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The Adelante Performance Award Program Incentivizing Academic Success of Low-income Latino Males at Pima Community College. Frank Velasquez Adelante Program Coordinator Pima Community College . Ireri Valenzuela Operations Associate MDRC. College Access and Completion in the U.S.
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The Adelante Performance Award ProgramIncentivizing Academic Success of Low-income Latino Males at Pima Community College Frank Velasquez Adelante Program Coordinator Pima Community College Ireri Valenzuela Operations Associate MDRC
Good News! • College attendance has increased over the past 40 years. • Students are increasingly diverse. • Growing evidence that a college degree pays off.
The Bad News Among students who intend to earn a credential or transfer to a four-year institution, only half meet that goal within 6 years.
Personal Factors • Competing Demands • Low Basic Skills • Financial barriers
Institutional Factors • Reduced resources • Difficulty engaging all students • Financial Aid Gaps Distribution
Modifying what already exists… Most common path taken to address these issues.
Different Focus Performance Based Scholarships
Performance-Based Scholarships? • Need-based grants • Contingent on academic performance and/or student services • Paid directly to students • Paid in addition to other financial aid, such as Pell
A nonprofit social policy research group, dedicated to finding what works to improve programs and policies that affect low-income populations.
The Performance-Based Scholarships (PBS) Demonstration High school seniors: California Cash for College (CA) Parents: Lorain County, Owens, and Sinclair Community Colleges (OH) Adult learners: Borough of Manhattan and Hostos Community Colleges (NY) UNCF Latino males: Pima Community College (AZ) Developmental math sequence (in progress): Hillsborough Community College (FL) Traditional college students: University of New Mexico (NM) American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention
By 2025 22%
The Evaluation Fall 2010
Random Assignment Eligible Students Told about the Study and Possible Benefits Baseline Data Collected Students receive special services in addition to regular services Access to all regular services and programs Random Assignment
Eighth-largest community college in the United States • Almost 80,000 students • Six campuses, four education centers • Full-time student enrollment up 10% fall 2009 vs. fall 2010
Eligibility Criteria • Latino Males • Low-income as defined by an EFC of 5273 or less • Accumulated 45 or fewer PCC credits at time of enrollment in the program • Enrolled in 6 or more credits for the term
Who’s in Adelante? • 26 years old • Majority unmarried • 30% have at least one child • 38% first generation college
Who’s in Adelante? • 45% receive government benefits • About 50% employed • Over 2/3 working more than 20 hours per week
Most intended to attend full-time in their first semester of the program
Adelante: Award Plus Services • 3 semesters • Differential award full-time/ part-time • Award paid directly to students
Performance Award 2.0 (“C”) 12 + credits (full-time) 2.0 (“C”) 6-11 credits (part-time)
Services Award Completion of Services REQUIRED
Support Services Program Orientation
Support Services Dedicated Adelante Advisors
Support Services Tutoring Academic Workshops
Support Services Pláticas
Where are we now? Implementation • Students still in Adelante • Last group will end program in fall 2012 Data Collection and Analysis • Transcript • Survey • Focus groups
Early Findings • Credits Attempted/Earned • Full-time Attendance • Debt Reduction
“I think it’s good that tutoring and workshops are required, because then you make the time to go. I know these activities are beneficial so getting paid is like icing on the cake”.
“My advisor is very helpful. She encourages me to invest in my education. She spoke to me about trying to reduce my work hours so that I could focus on my studies”. “Think how many hours at an hourly wage job you would have to work to earn $800.00 (the full-time award)”. “I had never thought of the award in that way. She actually had a student lose his $800 award because he failed one class. He couldn’t keep up with the work because he was working too much”.
“The Pláticas are useful and uplifting. They help you when you start breaking down. They provide a place to vent and to express frustration that builds up over the semester with other Latino males. The facilitator turned things into positives and this helped me finish out the semester”. “It is cool to be in a room with Latinos from all walks of life. We discuss what matters to Latinos as a whole”.
Contact Information Frank Velasquez (520) 206-3097 fvelasquez4@pima.edu Ireri Valenzuela (510) 844-2232 ireri.valenzuela@mdrc.org