completion incentive grant fund financial aid pilot program 2012 sheeo higher education policy...
TRANSCRIPT
Completion Incentive Grant Fund Financial Aid Pilot Program2012 SHEEO Higher Education Policy Conference
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Meeting | August 9, 2012
A Public Agenda for Higher Education in Massachusetts
*****
We will produce the best-educated
citizenry and workforce in the nation.
We will be a national leader in research
that drives economic development.
*****
The Vision Project: The Vision
The Vision Project
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
Outcomes
Financial Aid Pilot Program
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 Problem
Can financial aid resources be used in innovative ways to increase student
certificate and degree completion rates?
The Question
Financial Aid Pilot Program
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
The Process
Financial Aid Pilot Program
Financial Aid Policy Advisory GroupCharged 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
The Process
Financial Aid Pilot Program
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 ResearchWestern Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Policy Advisory Group
Financial Aid Pilot Program
The Research
Financial Aid Pilot Program
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
The Outcome
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
$3 million dollar annual projected expenditure
2,000 maximum grant per year$8,000 over four-year periodStudents may earn incentive during
summer if annual maximum award was not received during traditional fall & spring semesters
How Will It Work
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Students must: Earn 9–15 credits
per semester with minimum GPA of 2.0
Maintain continuous enrollment up to four years
Sign annual contract
of understanding Utilize campus
support services
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
How Will It Work?
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
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
How Will It Work?
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
Evaluation will begin with the initial year of the pilot:
Quantitative Evaluation Internal External Evaluator
Qualitative Analysis External Evaluator
Program Evaluation
Completion Incentive Grant Fund
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)?
Evaluation
Questions