1. The ELAC FAFSA Challenge!
Increasing Student Success through Financial Aid Access
ELAC Student Services Division & Communication Studies Department at East Los Angeles College |

2. Financial Aid & Student Success
Student Success is undeniably at the core of the institution’s mission.
Little is mentioned about the important links between financial aid and student success:
1. Financial aid is about more than just finances—it can incentivize behavior correlated with success
2. Clear communication and financial aid opportunities is an enrollment imperative
3. Strictly enforcing unpaid balances is a lose-lose proposition for institutions and students
Godow, D. (2015). Three innovative was to use financial aid to promote student success. EAB Student Success Insights Blog. Web. EAB.com

3. Financial ELAC
Barriers to success as reported by students regularly include issues related to finances.
Issues include costs for :
Textbooks
Transportation
Instructional materials (eg. Lab)
Living expenses
Number of Students potentially eligible:

4. The ELAC FAFSA Challenge
To Increase the proportion of ELAC students who complete the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Academic Departments are invited to
Set bold, attainable goals for FAFSA completion among students in their major and
To implement strategies for promoting FAFSA completion among students in their majors and courses.
Departments with marked improvements will be winners!
Challenge Timeline: December 5, 2018 until March 29, 2019.
Are you up for the challenge?

5. Faculty and Direct Communication
The Academic Department Approach
The Student Services
Approach
Students have the most and regular exposure to classroom instructors
Departments/Disciplines maintain strong connections to majors.
Faculty promote FAFSA completion through in-class reminders, activities, and presentations.
Faculty are the Champions of the Challenge!
Financial Aid has been reconfigured to include a 20-person computer lab.
Financial Aid and Financial Wellness Counseling are stationed in the computer lab.
These added resources lab with existing technical staff provide support for the increase in new applicants.
The Staff see the students to the finish FAFSA line!

6. Join the Challenge- Here’s how!
Faculty –
Make plans to attend the ELAC Challenge Launch- Wednesday, December 5- E1- Financial Aid Office- 11:00-1:30pm
Additionally, in your classrooms, consider this before finals…
Schedule a Financial Aid classroom presentation
Write students an or share a fresh FAFSA promotional video
Post an eye-catching gif or banner on social media
Post printed flyers in your classrooms and work spaces

7. Join the Challenge- Here’s how!
Student Launch – FAFSA Day & FAFSA Night Events
Dates: TBD
Event held in computer lab and assists students in completing the application both in South Gate and Monterey Park. Specialized sessions to help students, especially those students of Challenge participants, complete the FAFSA Trained and professional support available during the sessions.

8. Joining the Challenge
Here are strategies for promoting FAFSA Completion:
During class sessions, ask your students if they have completed the FAFSA. If they have not, encourage them to do so.
At the Launch, collect and plan to distribute the materials provided during the tour.
Consider hosting a brief or extended classroom presentation on the topic of FAFSA.
Design and implement brief class assignments oriented toward financial aid and financial wellness. (Warm-up writing prompts; scavenger hunts; informative presentations; calculation exercises).

9. Joining the Challenge E-mailing and Communicating with Students Online
FAFSA Videos:
Overview
Types of Aid:
After completing FAFSA:
FAFSA Graphics to share via or Canvas:
FAFSA on Facebook:
FAFSA on Twitter:
FAFSA on YouTube:

10. FAFSA Resources for Staff
Search for tools and resources to help you or your students learn about financial aid for college.

11. WINNING the Challenge Winner’s Categories
MVP: Departments with the highest overall rates of FAFSA completion.
Most Improved: Departments that have the highest increase in FAFSA completion compared to baseline.
50/50 Club: Departments who reach 50% FAFSA completion by the end of the challenge.
FAFSA Champions: Departments that achieve 5% or more increase in FAFSA completion by the end of the challenge.
(Note: Awards not necessarily listed in “rank” order. Rather, each award is it’s own category allowing some departments to qualify for awards in more than one category.)
Awards Luncheon TBA.

12. The Faculty Launch -11*28*2018 Outline of the Day’s event-
A self-guided walking, informative tour of financial aid for faculty that ends with an invitation to join the challenge.
Will be available for 1.5hrs
Consists of six stations (tables, staffed with volunteers), each focusing on a critical financial aid element for faculty
Why FAFSA?
Why Me? How faculty impact student success.
How faculty help students start FAFSA (FAFSA Overview)
After FAFSA? How Staff move the process forward.
Financial Literacy
Are you up for the challenge? Explaining the commitment & Sign Up.
Location: Financial Aid Office- E1
Computer Lab, Waiting Patio, Entry Desk

13. Are you up for the challenge?

14. Adapted from the Florida College Access, 2018.
Godow, D. (2015). Three innovative was to use financial aid to promote student success. EAB Student Success Insights Blog. Web. EAB.com