At COM, we offer college preparation courses to help both existing COM students and high school students planning for college to sharpen academic skills, improve test scores and build self-esteem. Let us help you feel confident as you embark on your college career at COM.
Academic Success – offers existing COM students courses and tutoring in developmental math, reading and writing.
Upward Bound – a federal program to help low-income, first-generation high school students prepare for college.
Texas Success Initiative – a state program designed to improve student success in college; it features developmental instruction and a skills assessment.
Plus, COM is part of a national initiative called Achieving The Dream, a multiyear national initiative to help more community college students succeed, particularly low-income students and students of color.
Academic Success – This department offers courses in developmental math, reading and writing to help you sharpen your skills and succeed in your college classes. Because students are our top priority, we also offer tutoring in these subjects and a counselor who can further assist you. Our Academic Success Lab is open to all students who need a little extra guidance in their course work.
Click here to learn more about the Academic Success Department. You can also contact Cindy Cobb at 409-933-8677 or 888-258-8859, Ext. 8677, as well as via email at ccobb3@com.edu.
Upward Bound – This federal TRIO program hosted by the U.S. Department of Education targets low-income, first-generation high school students and helps prepare them for college. As an Upward Bound student, you can get help improving your high school GPA, increasing standardized test scores, boosting self-esteem and applying to college.
- Fall/Spring – Services include Saturday meetings at COM, tutoring at area high schools, social events, enhancement in English/math/science, career awareness, educational/cultural field trips, study skills, academic advisement, individual/group counseling, parental involvement and academic competition.
- Summer – Services include a six-week academic institute at COM for students, recreational component, simulated college environment and intensive academic instruction.
To qualify for Upward Bound, you must be at least 14 years old and enrolled in 9th or 10th grade at Dickinson, Hitchcock or La Marque High Schools. You must also demonstrate academic potential, meet income guidelines and be a first-generation potential college student. If you meet these requirements, download the Upward Bound application and return the completed forms to the Upward Bound office.
You can stop by the Upward Bound office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. We are located in the Student Center, Room 203B. You can also call us at 409-933-8525 or 888-258-8859, Ext. 8525. Fax us at 409-933-8029.
Contact our community member Lionel Deluna at 409-933-8136.
2011–2012 Upward Bound Calendar
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) – This state-legislated program is designed to improve your success in college. There are two components of TSI. First, we assess your basic skills in reading, mathematics and writing. Next, based on that assessment, we provide developmental instruction to strengthen the academic skills that need improvement.
To learn more, click here. You can also direct questions to the COM Testing Center (409-933-8379) or the Academic Advising Department (409-933-8297).
Achieving The Dream (ATD) – COM is part of the national “Achieving the Dream” initiative designed to help community college administrators address the growing number of students who are dropping out of college before earning their degrees and certificates.
As an ATD institution, COM identifies student populations that are experiencing low rates of success, develops interventions to improve student outcomes and measures changes in student success. The goal is to help students:
- Successfully complete development courses and progress to credit-bearing courses
- Enroll in and successfully complete gatekeeper courses
- Complete the courses they take with a grade of C or higher
- Re-enroll from one semester to the next
- Earn certificates and degrees
To help accomplish these goals, COM implements various student success strategies that include:
- Restructuring the student advisement system
- Developing and implementing a first-year experience course
- Providing professional development for faculty and staff on topics such as preferred learning styles, cultural influences on learning and the effects of generational poverty.
To learn more, click here.