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Summer Transition Grant Program

Summer Transition Grant Program. Training Session for Campus Administrators Ginny Dodds, MN Office of Higher Ed. March 31, 2011. Summer Transition Grant Program. Passed during 2009 legislative session

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Summer Transition Grant Program

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  1. Summer Transition Grant Program Training Session for Campus Administrators Ginny Dodds, MN Office of Higher Ed March 31, 2011

  2. Summer Transition Grant Program • Passed during 2009 legislative session • $4.9 million per biennium from State Grant appropriation (Reduced to $1 million during 2010 session) • Will be adequate funding to cover all 2011 summer programs • One-time grant to studentsto help pay expenses for approved research-based summer transition programs offered by eligible postsecondary institutions • For students who graduate from high school after December 31, 2010 • Must take place during summer immediately following high school graduation

  3. Eligible Institution • “Eligible Institution” means • Any public college or university operated by MnSCU or University Board of Regents • Any private college located in MN that • maintains academic standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable institutions operated in this state; • is licensed or registered as a postsecondary institution by the office or another state agency; and • by July 1, 2010, is participating in the federal Pell Grant program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (unless exempted or grandfathered through)

  4. Summer Transition Grant Program • Impetus was presentation by William Tierney and Wilbur Kieffer, Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California • Require all high school graduates who have been admitted to a postsecondary institution and are not reading/writing or doing math at the college-level to participate in an intensive summer of writing and/or math classes prior to their freshman year

  5. Summer Transition Program • Summer transition program must, at a minimum: • Include instruction to develop the skills and abilities necessary to be ready for college-level work when the student enrolls in a program leading to credential • Address the academic skills identified as needing improvement by a college readiness assessment completed by the student (pre- and post-test required) • Not constitute more than the equivalent of one semester of full-time (15 credits) study occurring the summer following high school graduation • Be identified on a student’s transcript with unique identifier to distinguish it from other developmental courses/programs • Will count towards limit on postsecondary education used for state financial aid programs

  6. Summer Transition Program • What does “research-based” mean? • Design of college’s summer transition program incorporates strategies identified in studies of successful high school-to-college transition programs • In general, successful summer transition programs have provided support services in conjunction with remedial academic instruction • Strong evaluation component to program • Comparison of program participants with control group • Comparison of different summer transition programs

  7. Summer Transition Program Research • Center of Higher Education Policy Analysis, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California • SummerTIME 2007 Evaluation • It’s About Time: Temporal Dimensions of College Preparation Programs • Making the Grade in College Prep: A Guide for Improving College Preparation Programs • Clauss-Ehlers, Caroline S. and Wibrowski, Connie R. (2007, September 1). Building Educational Resilience and Social Support: The Effects of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program Among First- and Second-Generation College Students, Journal of College Student Development.

  8. Summer Transition Program Research A variety of research-based studies have outlined the following 8 parameters of successful intervention programs: • Motivation: Create a desire to reach a goal • Substance: Develop specific skills rather than abstract skills • Independence: Encourage students to do independent work • Multiple approaches: Use multiple pedagogical approaches • High standards: Set high standards • Inquiry: Develop inquiry skills for students • Problem solving: View learning as an intellectual undertaking • Supportive context: Create a positive learning environment From Building a Successful Intervention Program for Under-Prepared College Bound Students: Analyzing SummerTIME VII, University of California, Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, July 2009

  9. Summer Transition Program Research Successful strategies have included, but are not limited to: • Peer counseling or mentoring by successful college upperclassmen who are members of the same groups traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education • Hands-on assistance with college admissions and financial aid applications, as well as information about the various types of financial aid available for college • Assistance with preparing for college entrance exams • The importance of postsecondary education and exposure to postsecondary areas of study and career opportunities, including visits from employers • Academic tutoring • Academic, financial or personal counseling • Exposure to college faculty, staff, and facilities, such as the financial aid office, registrar, library, extracurricular activities and organizations • “College knowledge” sessions on note taking skills, study skills, time management, how to talk to your professor, problem solving, student involvement, presentation skills, balancing social life with academics, etc.

