Memorandum of Understanding Between  Colorado State University and Alliance High School

This Memorandum of Understanding (“Memorandum” or “MOU”) is a statement of principles and agreement for collaboration between the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System, acting by and through Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, Colorado and Alliance High School located in Your Town, Colorado for the purpose of promoting and implementing the Colorado State University “Alliance Partnership.” This program is designed to facilitate the successful transition of students to pursue their education beyond high school by working collaboratively with the school and community.

1. The purpose of this Memorandum is to:
 

• a. define the means by which the Alliance Partnership will be implemented and
• b. ensure that the principles of the collaborative arrangement are clearly established, and that channels of authority, accountability, and executive action are identified.

2. This arrangement will assist Alliance High Schools to actively promote the Alliance Partnership and prepare academically qualified students to apply and enroll at Colorado State University.

3. The responsibility for the oversight and maintenance of the Alliance Partnership will rest with the Principal of Alliance High Schools and the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Access at Colorado State University.

4. The Principal at Alliance High School and the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Access at Colorado State University will, in the first instance, resolve issues regarding quality assurance and monitoring of this Memorandum of Understanding.

5. It is hoped that, as the relationship between Colorado State University and Alliance High School continues to grow, there will be a positive impact on the culture within the high school and in the local community resulting in a greater number of students who can envision themselves pursuing an education beyond high school.

6. During the period of this relationship, Colorado State University will:
 

• a. conduct at least two on-site visits for the purpose of meeting with high school officials and to provide schools with up to date information related to all activities, programs and commitments of this partnership; and
• b. make available to students and their families contact with staff from the Colorado State University Student Financial Services Office as a way to share information regarding the financial aid application process and scholarship opportunities; and
• c. develop and host a special “Family Visit Day” program in the fall for all Alliance High school students and their families; and
• d. provide students from Alliance High School the opportunity to attend the high school visit portion of the annual Colorado State University Diversity Conference; and
• e. upon mutual agreement, conduct an Alliance College Access Program at Alliance High School to provide information about Colorado State University, the admissions and financial aid/scholarship process and other information to be shared with students and their families specific to the Alliance Partnership, and
• f. Conduct during the academic year at least two official visits by the Office of Admissions representative assigned to Alliance High School to provide students with information such as, but not limited to, the Colorado State University application for admissions process, academic programs of study, financial aid and scholarship process, advising, orientation and registration opportunities, as well as the various student services and retention programs available at Colorado State; and
• g. Make available, whenever possible, Office of Admissions staff to assist with college/financial aid planning sessions and special Alliance College Access programs hosted by Alliance High School and/or the Colorado State University to share pertinent information with students and their families; and
• h. invite eligible students from Alliance High School to attend various on-campus programs and activities such as but not limited to the Black Issues Forum and the Colorado Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session; and
• i. assist qualified sophomores and juniors from Alliance High School to attend the National Hispanic Institute’s Colorado Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative (LDZ) Session by providing the Colorado LDZ Stipend in the amount of $275.00 per student who applies for and attends the Colorado LDZ summer pre-collegiate leadership program as a way to off-set the total program tuition cost; and
• j. provide to those qualified students from Alliance High School who apply, are admitted to and enroll at Colorado State University, the base Partnership Award of $2,500 per academic year for four years (with possible increased Alliance award up to the amount of Colorado resident student tuition and fees, based on the student’s documented financial need and provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress); and
• k. provide to those graduates from Alliance High School who meet all stipulations of the Alliance Transfer Award, apply, are admitted to and enroll at Colorado State University as a transfer student the base Partnership Award for of $2,500 per academic year for four years (with possible increased award up to the amount of Colorado resident student tuition and fees, based on the student’s documented financial need and provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress); and
• l. invite and encourage admitted students and their families from Alliance High School to participate in the annual Office of Admissions CSU-Connect, an early advising, registration and orientation program for admitted new freshman students; and
• m. provide students from Alliance High School who are admitted to Colorado State University, and who apply to the Colorado State Key Communities (on-campus residential) Community, priority consideration to participate in the Key Communities; and
• n. invite enrolled students from Alliance High School to Colorado State University to identify a person who has been the most influential in their high school career so that Colorado State University can properly recognize this person through the “Most Influential Educator” program; and
• o. develop each year the Alliance School Program Student Survey to be made available to Alliance High School so that it can be administered to their students on behalf of Colorado State University; and
• p. analyze the Alliance School Program Student Survey and share results with Alliance High School during the Alliance Partnership and Colorado State University spring meeting; and
• q. share with Alliance High School one half the cost of Naviance, a web-based product, to be used by designated high school counselors and/or other school officials for the purpose of working with students on their college and career plans;
• r. work with personnel in the middle school(s) that “feed” into Alliance High School with the purpose of providing information regarding Colorado State University and the college planning process to encourage and better prepare students and their families to pursue an education beyond high school; and
• s. engage currently enrolled students from Colorado State University to connect with students from Alliance High School; and
• t. provide assistance from appropriate Colorado State University faculty, staff, administrators, personnel and/or resources, programs and activities to address specific needs and issues as identified by Alliance High School; and
• u. commit to working with the Alliance High School local community to conduct an educational assessment of the community.

