Promoting College Access & Success Karen Misjak, Executive Director, Iowa College Aid

MOTTO MISSION VISION Because college changes everything. We advocate for and support Iowans as they explore, finance and complete educational opportunities beyond high school to increase family and community success. VISION All Iowans can achieve an education beyond high school.

Our changing role Iowa College Aid no longer a guarantor Sold portfolio in FY 2012 First guarantor to transfer portfolio Leveraging revenue to increase college completion in Iowa

Future Ready Iowa Future Ready Iowa is our governor’s initiative, funded by a Lumina Foundation grant Goal: 70% of state’s population with postsecondary education by 2025 Future Ready Iowa brings together business, higher education and K-12 to make sure Iowa can meet job demands of future economy

How we support Future Ready Iowa and fulfill our mission State financial aid Research & evaluation Postsecondary registration Community engagement

Community engagement Data-driven decisions based on research to increase college completion GEAR UP Iowa Local College Access Networks Course to College Course to College Corps Go Alliance Academy

GEAR UP Iowa Community engagement Federal grant to increase number of low-income students who graduate from high school and are prepared for and go to college Guarantors can be partners n State grant n Partnership grant n Both

GEAR UP Iowa Community engagement Iowa College Aid administers $44 million in Iowa: $22 million grant + dollar-for-dollar local match

GEAR UP Iowa Community engagement Follows students from seventh grade through first year in college GEAR UP 2.0: 8,000+ students in 12 low-income school districts Iowa College Aid provides framework to build college-going culture

GEAR UP Iowa Community engagement GEAR UP Iowa 1.0 students graduated from high school in 2014 Math scores improved from 61% proficient in 8th grade to 66% in 11th grade. Reading scores improved from 59% proficient in 8th grade to 72% in 11th grade.

GEAR UP Iowa Community engagement GEAR UP 1.0 decreased the gap in college enrollment between students from low-income and high-income schools GEAR UP 1.0 students were just as likely as higher-income students to persist from the first to second year of college

Community engagement GEAR UP Iowa National GEAR UP success

Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Community engagement Local College Access Networks (LCANs)

Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Community engagement Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Collective impact model: Common agenda Shared measurements Mutually reinforcing activities Continuous communication Backbone support infrastructure

Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Community engagement Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Communities set individual goals Iowa College Aid provides: - “Seed funding” grants 4 stages: Planning, Launch, Implementation and Continuous Improvement - Technical assistance - Model

Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Community engagement Local College Access Networks (LCANs) Success story: Ottumwa College enrollment had been dropping for 5 years (from 68% to 50%) LCAN started program to fight “summer melt” College enrollment up 2 percentage points Community college enrollment up 4 percentage points

Course to College Community engagement Created by Iowa College Aid in 2013 Recruit schools, train staff and provide collateral 99 schools in 57 districts in 2015-16 (out of 336 districts in state)

Course to College Community engagement Components: Early Awareness College Application Campaign FAFSA Completion Initiative College Decision Day Summer Transition

Course to College FAFSA.Iowa.gov Community engagement Course to College FAFSA.Iowa.gov

Community engagement Course to College

Course to College Corps Community engagement Course to College Corps Pilot program placing AmeriCorps and VISTA members in selected GEAR UP Iowa and LCAN communities

Course to College Corps Community engagement Course to College Corps Building from Course to College by focusing on meeting direct-service need and building evidence to show what works Current efforts: promoting FAFSA, fighting summer melt

Go Alliance Academy Community engagement Continuing education for counselors, educators and college access professionals 19 states + D.C.

Go Alliance Academy Community engagement Iowa College Aid contracted with Southern Regional Educational Board to bring to Iowa Began fall 2016 Offered for license renewal or graduate credit 75 people have begun the suite of courses First four classes filled up and had waiting lists

Go Alliance Academy Community engagement Course offerings: Building a College-Going Culture for All Students College, Career & Academic Planning Financial Aid & College Applications College & Career Advising in the Middle Grades Maximizing School Counselor Impact on Student Success: A Module for School Leaders

College Changes Everything College graduates fare better in their careers: Earn 134% more annually 47% more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance 72% more likely to have an employer-sponsored retirement plan 24% more likely to be employed

College Changes Everything College graduates fare better in life: Less likely to smoke, be obese or become disabled Less likely to be incarcerated Have almost 5 times the assets 44% more likely to be in good health Live about 7 years longer More likely to be happy

Because college changes EVERYTHING IowaCollegeAid.gov