  10. Summer Transition Program Research Successful strategies have included, but are not limited to: • Provision of financial incentives for good attendance, such as offering a college scholarship upon completion or incremental disbursement of the summer transition grant • Attendance/completion improved 15% with $1,000 scholarship (SummerTIME2007) • Involvement of high school counselors and college admissions, financial aid, academic and student affairs and multi-cultural offices in program design • Active engagement of students in classroom activities • Opportunities for parental involvement • Clear goals that are measurable for accurate program evaluation • Culturally engaged teachers who motivate students • Continuing support services after students enroll in college or linking students to existing services offered by the college

  11. Program Proposals

  12. Program Proposals • Campuses are not submitting program proposals to compete for institutional funding • Summer Transition Grant Program is structured as individual student financial aid grant • Program proposals ensure that programs meet the requirements in statute so that enrolled students can receive grants

  13. Program Proposals • Eight campuses submitted program proposals • Five campuses had programs meeting requirements in statute • Art Institute International, MN • Central Lakes College* • Dunwoody College of Technology • Hamline University • North Hennepin Community College* *participated during summer 2010

  14. Program Approval Factors considered: • Name of college assessment test that will be used to determine the type of developmental coursework needed for each student • Target population program will serve • Methods for marketing program to target population • Program goals and objectives, including the project’s timeline and milestones • Name, title and credentials of individuals involved in program design • How research on high school-to-college summer transition programs was incorporated into project design

  15. Program Approval Factors considered: • Description of instructional methods that will be used to address academic deficiencies identified by college assessment test (standard developmental courses offered by institution, courses designed specifically for summer transition program, etc.) • How developmental course credits will be determined for purposes of determining the student’s enrollment level for the grant. (Typically, 30 hours of instruction is equal to one semester credit and 20 hours of instruction is equal to one quarter credit.) • Description of support services surrounding academic coursework that will assist the student with transitioning to the college environment

  16. Program Approval Factors considered: • Proposed program schedule (hours of instruction, support services and other activities) • Whether financial incentives for attendance will be used (e.g., delayed disbursement of a portion of summer transition grant, college scholarship for best attendance, etc.) and method of tracking attendance • Whether or not program is currently offered as part of the federal TRIO programs or other outreach programs • Whether or not program has been offered in the past and, if so, program’s success in meeting goals and objectives • Qualifications, training and experience of all key personnel involved in program, including individuals involved in data collection and reporting for the evaluation component

  17. Marketing/Outreach

  18. Marketing/Outreach • OHE has information about program on web site • OHE has capability of emailing high school counselors • Otherwise, up to campus to recruit eligible students • TRiO • Area high schools • Outreach programs • Admissions

  19. OHE Web-Based System

  20. On-Line Application • OHE developed simple on-line application for students (paper version also available) • Need student application to get student’s permission for data release • Will ask for demographic information, college student plans to attend • If school has own student application for summer transition program, could avoid student having to complete two applications by: • Incorporating OHE questions and data release into school’s application; and • Entering student’s data onto OHE’s on-line application on behalf of student

  21. Financial Aid Application • Student will need to complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA • Students will need to complete two FAFSAs: • 2010-2011 FAFSA for summer 2011 • 2011-2012 FAFSA for 2011-2012 academic year • Summer Transition Grants for summer 2011 MUST come from 2010-2011 aid year (Fiscal Year 2011) • This is because only fiscal year 2011 funding is certain • Governor’s budget proposes elimination of program for next biennium • Okay if Pell Grant funded from 2011-2012 aid year • Summer Transition Grant will be based on 2010-2011 FAFSA and Pell Grant for which student would have qualified during 2010-2011

  22. Application Screening • Financial aid administrators will be required to process FAFSAs for summer transition grant applicants just as they would for any other student • Resolve conflicting information and rejects, verification, etc. • Perform professional judgment adjustments, if needed • State Grant program student eligibility requirements apply to this program • However, some won’t affect students (satisfactory academic progress, limit on postsecondary education, loan defaults, bachelors degrees, etc.) • Student must meet application deadline and must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, Minnesota resident, not on child support hold