7. During the period of this agreement, high school counselors and other designated school officials at Alliance High School will:
 

• a. publicize and actively promote this agreement and the Colorado State University Alliance Partnership activities and special events such as the Partnership Awards for Alliance High School and Transfer Students; the Colorado Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session; the Colorado State University Black Issues Forum; the Office of Admissions Information Sessions; Student Financial Aid workshop programs; and the Colorado State University Key Communities among their students, family members, local community, and other official high school personnel; and
• b. notify students that, while enrolled at Colorado State University, satisfactory academic progress is required to ensure continuance of the Partnership Award and/or the Alliance Transfer Award; and
• c. alert students, to ensure continuance of the Partnership Award and/or the Alliance Transfer Award, that they will be required to meet with an Alliance advisor at least once a semester; and
• d. attend the Alliance Partnership and Colorado State University Meetings in the fall and spring; and
• e. extend invitation to parents to attend the fall and spring on-site Alliance Partnership meetings to ensure parent representation; and
• f. attend the annual Colorado State University “Colorado Counselor Visit” program and the separate Alliance Partnership lunch work session provided during the Colorado Counselor Visit program; and
• g. administer the annual Colorado State University Alliance Partnership Student Survey to all designated students on behalf of the Office of Admissions at Colorado State University; and
• h. utilize the Naviance web-based product, made available in part through Colorado State University, to counselors and other designated school to assist their students in the college and career planning process; and
• i. reimburse Colorado State University one half of the cost of Naviance payable at the February product renewal; and
• j. complete and submit for approval the Alliance High School On-Campus Visit Request Form and submit to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Access by September 30 for the fall semester and by January 30 for spring semester to allow adequate time for the University to prepare and conduct a special on-campus visit opportunity for prospective and admitted students and, when appropriate, their family members.

8. During the period of this agreement, both Colorado State University and Alliance High School agree to:
 

• a. monitor the various programs, activities and relationship between Colorado State University and Alliance High School as outlined under the agreement to identify and resolve any problems or issues that may arise and work cooperatively so that students can envision themselves pursuing education beyond high school; and
• b. explore, arrange for and develop other programs and activities that may better meet the needs of Alliance High School their students and families; and
• c. immediately notify each other regarding any changes in curriculum, admission requirements, scholarship opportunities or other changes would affect the future of the relationship.

9. In addition to the above terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, the following shall be observed:
 

• a. Individual applications for admission to Colorado State University from Alliance High School will be considered on the basis of merit of the student applying for admission and each application will receive a holistic review of their application by the Admissions Office Application Review Committee.
• b. Admission decisions will be made consistent with Colorado State University admission standards for entering new freshman students. Meeting these standards is not a guarantee of admission to Colorado State University, which shall be determined in each case based upon the student’s completed application and availability of space in the program for which the student is seeking admission.
• c. Individual students from Alliance High School accepted for admission by Colorado State University will be responsible for confirming their intent to enroll and paying the required enrollment deposit by May 1 unless the student seeks, qualifies for and is approved to receive an enrollment deposit deferral by either the Office of Admissions or the Student Financial Services Office staff.

10. The term of this Memorandum of Understanding shall begin on the date this MOU is executed by the parties and shall expire on August 31, 2011. An invitation to renew this MOU will be provided at the 2010 Spring Alliance Meeting with the understanding that the new MOU is to be signed by Alliance High School and returned to Colorado State University by June 1 and shall be effective September 1 of that year. Neither Colorado State University nor Alliance High School is obligated to execute a new MOU between the parties.

11. The remedy for any breach of this MOU shall be limited to the right to terminate this MOU if such breach is not cured within 30 days after notice from the non-breaching party. No party shall be liable in damages nor be entitled to any other remedy.

12. Except as specifically provided otherwise herein, neither party shall have any responsibility or obligation under this Memorandum. Each party shall be solely responsible for its own costs in implementing their respective responsibilities under this MOU.

13. The attached Confidential Information Addendum is hereby incorporated and made a part of this MOU.

Signatures:
For Alliance High School:
Designated Representative:
By: ________________________________
Date:
Name:
Title:
Dept.:
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
E-Mail:

For Colorado State University:
Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System, acting by and through Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado USA:

By:_________________________________
Date:
Name: Dr. Robin Brown
Title: Vice President for Enrollment and Access, Colorado State University

Designated Representative:
Colorado State University
By: ________________________________
Date:
Name: Mary Ontiveros
Title: Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Access, Colorado State University
Dept.: Enrollment and Access
Address: 1060 Campus Delivery
Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO 80523-1060
USAPhone: (970) 491-7197
Fax: (970) 491-0995
E-mail: mary.ontiveros@colostate.edu