1. Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Meeting | May 7, 2013
Completion Incentive Grant Fund Financial Aid Pilot Program 2013 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. Outcomes College-going rates of high school graduates
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
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

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 program guidelines
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

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

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

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

41. 170 qualified to receive funds $147,400 awarded Average GPA 3.174
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. Treatment Group Fall Ineligible Reasons
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. Control Group Statistics
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 Implementation Challenges
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. Soliciting Student Participation
CIGF – UMASS Boston
Soliciting Student Participation
1st Notification to students sent via 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 ; due date October 5th
Early October Financial Aid reaches out to student specific support liaisons such as CLA First, BPS, CSM Success Center

46. Coordination of Aid Most students were fully packaged
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. Coordinating Disbursement
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. Program Benefits 170 needy students received additional grant 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.

49. QUESTIONS
MASSACHUSETTS COMPLETION INCENTIVE GRANT FUND (CIGF)