  23. Application Deadline • Summer Transition Grant follows the application deadline for MN State Grant • The Summer Transition Grant application must be submitted no later than the 30th day of the summer program • FAFSA must also be submitted, but not subject to 30-day deadline

  24. U.S. Citizen or EligibleNon-Citizen • Must be U.S. citizen or: • Permanent resident with I-551 card; or • Conditional resident with I-551C card; or • Other eligible non-citizen holding I-94 card stamped “refugee,” “asylum granted,” “parole” (for minimum of 1 year and not expired), “Cuban-Haitian Entrant,” “victim of human trafficking,” or T-Visa holder

  25. MN Resident • Meet ONE of the following criteria: • Student who graduated from MN high school while residing in MN (if physically attending college in MN); OR • Student who earned GED in MN after living in MN for one year; OR • Dependent student whose parents resided in MN when FAFSA completed; OR • Student who resided in MN for 12 consecutive months without being enrolled for 6 or more credits in any term

  26. MN Resident • The following individuals are also considered MN residents: • A member (or spouse or dependent of) of the armed forces of the US stationed in MN on active federal military service as defined in MS 190.05, Subd. 5c; or • A spouse or dependent of a veteran who meets the residency requirement; or • A person (or spouse of) who relocated to MN from an area that is declared a presidential disaster area within the preceding 12 months, if the disaster interrupted the person’s postsecondary education; or • A person defined as a refugee under US Code, Title 8, section 1101 (a)(42) who upon arrival in the US, moved to MN and has continued to reside in MN

  27. Child Support Hold • Student not eligible if 30+ days in arrears on child support obligation • When student completes on-line application, OHE will check State Grant database for child support hold • Unlikely, given student’s age • Student regains eligibility by paying off past due amount or complying with monthly payment plan approved by caseworker • Weekly interface run between Human Services and State Grant database at OHE • Students should be referred to county for details on account

  28. Administrator Section of Web-Based System

  29. Program Section • Summer Transition program administrators will be able to log into OHE web-based system with username and password • Will see list of students who have submitted on-line application • Select student record to enter program data

  30. Program Section • College offering summer transition program • Student’s high school GPA • Name of college readiness test use for pre- and post-tests • Scores on college readiness test • Courses taken by student in summer program • Name of course, attempted credits, course outcome, course grade • College student planning to attend in the fall

  31. Financial Aid Section • Financial aid administrator would enter: • Aid year selected for summer term (must be 2010-2011) • Student’s ISIR transaction number • OHE only stores most recent ISIR transaction • Institutional charges for summer program • Enrollment level for summer program (in credits) • Whether Pell Grant will be awarded for summer term • OHE will calculate Pell Grant amount using EFC and Pell Grant award chart for 2010-2011 • Summer Transition Grant award (will be calculated on-line using the above data) • Summer Transition Grant paid (entered by OHE when funds disbursed to school) • School should still document actual disbursement date • Amount of other financial aid for summer program

  32. Financial Aid Section • If institution is using different ISIR transaction than OHE, financial aid administrator will need to manually enter ISIR data on the screen: • Dependency status • 9-month Federal Methodology EFC • 9-month Federal Methodology Parent Contribution • Federal Methodology formula type (values shown on screen) • If school has manually entered ISIR data, any future corrections need to be made manually • Subsequent ISIR transactions will NOT overlay data previously entered by school

  33. 2010-2011 STG Award Calculation When EFC > $0 • Award calculation when EFC/PC > $0 is: State Grant term award budget adjusted for enrollment level - 48.2 % student share - Term adjusted parent contribution (dep) or EFC (independent) • 9-month FM PC x 1.152 then divided by 2 (sem) or 3 (qtr) • 9-month FM EFC x 1.032 (indep with deps); x .816 (indep w/o deps) then divided by 2 (sem) or 3 (quarter) - Pell Grant (only if Pell Grant actually awarded) = Summer Transition Program Grant (minimum $50 sem; $33 qtr)

  34. Award Calculation • If student is accepted into credential program prior to summer, and receiving Pell Grant during summer, Summer Transition Grant and MN State Grant will be the same • School can choose one or the other • Both count against State Grant limit on postsecondary attendance • If funding levels not an issue, best to choose Summer Transition Grant for student tracking purposes

