Three Willowbrook staff members present during Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling Annual Conference

On April 29, three Willowbrook staff members presented during the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) Annual Conference in Itasca.

Willowbrook Director of Guidance Cathy Bendicsen moderated a presentation given by School Counselor LeVar Ammons and Community Outreach School Counselor Dana Whittaker, entitled “Increasing Access and Opportunity for African-American Students.” The presentation was given along with two other school counselors from area high schools. The focus was how research shows black students are less likely than their peers to be prepared for college academics and are continuing to enroll in and graduate from college at a lower rate. Participants were able to learn about what educators from various school districts in suburban Chicago are doing to increase the access and opportunities for black students through targeted programs that provide academic preparation and mentoring. Those programs have led to an increase in the number of black students who have enrolled in and graduated from college.

Whittaker, along with College of DuPage (COD) Admissions Representative Jose Alferez, also presented a session entitled “Set for Success – High School and Community College Transition Program.” The session detailed the COD and Willowbrook transition program that was created in fall 2013 to address the enrollment and academic achievement of underrepresented students at the community college. Research has shown students who attend the community college take longer to complete their degree and have more transient enrollment. Black, Latino and low-income students experience the most difficulty at the community-college level and are less likely to complete an associate degree and transfer to a four-year school, according to research.

To address the needs of those students, the high school and community college partnered to provide structured monthly events at Willowbrook. Those events prepare the students for enrollment and help ensure a positive college transition. As a result, the students completed their enrollment process more efficiently, which prepared them for a more successful college entrance.