8 | UTSA | AGENTS OF CHANGE
Strategic Educational Partnerships Face Bold Challenges
UTSA Early Birds on the Rise Under the leadership of the College of Education and Human Development, the Instructional Outreach Program is dedicated to offering pathways to success for pre-college students. The program, led by Abel Gonzales, Ph.D., director, and Jillian Woolard, program manager combines first class academics, exceptional student support measures, as well as an innovative collaborative approach to refocus and reframe the dual credit discussion in the San Antonio community in regards to ‘grow your own’ dual credit models.
UTSA continues to develop innovative programs that engage students in our community and prepare them for the transition from high school to college. Over the course of the previous decade, college experience programs within COEHD have grown dramatically. As a longtime K-12 partner, our local school districts have turned to UTSA’s Early Birds Dual Credit Program to develop instructional pathways that integrate rigorous university coursework with high school endorsement pathways.
“Grow your own models aim to cultivate high performing undergraduates who enter full time studies with the academic and social skills necessary for success in their respective academic areas of interest,” Gonzales said. “By curating immersive dual credit experiences, students feel supported both academically and socially as part of the Roadrunner family.”
“Programs like UTSA’s Early Birds Dual Credit Program are providing students with the opportunity to earn significant college credit prior to high school graduation,” Jillian Woolard, programs manager, of the Instructional Outreach Program said.
Early exposure to research activities and networking events within their academic areas of interest provide confidence in their degree track choices. The program also provides targeted college preparatory services to assist in the transition from high school to college, including immersive dual credit orientations, undergraduate application, scholarship, and FAFSA assistance, monthly college preparatory workshops, as well as academic writing and research tutorials. In 2016, UTSA offered a single dual credit course with one local private school. At that time there were a total of 16 students participating in the UTSA Early Birds Dual Credit Program. This past year, UTSA increased participation into 10 San Antonio high schools. In the fall 2021 semester, the program is projecting an enrollment of over 400 students.
Participating high school students also receive critical support from both the high school and university faculty and staff throughout their participation. As part of their participation, students are provided comprehensive immersive activities to prepare them for their future degree pathways. These programs are increasing access for students from our surrounding community to university coursework, while developing their academic and social readiness that will be critical in their college persistence. “The demand for such programs has grown across the State of Texas as local school districts have focused on retooling instructional pathways that integrate more rigorous academic coursework options for students,” Gonzales said. “In addition, these dual credit courses allow students to earn college credit at no cost to the student while establishing a strong foundation for future academic success.”
