A&M-San Antonio innovative in defining role as public university

The launch of several community outreach programs at Texas A&M University-San Antonio are expanding its presence beyond its campus and have the potential of improving student success dramatically.

Fledgling universities all have growing pains as they recruit students and faculty, and expand campus facilities to accommodate growth.

But at schools such as A&M-San Antonio — where the student body is 67 percent Hispanic, 74 percent are the first in their families to go to college, and the vast majority are low income — things can get complicated.

University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson’s insight into the needs of the low-performing K-12 schools feeding into her university and acknowledgment of the income segregation in the community are leading to a unique role for the public four-year institution.

It can become a laboratory of best practices, given the school’s demographics and that of the community surrounding it. The entire state should be watching.

The university is using a $50,000 grant from the San Antonio Area Foundation to pair students from Stewart Elementary School in the San Antonio Independent School District with teacher candidates in the university’s College of Education and Human Development.

The goal is to improve student academic achievement so Stewart Elementary, a chronic low performer on state accountability testing — and categorized as an “improvement required” campus — can avoid intervention by the Texas Education Agency.

The innovative program will provide invaluable training for the future teachers while providing much-needed support for students identified as at risk for dropping out.

A&M-San Antonio’s outreach to students’ families is also commendable. Families of first-generation students have no college experience to draw on as their students begin their higher education.

“We try to impart that this a job,” Teniente-Matson said. “It’s not the 13th grade.”

A&M-San Antonio is holding classes once a week for nine weeks this fall to get students’ families acquainted with college life, the university’s expectations of its students, and the role family can play in their success.

Many members of low-income families come from a mindset that they don’t belong on a college campus, that students don’t need to spend much time on schoolwork outside of class, and they should be able to shoulder the care of siblings and elder family members because they are only taking a few courses, Teniente-Matson said.

The family classes do not require the same member’s presence each week. Parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents or other family members can tag-team on attendance. The goal is simply to get the information to the family.

Anything that helps level the playing field for students is helpful. When it comes to higher education, one size does not fit all, and it is good to see A&M-San Antonio addressing issues unique to its student population as it defines its role as a public university.

Getting students to enroll in higher education is often the easy part. Ensuring student success and their continued enrollment until a degree is earned is the hard part.

College readiness is crucial. Helping students achieve their potential in the early grades is much better than trying to prepare them later through remedial education.

Providing guidance for students and their families during the first few semesters of college life could be a game-changer. Other universities with low graduation rates should pay attention to see if it works.