Completion Incentive Grant Fund Financial Aid Pilot Program 2013 EASFAA Conference - Boston, MA

1. Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Meeting | May 7, 2013 Completion Incentive Grant Fund Financial Aid Pilot Program2013 EASFAA Conference - Boston, MA

2. 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

3. 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. *****

4. 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

5. 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.

6. The Question Can financial aid resources be used in innovative ways to increase student certificate and degree completion rates?

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Financial Aid Pilot Program The Research

11. Financial Aid Pilot Program The Outcome – Research Pilot • 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Completion Incentive Grant Fund How Will It Work? • Institutions must: • Agree to programguidelines • Provide students with array of academic support services • Report institutional data as required • Program will be evaluated: • Quantitative and Qualitative

16. 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

17. 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)?

18. Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund College Participants

19. EASFAA 2013 Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund Iris Godes Assistant Vice President Enrollment Management

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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%)

24. 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)

25. CIGF – Quinsigamond Community College Control Group • 326 students • 13 became ineligible • 59% completed at least 9 credits

26. 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?

27. EASFAA 2013 Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund Pamela McCafferty, Dean Enrollment Management Fitchburg State University

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. CIGF – Fitchburg State University Reporting to DHE • Initial Sampling File August • Online Award Certification (Dec/Jan) • End of Term data file (January)

36. CIGF – Fitchburg State University Challenges • Quick implementation timeline • New Program (“kinks” to work out)

37. 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

38. EASFAA 2013 Massachusetts Completion Incentive Grant Fund Judy Keyes, Director of Financial Aid University of Massachusetts Boston

39. CIGF – UMASS Boston CIGF Population • 447 Eligible Students • 203 Control Group • 244 Treatment Group

40. CIGF – UMASS Boston Participation Agreements • 216 Signed Participation Forms • 4 signed and later deemed ineligible • 24 did not respond/declined

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. CIGF – UMASS Boston Soliciting Student Participation • 1st 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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.

49. QUESTIONS MASSACHUSETTS COMPLETION INCENTIVE GRANT FUND (CIGF)