State Student Financial Aid Committee

2. State Student Financial Aid Committee June 26, 2018

3. Overview • Background • Policy Framework Review • Vision/Purpose • Policy Statements • General Elements • Access • Persistence/Completion • Outreach • Foundational Concepts • Translating Policy to Operation

4. Background • Plan Overview • Phase One – Establish policy framework • Phase Two – Review programs/recommend changes and/or additions • Phase Three - Implementation • Phase One • Policy focused task force • Broad stakeholder involvement • ECS support • Four meetings w/ additional interim contact • Final report to CBHE in June

5. Background • Phase Two • Committee of financial aid experts • NCHEMS data support • Operationalize policy framework • Review existing programs/system • Recommendations for change to CBHE

6. Policy Framework Review

7. Task Force Report • Report Structure • Vision • Purpose • 12 policy recommendations • Consensus-based process • Input from all members • Face to face discussions and survey responses • Attempt to reach unanimity/note dissention when needed

8. Vision • Balanced, responsive, and efficient system • Competitively funded • Transparent in operation • Student centered • Serve eligible students where they are • Provide for timely awards • Include broad criteria that prioritize student needs • Positioned to achieve Missouri’s postsecondary education and workforce development goals

9. Purpose • Assist Missouri students in reaching their postsecondary education objectives • Reduce financial barriers to enrollment and completion • Encourage students to achieve academically • For Missouri to prosper through an educated citizenry and a skilled workforce

10. Framework Overview • Policy focused, not program specific • Primarily viewed from student, not institutional/sector perspective • Priorities take a system approach • Do not necessarily apply to every program • Respect for different types of aid programs and the unique role of each • Avoid narrow impacts on specific sectors/institutions

11. General Elements • Broad-based Programs • Focus on broad-based, flexible programs designed to assist a wide spectrum of students and workforce needs • Build connections with interested entities, including other student assistance providers and business organizations • Possible action – Focus on comprehensive programs using incentives to address desired targets • System Priorities • Reward students for academic achievement • Address ability to finance postsecondary education • Identify financial need as high priority • Possible action – Prioritize need in funding/design

12. General Elements • Program Mix • No state-level student loan programs • Focus on non-loan financial assistance, including work/study • Possible action – Develop work/study parameters • Award Structure • Allow awards to finance any allowable educational expense rather than limit awards based on tuition and fee costs • Possible action – Avoid new “last dollar, tuition and fee” programs

13. General Elements • Role of Other Student Aid • Take into account student eligibility for non-loan aid, particularly the federal Pell grant • Ensure the greatest impact for the state dollars invested • Possible action – Make programs sensitive to Pell grant, as appropriate • Award Balance • Provide awards consistent with each program’s goals and structure and support completion for all students • Access program should support greatest number of applicants but maintain meaningful awards • Merit programs should maintain awards large enough to accomplish intended goals • Possible action – Prioritize award impact over number served, when funds are limited

14. Access to Higher Education • Improve Access for Underserved • Improve access to postsecondary education for traditionally underserved populations • Low-income, ethnic minority, and place-bound students • Possible action – Revise eligibility deadlines • Early Awareness • Incorporate strategies that encourage high school students to demonstrate readiness for postsecondary education • Prioritize populations most at-risk • Possible action – Provide high school students with needed information

15. Access/Completion • Program Flexibility • Flexibility to assist students across the spectrum of lifelong learning • Age, prior education, educational delivery method and attendance status • Possible action – Pay for progress, regardless of delivery

16. Persistence/Completion • Enrollment Status • Meet students where they are by supporting completion of their educational program in a timely manner • 30 semester credit hours per year • 24 semester credit hours per year (SFA full-time) • Less than full time when appropriate • Possible action – Expand award structure to include multiple enrollment options • Encourage Completion • Structure programs to encourage students to persist to degree/certificate program completion • Possible action – Provide incentives to complete

17. Outreach • Marketing • Develop a comprehensive marketing program for the state assistance programs • Program structure and requirements, financial literacy, avoidance of unnecessary student borrowing, and postsecondary education readiness • Possible action – Establish comprehensive marketing program

18. Questions?

19. Foundational Concepts

20. Emerging Themes • General Elements • Broad-based programs • Focus on grant aid, not loans • Cost of attendance, not limited to tuition and fees • Financial need is a priority • Aware of other aid • Awards consistent with goals • Access • Reward

21. Emerging Themes • Access • Increase participation of underserved • Support lifelong learning • Age • Previous education • Attendance status • Instructional delivery • High school/middle school engagement

22. Emerging Themes • Persistence/Completion • Support lifelong learning • Support multiple attendance statuses • Support persistence to completion • Outreach • Marketing plan

23. Discussion questions

24. Discussion Questions • What are the barriers to access for underserved populations related to state aid programs?

25. Discussion Questions • What are the barriers to access for adult students related to state aid programs?

26. Discussion Questions • What does “need is a priority” mean for program structure and funding?

27. Discussion Questions • What does “aware of other aid” mean for program structure and funding?

28. Discussion Questions • What attributes are needed for a program to be considered “broad-based”?

29. Discussion Questions • What attributes are needed for programs to support learning across attendance statuses, educational backgrounds, and delivery methods?

30. Discussion Questions • What attributes should programs have to support completion?

31. Discussion Questions • What attributes should programs have to encourage postsecondary preparation?

32. Wrap-up/Next Meeting • Additional issues/questions? • Survey follow-up • Next meeting • Friday, July 27 • Governor Office Building

33. Contact Information205 Jefferson StreetP.O. Box 1469Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469Phone: (573)751-3940Toll-free: (800)473-6757Fax: (573)751-6635www.dhe.mo.govinfo@dhe.mo.gov