college possible connects: innovation in low-income students' college success
TRANSCRIPT
College Possible Connects
Innovation in Low-Income Students'
College Success
Aileen Aragones, Program Manager
7.9.15
Introduction to College Possible
• College Possible helps promising,
low-income students become
college graduates.
• Pairs low-income students with
AmeriCorps coaches.
• Serve 18,000 students in six metropolitan areas
(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Milwaukee, WI;
Omaha, NE; Portland, OR; Philadelphia, PA;
Chicago, IL.)
Introduction to College Possible
• Low-income students transition from high school
to college and persist through college at
significantly lower rates than their higher income
peers.
• Barriers to college:
• Absence of a guide
• Lack of prep for ACT/SAT
• Complexity of aid process
• Inadequate prep for the
college experience
Introduction to College Possible
• In partnership with high schools and colleges,
College Possible offers:
• AmeriCorps Coaching
• Intensive ACT/SAT Test Prep
• College Application and Financial Aid Assistance
• College Transition Guidance
• Support Through College
College Possible Results
• 20% average ACT/SAT increase.
• 98% of College Possible students earn admission
to college.
• Impact on 4-year college enrollment confirmed
by Harvard randomized controlled trial.
• Graduate at nearly ten times the rate of low-
income peers.
College Possible Connects
Specialized partnerships between College Possible
and colleges and universities that emphasize
exposure, recruitment and retention of low-
income students.
Partner colleges:
• Have demonstrated ability and commitment to
recruit and retain low-income students
• Develop a specialized plan to support and
expand current efforts.
• Campuses fit low-income students’ needs and
support them from acceptance to graduation.
College Possible Connects: Levels of Partnership
• Explore Partners: Offer a campus
visit to College Possible students,
receive exposure to new potential
applicants.
• Bridge Partners: Recruit College
Possible students and diversify
campus environment.
• Collaborate Partners: Partner with
College Possible to dedicate efforts
to retention and college graduation.
College Possible Connects Impact
College Possible student
retention/graduation rates
Sample 1*
4-Year
(Private)
Sample 2*
4-Year
(Private)
Sample 3
4-Year
(Public)
Sample 4
2-Year
(Comm. & Tech)
1st-Year Retention Rate
(Prior to Collaborate partnership) 63% 71% 78% N/A
1st-Year Retention Rate
(Since Collaborate partnership) 80% 77% 86% N/A
Increase in 1st-Year Retention Rate
for College Possible Students 17% 6% 12% N/A
Retained/Graduated
(Prior to Collaborate partnership) 48% 51% 56% 33%
Retained/Graduated
(Since Collaborate partnership) 67% 71% 78% 53%
Increase in Retention/Graduation
Rate for College Possible Students 19% 20% 22% 20%
Increased retention and graduation for College Possible
students attending wide variety of post-secondary institutions.
College Possible Connects Approach
• Institution-specific plans and collaboration:
• Campus tours, student panels and special events
• Ensures students have robust support networks on
campus, including Academic Advisors; Student
Support Services; 1st Gen Retention Specialist;
Financial Aid Counselors, etc.
• Utilization of past student data:
• Focus on transition and persistence success
• Close collaboration to improve results
Using Naviance for College Possible Connects
• Communication
• Mass email messages to students
and parents
• Sharing information of applicants
with colleges
• College Categories/Groups,
including:
• School selectivity
• Colleges that meet 100% financial
need
• Bridge programs
• College Possible Connects partners
Tracking Data for College Possible Connects
• Use Naviance’s scatterplot function for
prospective applications.
• Find patterns with student application
submissions and enrollment: gives College
Possible ability to provide additional context to
college partners regarding enrollment choices:
• Financial fit
• Social connection
• Home responsibilities
• Etc.
College Possible and Naviance
• Summer Enrichment Program List
• Pre-college programs from all College Possible
metropolitan areas.
• Success Planner Function
• Tracks completion of key benchmarks (Campus
Visit, College Fair, Summer Enrichment Application,
FAFSA Completion, Other College Possible Tasks)
• Scholarship List
• Project potential financial aid packages based on
previous students’ merit-based awards
• Helps inform students as they consider where to
apply