A Holistic Approach of Access to Higher Education

Overview & Synopsis

The Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley is an educational consortium with four members: Clarkson University, State University of New York at Potsdam, State University of New York at Canton, and St. Lawrence University. Access to higher education at the Associated Colleges has been a special ongoing interest and mirrors a national concern. The Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley has found that successful opportunities for access to higher education can be increased when resources are pooled into a collaborative consortial effort. This chapter outlines a New York State Department of Education grant-funded consortial holistic program for middle and high school students who may not reach their academic potential. This program keeps the students in school, encourages academic success, shows them the benefits of higher education, and provides them with the tools for access.