Transcript CIGF – UMASS Boston
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Meeting | May 7, 2013
Completion Incentive Grant Fund Financial Aid Pilot Program
2013 EASFAA Conference - Boston, MA
MASSACHUSETTS COMPLETION INCENTIVE GRANT FUND
PRESENTERS
Iris Godes, Assistant Vice President – Enrollment Quinsigamond Community College
Pamela McCafferty, Dean of Enrollment Management Fitchburg State University
Judy Keyes, Director of Financial Aid University of Massachusetts Boston
Clantha McCurdy, Senior Deputy Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
A Public Agenda for Higher Education in Massachusetts
The Vision Project: The Vision
*****
We will produce the best-educated citizenry and workforce in the nation.
We will be a national leader in research that drives economic development
.
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The Vision Project
Outcomes
College-going rates of high school graduates
Graduate and student success rates
Alignment of degree production with key areas of workforce need
Academic achievements on campus-level and national assessments of learning
Comparable learning outcomes among different student population groups
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Problem
When students drop out of college, Massachusetts does not get a
full return on its investment
, and students are
left in debt without a credential.
The Question
Can financial aid resources be used in innovative ways to
increase student certificate and degree completion rates?
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Process
Working Group on Graduation and Student Success Rates
Commissioned background paper on financial aid incentive policies Recommended that Massachusetts leverage financial aid resources to increase student success Recommended specialized working group—
Financial Aid Policy Advisory Group
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Process
Financial Aid Policy Advisory Group
Charged to design the framework and guidelines for financial aid pilot program that: ▪ Will increase completion rates for degrees and certificates ▪ Will target low-income students at our public institutions ▪
Is based on evidence-based research
▪
Is scalable
Financial Aid Pilot Program
Policy Advisory Group
Membership was representative of public college campuses and external stakeholders Work of the Policy Group was guided by national experts David Longanecker, President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Brian Prescott , Director of Policy Analysis and Research Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Research
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Outcome – Research Pilot
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Will run from Fall 2012 to Spring 2016 Targets low-income, first-time students ▪ One cohort - comprised of students from 11 colleges and universities representing all segments of public higher education ▪ 3,500 students randomly divided into two groups, Control and Treatment
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
How Will It Work
$3 million dollar annual projected expenditure
2,000 maximum grant per year
$8,000 over four-year period
Students may earn incentive during summer if annual maximum award was not received during traditional fall & spring semesters
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
How Will It Work?
Students must:
Earn 9–15 credits per semester with
minimum GPA of 2.0
Maintain continuous enrollment up to four years Sign contract of understanding Utilize campus support
services
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
How Will It Work?
Students will receive incentive grants in increments of $100 per credit each
semester as follows:
▪ 15 credits in a semester =
$1000
12 credits in a semester =
$700
4-year students must complete a minimum of 12 credits to receive the incentive
9 credits in a semester =
$400
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
How Will It Work?
Institutions must:
Agree to program guidelines Provide students with array of
academic support services
Report institutional data as required
Program will be evaluated: Quantitative and Qualitative
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Program Evaluation
Evaluation will begin with the initial year of the pilot: Quantitative Evaluation Internal External Evaluator Qualitative Analysis External Evaluator
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Evaluation
The analysis/evaluation of the pilot will focus on the following questions:
What effect does the CIGF pilot have on the rates at which students accumulate college level credit, the rate at which they persist, transfer, and complete degrees and certificates?
How do these rates differ for students by race/ethnicity, sex, age, first generation status, income , level of academic preparation, among other characteristics?
To what extent does participating in the pilot affect student financial aid packages and their choices about how to finance their education (especially the balance between grants, work and loans)?
Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund
College Participants
EASFAA 2013
Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Iris Godes Assistant Vice President Enrollment Management
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
Implementation
Sample selected in late August Students required to sign an Agreement Wanted students to learn about the program in person through information sessions Sent letter and email to Treatment Group Offered multiple sessions - morning, afternoon and evening Did not get a great response
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
Implementation Con’t
Extended deadline and offered more sessions More emails, another letter, phone calls, faculty If parents knew, it helped, but we have many non-traditional students By end of October, started allowing students to come to the Financial Aid Office to sign the agreement in person
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
Can’t Give Money Away
Students thought it was a scam Students thought they would have to pay it back like a loan Students bills were covered so they didn’t feel they needed the funds Students don’t read what we send them
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
QCC Data
347 invited to participate 255 signed agreements (73.5%) 30 never signed agreement (8.6%) 62 became ineligible or chose not to participate (17.9%)
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
How Did They Do?