  35. 2010-2011 STG Award Calculation When EFC = $0 • Award calculation when EFC/PC = $0 is: State Grant term award budget adjusted for enrollment level - $1,200 summer work expectation (not adjusted enrollment level) - $ 0 Pell Grant (even if Pell Grant actually awarded) = Summer Transition Program Grant (minimum $50 sem; $33 qtr) • Will always be more beneficial to the student with $0 EFC to award Summer Transition Grant rather than MN State Grant

  36. Award Calculation • For student with $0 EFC for 2010-2011, Summer Transition Grant for summer 2011 would be: MnSCU 2-YrMnSCU 4-YrUofM/Private 4-Yr 15 credits $4,909 $5,884 $7,681 12 credits $3,688 $4,468 $5,905 9 credits $2,465 $3,050 $4,128 6 credits $1,244 $1,634 $2,353 3 credits $ 0 $ 216 $ 576 • This is on top of any Pell Grant the student is receiving • These amounts may increase if 2010-2011 State Grant LME is increased for summer 2011

  37. Award Calculation • OHE has Summer Transition Grant award calculation spreadsheet for summer 2011 • Assumes summer funded from 2010-2011 academic year • Useful for determining what Summer Transition Grants might look like for students • Similar to State Grant award calculation spreadsheet already used by financial aid administrators

  38. Crossover Term Dilemma • If summer term overlaps July 1, 2011, it normally can be funded from either 2010-2011 or 2011-2012 aid year • Funding from 2010-2011: + Funding certain - can be delivered at onset of program • Student has to complete 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 FAFSA • Funding from 2011-2012: + Student would only complete 2011-2012 FAFSA • Funding uncertain - not available until after July 1, 2011 • Counts as one term of State Grant eligibility during 2011-2012 aid year (State Grant limited to 45 semester credits/60 quarter credits per aid year) • New Pell Grant policy regarding crossover terms

  39. Disbursement of Funds • Once schools enter program and financial data for applicants, OHE will generate award/disbursement roster • Campus will need to certify on award roster that student is enrolled and eligible in order to generate disbursement by OHE • Funds will be disbursed to school via EFT • Email notification will be sent to designated financial aid contact, along with electronic payment roster • School would disburse funds to students • Can credit account, disburse additional funds directly to student

  40. Refunds • If student withdraws from a class, but still enrolled for 3 or more credits, school returns lesser of: • Difference between original and revised grant • STG’s proportional share of refund of institutional charges • If student totally withdraws from program, STG gets proportional share of refund of institutional charges • OHE refund calculation for withdrawals does not require return of funds disbursed directly to student for living costs • Refunds should be returned to OHE within 30 days of funds being issued by OHE or the date the award was revised, whichever is later • Use OHE refund return form • OHE will adjust (i.e. reduce) amount of STG paid to student on web-based screen

  41. Transcript Requirements

  42. Academic Transcripts • Summer Transition Grant law requires schools to uniquely identify coursework on transcripts: “The courses completed in a program under this section must be identified on the student's transcript with a unique identifier to distinguish it from other developmental education courses or programs.” • This is because law might eventually be changed to exclude this course work for purposes of State Grant limit on postsecondary attendance

  43. Program Evaluation

  44. Program Evaluation • Law requires OHE to create program evaluation committee • Which data elements should be collected? • How? When? By Whom? • Committee must consist of data/research staff from participating campuses • OHE will email program administrators to get contact info for individual(s) they want on evaluation team • Will also ask who main program contact will be

  45. Program Evaluation • Make sure your summer program has strong, measurable goals • e.g., test scores, program completion, course grades, persistence, college GPA, etc. • Use data collected and entered on on-line system • Student demographic data • High school GPA, STG courses and outcomes, college readiness test scores • Some data will need to be collected after program • College attended, credits attempted/earned, remedial vs non-remedial credits, college GPA • OHE can help collect if student attends different college

  46. Questions????? • Ginny Dodds Ginny.Dodds@state.mn.us (651) 355-0610

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