For the first time since the inception of the program three years ago, both DeSoto and Lancaster High Schools have successfully gotten 100% of their seniors to complete the Dallas County Promise.  Successful completion of the Dallas County Promise includes completing the Promise pledge form, applying to the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) through the ApplyTX college application process and submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).

Once enrolled in one of the DCCCD colleges, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, complete at least 18 credit hours per year, and re-file their FAFSA or TASFA application to continue to receive tuition benefits at DCCCD colleges.  Upon successful completion of the program, qualified students are eligible to transfer to partner institutions, including the University of North Texas at Dallas, Prairie View A&M University and Southern Methodist University, to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

With 57 participating high schools in the DCCCD program, DeSoto and Lancaster join 35 other high schools in achieving 100%.  For DeSoto High School, this is the third year in a row of achieving 100%.  This year, DeSoto was highlighted by the DCCCD and asked to conduct presentations on their strategies for success.  For Lancaster, when school leadership determined that they were close to getting all 444 seniors to complete this process before the February 7th deadline, the final 50 seniors were  tracked and assisted in completing the process in the final two days.

AdviseTX is part of the national College Advising Corps, an ever growing consortium of more than 30 partner institutions (including The University of Texas at Austin) around the country who have committed to recruit and train talented, enthusiastic recent college graduates to serve as college advisers within designated high schools in 17 states.

Through this nationwide consortium of colleges and universities, the program aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education. By placing recent graduates of partner institutions as college advisers in underserved high schools and community colleges, the programs work in communities across the country to provide the advising and encouragement that students need to navigate college admissions.

Advisers work full-time to help students plan their college searches, complete admissions and financial aid applications and enroll at schools that will serve them well.

The University of Texas at Austin manages 22 college advisers who serve in 23 high schools within 13 school districts in Central Texas, Houston, Dallas, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley.  These advisers serve in their high schools for a maximum of two years.

For more information, contact Cheryl Sawyer, AdviseTX Program Director at 512-471-6173 or cheryls@austin.utexas.edu.