About the Collaborative
Who We Are
The Virginia Tech College Access Collaborative aims to increase academic preparation, access and affordability for first-generation, low-income, underrepresented minorities (Black, Latino, and Native American), women and students from rural and inner-city communities.
Virginia Tech's College Access Collaborative is an organizational unit dedicated to college access. Consistent with Virginia Tech's land-grant mission, institutional motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and InclusiveVT initiative, the university is committed to supporting and enhancing a more diverse undergraduate student body.
How We Do It
Currently, Virginia Tech serves the commonwealth through partnerships with communities in low high school attainment and low matriculation to post-secondary education. The collaborative, formed in summer 2016, seeks to expand these partnerships.
The College Access Collaborative includes both outreach and engagement using a multipronged programming framework supporting parents, students, teachers and counselors.
Why We Do It
The College Access Collaborative builds on the highly successful model program with An Achievable Dream Academy in Newport News. The partnership began in 2009 in an effort to help the academy promote the success of first-generation, low-income and underrepresented minority students. To support the collaboration, Virginia Tech provides resources to the school, including peer and faculty mentoring, parent engagement, skills development workshops, teacher and counselor professional development, curricular and pedagogical development, and financial support for Academy graduates who enroll at Virginia Tech.
Service Regions
The collaborative is a vital member of the Enrollment Management team joining Undergraduate Admissions, University Scholarships and Financial Aid, and Summer Sessions in our efforts to attract and to enroll a diverse student population.
Since the needs of each school and community differ, our partnership with each reflects their identified needs and the ways they believe Virginia Tech can best assist them. Our shared goal is to increase high school degree attainment and to increase the numbers of students matriculating to college, ideally to Virginia Tech.
If you have questions, or need additional information, feel welcome to contact us at access@vt.edu.