and students on what it takes, what it means, and how to access post secondary education, equipping students and families with the tools and skills necessary to navigate, enter, and succeed in our changing workforce, and supporting students and families by bolstering and affecting systemic change and creating strategic partnerships that leads to clearer paths through education.