College of DuPage partnership helps high school students prepare for SAT and college success

Students at Lake Park High School in Roselle planning to take the SAT college admissions test are getting additional test-taking tips and other prep help thanks to a partnership with the College of DuPage Continuing Education program.

Launched last fall, the program provides students weekly virtual test preparation from a COD instructor during students' scheduled lunch period. Participating students receive an overview of the SAT exam, test-taking tips and techniques to increase confidence and speed when completing the math, reading, English and essay sections.

An offshoot of Continuing Education's Youth Academy program test preparation and tutoring offerings, the SAT program has supported 163 students this academic year, said COD Continuing Education Coordinator Miranda Jimenez.

While the initial fall offering served a cohort of 88 Lake Park seniors with the goal of engaging students who had previously taken an SAT test prep class. Jimenez said the spring session, which included more than 75 Lake Park juniors, was focused on English language learners as well as students who have not previously been exposed to the SAT.

"Our goal is to help students become familiar with the SAT style questions and expectations and develop learning strategies while covering the basics of each section of the exam," she said. "We also provide guidance on supplemental materials for students to review outside of the classroom."

Ebony Baker, Lake Park High School administrator and Assistant Principal for Student Development, said she is pleased with the partnership with College of DuPage.

"We have gotten very positive feedback from students and their parents," she said. "We are grateful for the collaboration with COD which enables our students to interact with COD staff and to prepare them for their post-secondary options no matter their career route."

Jimenez said Continuing Education has plans to review the program's fall and spring sessions, including tracking the progress and success of participating students, to help expand its offerings with Lake Park and develop similar partnerships with area high schools. She added that partnerships like the one with Lake Park High School serve the needs of the community while bringing the COD's programs and resources to a broader audience.

"Partnerships with area high schools, as well as internal stakeholders, ensure we can amplify our college's amazing resources, credit and non-credit initiatives while serving a diverse group of student learners," she said. "In addition, the increased exposure to the college helps contribute to the awareness of our multiple programs offered at COD."

Learn more about the Continuing Education program at www.cod.edu/academics/continuing_education/.

College of DuPage is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 21,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The college grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.