Running the Hurdle Race: MASFAP’s EAC and the Missouri College Access Network

2. Running the Hurdle Race: MASFAP’s EAC and the Missouri College Access Network Presented by Dan Dick, 2012 MASFAP EAC co-chair Julie Meyer, 2012 MASFAP EAC co-chair

3. What is the MASFAP EAC? • According to MASFAP’s P&P: PURPOSE:The Committee will develop financial aid early awareness projects aimed at all students, schools, and community groups in the state of Missouri, including collaborating with the Missouri Department of Higher Education in organizing and conducting annual College Goal Sunday events (known as “FAFSA Frenzy” since 2009).

4. What is the MASFAP EAC?Specific Duties in P&P • “Conducting presentations and workshops to educate community groups [about financial aid]” • Activities in the past have included: • NT4CM workshops • Reality stores • CGS/FAFSA Frenzy events • Exhibiting or presenting at MSCA conferences • College for a Day events

5. Reality Stores

6. NT4CM http://fsa4counselors.ed.gov/clcf/NT4CMResources.html 2011 locations: StL, KC, Springfield, Columbia, Rolla

7. College Goal Sunday • http://dhe.mo.gov/ppc/collegegoalsundayFAO.php • February 17, 2013 main event date • November 13 (or 14), 2012 Site Coordinator meeting

8. What is the MASFAP EAC?Specific Duties in P&P • “Maintaining, enhancing, and promoting the Show-Me to College events and resources database” • Two brochures by audience • Student/family version in MDHE’s test survival kits • Links on dhe.mo.gov • www.masfap.org/showmetocollege published

9. http://www.masfap.org/docs/forms/comm_descript.html

10. How to find the EAC onMASFAP.org

11. http://www.masfap.org/showmetocollege/index.html

12. Search results page

13. Link to Show-Me to College micrositehttp://www.dhe.mo.gov/ppc/12thgrade.php

14. What SHOULD the EAC focus on? Should the focus be purely on “access” and financial aid training for consumers/students and high school guidance counselors?

15. What SHOULD the EAC focus on? How does MASFAP’s EAC fit into the Missouri College Access Network?

16. What is a state college access network? • Statewide organization comprised of professionals and organizations involved in the educational pipeline • Target audience - students facing barriers: • Low income • Lack of college-educated role models • Students from under-resourced high schools

17. How do the EAC and MOCAN fit together? MASFAP EAC Missouri CAN Target audience of CAN: students facing barriers to access and success Comprehensive and diverse activities and services provided by membership organizations to target audiences • Purpose in the P&P: “develop financial aid early awareness projects aimed at all students” • “Conducting presentations and workshops to educate community groups [about financial aid]”

18. Why does Missouri need a CAN? • Missouri policy makers want Missouri’s citizenry to be educated and employable • 34.9% had a college degree in 2008 • 28.1% short of 63% by 2018 goal • 25.1% short of 60% by 2025 Lumina goal • Focus on retention and graduation rates • Missouri has a wealth of very successful college access organizations and efforts

19. Why does Missouri need a CAN? • Because data shows we are moving in the wrong direction • Per January 2012 report from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities • U.S. ranks 3rd in degree attainment for 55-64-year-olds • But DROPS to 12th for the 25-34-year-olds

20. We are moving in the wrong direction • 2011 report from The Education Trust • “…at every level – federal, state, and institutional – our leaders are making counterproductive [policy] choices.” • State merit aid grown at a rate triple of need aid • Unmet need by income levels:

22. Borrowers with Excessive Debt • Pell Grant recipient • Total family income less than $50,000 • Parent’s highest education level less than a Bachelor’s degree • Race Hispanic or African American

23. Why does Missouri need a CAN?“Large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination”– Kania & Kramer, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2011 edition

24. Five Conditions of Success • Common agenda • Slightly different goals and definitions undermine results • Shared measurement • Consistency is critical • Mutually reinforcing activities • Coordination of diverse activities achieves overall plan • Continuous communication • Builds trust, a common vocabulary, and shared measurement • Backbone support organization • Coordination takes time; member organizations rarely have this time

25. Implementation Timeline • Official launch for the 2012-13 academic and state fiscal year • Presented to the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) at an upcoming meeting • Steering committee nominations solicited April and May; members chosen in June • Organizations invited to join as members May and June • First steering committee meeting July 2012

26. How does MASFAP fit into a Missouri CAN? • Financial aid policy is a critical component to access and success for under-resourced students • The EAC was formed in the early 1990s when times were very different • Considering all of the information provided in this session, SHOULD the EAC change its focus? • What types of activities should be the EAC’s priorities? • Should MASFAP join a Missouri College Access Network?

27. Missouri CAN Steering Committee • To Nominate yourself or another for the Missouri CAN Steering Committee: • Nomination form coming in early April • Updates in April Digest along with a link to the form • Steering Committee tasks • Determine official organization name, mission, priorities, bi-laws, and goals • Define active working committees and determine services and activities

28. To Volunteer for the EAC:

29. Thank you for attending! Questions or comments may be sent to the 2012 EAC co-chairs: Julie Meyer, julie.meyer@dhe.mo.gov Dan Dick, ddick@slu.edu