158 received fall awards (62%) Total of $100,200 Minimum award $400 (9 credits completed) Maximum award $1,000 (15 credits completed)
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
Control Group
326 students 13 became ineligible 59% completed at least 9 credits
Credit Distribution
44,6% 37,9% 7,2% 4,6% 4,1% 0,0% 1,5% 9 credits 10 credits 11 credits 12 credits 13 credits 14 credits 15+ credits
CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College
Where Are They Now?
How many CIGF enrolled at least 9 credits?
How many enrolled for more credits than earned in fall?
How does this compare to control group?
How does this compare to college fall-spring retention rate?
EASFAA 2013
Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Pamela McCafferty, Dean Enrollment Management Fitchburg State University
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
CIGF Population Fall 2012
Control Group: 98 Treatment Group: 130 4 did not enroll 1 refused to sign 125 signed participation agreement (96%) ▪ 4 later deemed ineligible ▪ 3 EFC ▪ 1 Residency ▪ 121 potentially eligible for payment
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Award Recipients Fall 2012
• 121 potential recipients 106 qualified for payment (88%) $96,100 awarded Average and median GPA: 2.95
Average credits earned: 14 Median credits earned: 15 Average award: $907 Median award: $1,000
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Non Qualifiers Fall 2012
121 potential recipients 15 did not qualify for payment (12%) 3: GPA < 2.0
4: Earned Credits < 12 7: Earned Credits < 12 and GPA < 2.0
1: Withdrew from the University
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Control Group
91 “potential recipients” 71 “qualified for payment” (78%) Average GPA 3.16
Median GPA: 3.24
Average credits earned: 14 Median credits earned: 15 Average award: $921 Median award: $1,000
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Implementation Timeline
Sampling file submitted to DHE early August Treatment & control groups identified mid-August FSU mailed out letters to treatment group late August
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Participation Agreement Process
125 agreements signed Letters with contract mailed prior to start of term Mandatory group meeting second week of term 79 students attended (63%) Follow-up then done one-on-one 18 within 1 week (77%) 16 within the next week (90%) All signed by mid November
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Payment Process
Coordinated effort with Student Accounts Expedited effort at end of term Award “options” Outstanding fall bill (rare) Reduction of loan Refund
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Reporting to DHE
Initial Sampling File August Online Award Certification (Dec/Jan) End of Term data file (January)
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Challenges
Quick implementation timeline New Program (“kinks” to work out)
CIGF – Fitchburg State University
Benefits
106 needy students received additional grant funds Many students reduced loans Greater awareness of course load and time to complete
EASFAA 2013
Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Judy Keyes, Director of Financial Aid University of Massachusetts Boston
CIGF – UMASS Boston
CIGF Population
447 Eligible Students • 203 Control Group • 244 Treatment Group
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Participation Agreements
216 Signed Participation Forms 4 signed and later deemed ineligible 24 did not respond/declined
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Treatment Group Fall 2012 Qualified Applicant Statistics • • • • • • 170 qualified to receive funds $147,400 awarded Average GPA 3.174
Average credits achieved 13.0
Average award $852 Median award $850
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Treatment Group Fall Ineligible Reasons 3 Enrolled part-time 8 GPA below 2.0
18 Earned less than 12 credits 16 Earned less than 12 credits and GPA below 2.0
3 Withdrew from the University 1 Insufficient need/Cost of Attendance
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Control Group Statistics
Average GPA 2.861
Average credit achieved 13.13
1 Part-time enrollment 9 GPA below 2.0
16 earned less than 12 credits 17 Less than 12 credits earned and GPA below 2.0
CIGF – UMASS Boston
CIGF Implementation Challenges
Timing of implementation System preparation Soliciting student participation Student support needed to answer questions Coordination of aid Disbursing funds
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Soliciting Student Participation
• • • • 1 st Notification to students sent via email on 8/31; due date 9/24 Mid-September Academic Support Services makes follow up phone calls to students who have not signed agreement Late September “Final Notice” letter sent via mail and email; due date October 5th Early October Financial Aid reaches out to student specific support liaisons such as CLA First, BPS, CSM Success Center
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Coordination of Aid
Most students were fully packaged Commuter school; funds are needed early on to pay rent, parking, transportation Full scholarship students were not excluded from initial selection file Reducing loans on a semester basis is challenging
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Coordinating Disbursement
Spring charges are on the student accounts before fall CIGF grant is credited; therefore no apparent credit balance Worked with Bursar’s Office to identify students and manually force excess funds
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Program Benefits
170 needy students received additional grant funds Many students declined student loans in lieu of CIGF Students are more engaged with the Financial Aid Office Supports the University’s retention efforts “Start on Track, Stay on Track” More students seeking advice regarding course enrollment, transferring, etc.
QUESTIONS
MASSACHUSETTS COMPLETION INCENTIVE GRANT FUND (CIGF)