Oklahoma’s Promise: How do I get my students to apply? Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Carol AlexanderJoy Ahmad Oklahoma’s PromiseDel City HS Asst. Dir., Scholarship Admin. Counselor

2 Oklahoma’s Promise Purpose  To increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma.  To encourage more students from families with limited income to aspire for college, prepare for college academically, and earn college degrees.

3 Application Requirements Student must currently be attending the 8 th, 9 th or 10 th grade Student’s family household income must be $50,000 or less Must be an Oklahoma resident Application must be submitted with a postmark on or before June 30, 2016.

4 Applications Ways to Apply  Paper applications  Download application from the website  Online application  Look for the Apply Now! button

Collecting income documentation  income-faq.shtml Incomplete applications Communication  Blackboard messages  Letter & s  Advertising 5 Application Challenges

6 Think about your community Community = school/parents/students/community School size Rural or Urban Family income levels Source of family income Examples

What can you do? You need to first ask yourself these questions:  How involved do you want to be?  How much time do you have?  How much effort on your part? Do you have the support of your administration? Work the incomplete application lists 7

Factors that hinder participation Non-supportive/uninvolved parents Absent parents (abandoned students) Homeless students Grandparents raising grandchildren (this is a good thing but can pose a potential problem if there is no legal guardianship) Family “status” (a student is concerned as being seen as “poor” if peers know they are enrolled) 8

Encourage participation Bring alumni back Sign-up event: Serve food/Offer door prizes College/Financial Aid “fairs” Information provided through English or other classes Follow-up with individual conversations Incentives: free admission to an event, donated item giveaways Example: MS required OKPromise application to be turned into the office as the “ticket” to the end of the school year party. 9

Outside organizations Supportive administration/teachers GEAR Up groups TRIO programs Tribal organizations Community groups that want to invest in the youth 10

11 Students Students in the foster care system should contact DHS for an OKPromise application at Legal Guardian  Documentation issued by a court of law authorizing legal guardianship is required  No proof of income at the time of application

12 Adopted Students Adopted Students – Expanded Income Eligibility  Applies only to students adopted while:  In the permanent custody of Oklahoma DHS; or  In the court-ordered custody of a licensed, private, non-profit child- placing agency; or  In the court-ordered custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe.  No initial income requirement at the time of application; proof of legal adoption required  2 nd income limit levels at the time of college enrollment  Birth to age 12 - $150,000  Ages $200,000

Families receiving non-taxable military benefits Counted toward $50K income limit in the past. As of July 1, 2015, this income/benefit will not disqualify a student from eligibility. Subject to the State Regents’ review, if the family income, excluding these benefits, does not exceed $50K, the student is eligible to enroll. Untaxed cash benefits (now excluded from OKP income limit)  Housing (BAH), Subsistence (BAS) (food allowance)  Combat pay, hazardous duty pay, family separation allowance, hostile fire pay (not as common)  Veterans benefits 13

Families receiving Social Security disability and death benefits Counted toward $50K income limit in the past with no exceptions. The income must still be disclosed, however as of July 1, 2015, it is subject for State Regents’ review and income from these categories will not be counted if the family income exceeds $50K. Specifically, this applies only to social security disability and death benefits of the parents. Does NOT apply to social security retirement benefits. 14

15 Contact Information OR (option 2)