1. Financial Aid Outreach: Raising the Bar Lynn Barnes, Jr. Texas A&M University lbarnes@tamu.edu

2. Former A&M President Dr. Robert M. Gates: “Texas A&M University is committed to promoting diversity in all of its dimensions as an essential enriching aspect of a quality educational experience. The real world – the world after college -- is endlessly diverse; A&M students must be prepared to make their contribution in that world” Why Financial Aid Outreach?

3. Texas population is changing and growing. Data shows we have big information problems. Closing the Gaps Why Financial Aid Outreach?

4. Projected Population Growth in Texas

5. Projected Ethnic Change in the State of Texas, 2000-2040 Sources: Office of the State Demographer, 0.5 Migration Scenario

6. Household Incomes Affect Ability to Attend College

7. Projected Percent of Labor Force by Educational Attainment in Texas, 2000 and 2040 Source: Projections are shown for the 1.0 scenario

8. InstitutionTotal Enrolls Fall 2008 White (%) Hispanic (%) Black (%) Asian (%) Other (%) University of Texas at Austin 49,98454.516.34.415.69.2 Texas A&M University 48,03970.712.23.24.29.6 University of Houston 36,10435.719.913.519.811.1 University of North Texas 34,69863.712.012.85.26.3 Texas State U – San Marcos 29,10567.022.65.42.32.6 ALL State Universities 509,13650.324.311.66.67.1 Total Texas Population 23,904,38047.736.011.43.3 1.6 Diversity of Students at Top 5 Most Populous Institutions in Texas Source: THECB Texas Higher Education Accountability System: 2008; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey: 2007

9. Does Financial Aid Information Matter in the Latino Community? 3/4 of young adults NOT currently in college would have been more likely to attend college if exposed to better information about financial aid More than half of all Latino parents and 43% of Latino young adults could not name a single source of financial aid More than 2/3 of Latino parents did not receive any financial aid information while child was in K- 12 Source: Sallie Mae Fund study of Latinos – study conduted by TRPI

10. Texas A&M Strategy Outreach infrastructure – Admissions AND Financial Aid Targeted scholarship funds. Regents’ Scholars Program. Collaboration and communication. Regional Prospective Student Centers.

11. Regional Prospective Student Centers Financial Aid Advisors: Brazos Valley (2) Corpus Christi (1) Dallas (4) Houston (4) Rio Grande Valley (3) San Antonio (3) Laredo (1) Central Tx (2)

12. What we do… One-on-one counseling Community Outreach FAFSA Workshops High School visits Middle school outreach Presentations Campus trips Special programs Sponsored events

13. You can make a difference… Make outreach a priority in your organization – culture change. More than ever, you hold the keys…. Get creative and do some research. Plug into outreach and recruitment activities in your organization. Make sure financial aid information is getting out. Partner with existing organizations in your community – many do outreach and have programs.

14. You can make a difference… Encourage staff to participate in outreach programs already being done. Be visible to the middle and high schools – sponsor something. Seek out funding. Marketing Materials.

15. Tell us what you are doing…

16. Questions??