Dear PCPR Community, The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR) has been a leader and advocate for college access and success in the Greater Philadelphia Region for over 30 years. PCPR emerged from a group of committed college access and attainment practitioners who started networking in 1992 with the intent of sharing information that could maximize their own knowledge and better support students’ college aspirations. Today, the Network is still driven by a community of volunteer practitioners, which includes participants from organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. From its inception, PCPR has supported over 2,000 individuals from a wide range of nonprofits, K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and businesses. Over the years, the focus of PCPR has expanded beyond information sharing to include a broader range of activities for supporting practitioners; however, the focus on the success of students in achieving a college education has remained a constant objective of the work. Today, our focus is primarily on three strands of work: 1) Developing and strengthening a community of practitioners in the Philadelphia region through networking and professional development opportunities; 2) Contributing our expertise to school district and city level conversations to enhance college access and attainment strategies and practices; 3) Advocating for strong, comprehensive, effective college access and attainment policies and practices for students in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
The aspirations and goals of PCPR are reflected in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. As we reimagined our work through the strategic planning process, we refined the core values which underscore our commitment to equitable college access and completion for traditionally underserved students. Our plan further advances the focus on high quality professional development for our growing ecosystem. The initiatives that we will undertake represent innovative ways to impact the systemic and structural inequities that are interwoven through the lives of underserved communities across the Greater Philadelphia Region.
I am pleased to share this Impact Report, which presents some of our most significant accomplishments over the past year. PCPR expresses its deepest thanks and appreciation to all who have volunteered their time and talents, and supported our efforts through generous in-kind contributions and donations. We are enthusiastic about the years ahead of us, and strive to create a transformational and lasting impact on the education community at large.
With Gratitude,
| Our Mission
The mission of the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable is to continuously enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of college access and success stakeholders who help students matriculate and graduate from institutions of higher education.
| Our Vision
The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable will be the premiere network of professionals who use college access and success resources, training, and tools to enhance the opportunity for individuals to adapt to and thrive in a global and increasingly complex society.
Our Impact
Since its inception, PCPR network members have assisted thousands of students in navigating post-secondary education. PCPR has also expanded into training for practitioners to better serve the students of the Philadelphia area. Professional development is key to PCPR’s mission.
The Need
PCPR has long recognized the need for equity in college access and success in the Greater Philadelphia Region. As in many regions in the United States, a disparity in educational access exists between affluent and underserved communities. The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable is committed to bridging this gap.
Who We Served
Over 500 network subscribers
Over 600 meeting registrants & attendees
Our members are affiliated with:
40 institutions of higher education
23 college access & success programs
23 CBOs & other nonprofits
8 foundation & philanthropic organizations
6 professional organizations
School District of Philadelphia and 8 Philadelphia charter school networks
Our Work
We’re working to close the equity gap in education access & success for students in the Philadelphia area. Here’s how:
1.
Providing solution-focused education and training that target the ever-changing issues in academic preparedness, college admissions, financial aid, and parent participation, to increase the effectiveness of college planning support.
2.
Empowering college access practitioners who serve students that may lack access, information, and resources for entry and completion at post-secondary institutions. We accomplish this through relevant, area-specific training and skill-building.
3.
Continuously fostering long-term relationships with success practitioners, but also with thought leaders, local, state and federal government officials and regional postsecondary insitutitions creates a network that strengthens local communities and uplifts students.
Equity-minded and access-oriented, PCPR aims to stay up to date and offer the highest quality assistance to the practitioners serving students who need it most. With a track record of 30 years of success, PCPR is a leader in college access.
Leadership Perspectives
Dr. Kristin Austin
“The overwhelming statistics show that the more higher education individuals attain, the higher their earning power, the more stable their healthcare, and the more likely they are to influence generational behaviors. Those three things cannot be refuted.”
Akil Bello
“College access is important in creating an equitable outcome for society.”
Marie Bigham
“Having a college degree, especially in racialized neighborhoods, can have community-wide impact in terms of equity and generational wealth. A college degree can clear the pathway tor generational wealth.”
Financials (2021 - 2022)
At a Glance
$55,000
Grants Received
$4,500
Institutional Member Donations
$2,959
Individual Member Donations
$12,500
Partner Contributions
Grants Received
Our Partners
Institution Members
Philadelphia Futures
Summer Search
University of Pennsylvania - VPSE
Sallie Mae
Temple College of Education & Human Development
West Chester University
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Philadelphia
Imhotep Institute Charter High School
Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development
Let's Get Ready
Legacy Bridges STEM Academy, Inc
Aspira, Inc of PA
Olney Charter High School
Philadelphia Youth Network
Hope Partnership for Education
Harlem Lacrosse (Philadelphia)
What's Ahead
Investing in the Future
PCPR has been uplifting underserved communities for 30 years, and we intend to continue for as long as possible into the future. Critical to reaching this goal is to expand our membership, partnerships, and financial resources.
We will continue to seek funding to move from a volunteer driven entity to an organization with a fully paid staff. As an organization that has strived to improve college access in Philadelphia since 1992, PCPR is a pioneer in this field, and we shall continue to be a forerunner and expand on our work even further.
PCPR as a Thought Leader
PCPR aspires to be a thought leader on contemporary issues that impact college access/success by establishing a greater presence in the policy/legislative arena.
Expanding the PCPR Network
PCPR aims to expand beyond the Philadelphia region and throughout the US in order to strengthen the PCPR name and reach throughout the higher education pipeline. Additionally, we are working to further establish PCPR University as the premier professional development vehicle for college access and attainment practitioners.
Make an Impact
PCPR has been uplifting underserved communities for 30 years, and we intend to continue for as long as possible into the future. Expanding our membership, partnerships, and financial resources is critical to reaching this goal.
