College awareness tour aims to increase higher education enrollment

By Jordan Gass-Pooré
University News Service
August 2, 2011

The Texas State University-San Marcos Office of Community Relations is “closing the gaps” in Texas higher education participation and success with College Awareness Tours.

The campus tours are part of the College for Texans Goal One “Close the Gaps” campaign launched in November 2002 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Goal One is an aggressive effort to enroll 500,000 “academically prepared” students to Texas universities, community colleges and technical colleges by 2015.

The Office of Community Relations has hosted College Awareness Tours to more than 10,000 area students since 2002.

Texas State student volunteers have supervised campus tours and conducted college life panels and presentations with San Marcos Housing Authority youth.

“Our goal is to expose kids from public housing to the wide variety of career possibilities,” said Stewart Dale Spencer, San Marcos Housing Authority resident services director. “When they see the campus and talk to the students and professors, they become inspired to reach higher. We will be there to help make sure that spark of inspiration turns into a burning passion for lifelong learning.”

To find out how to help or to request a College Awareness Tour, call the Office of Community Relations at (512) 245-9645 or visit www.txstate.edu/community.