Life Got in the Way - Implementing an Effective Emergency Aid Program to Keep Students Enrolled NASPA 2017: San Antonio, Texas Amy Diepenbrock, Ph.D. Jan Lloyd-Lesley, Ph.D. Andy Wilson, Ph.D. Title: Life Got in the Way - Implementing an Effective Emergency Aid Program to Keep Students Enrolled Abstract Low income students often tell you “life got in the way” when asked why they dropped out so an emergency aid program that provides funding for academic and non-academic needs can keep students enrolled when unexpected emergencies arise. This session will discuss how to implement an emergency aid program by sharing three colleges’ different initiatives to assist and retain students. Presenters will discuss the different types of emergency aid as well as the funding and infrastructure needed for such programs.

Learning Outcomes Participants will learn about different types of emergency aid programs. Participants will learn about three different emergency aid programs at varying institutions including funding and infrastructure. Participants will learn effective strategies for implementing an emergency aid program at their institution.

Emergency Aid Types Campus voucher Retention/Completion grants Emergency loans Food pantries Restricted and unrestricted grants Community resources

Emory University Private research university; 15,000 students Type of Emergency Aid: Hardship Grant Length of Time in Existence: 2011 Responsible Department: Financial Aid Number of Students Served Annually: 25 Average Aid Distributed Annually: Max $500 http://studentaid.emory.edu/hardship/

Emory University Private research university; 15,000 students Budget: At least, $10,000 from endowment Primary Communication Methods: Web site, student intervention services http://studentaid.emory.edu/hardship/

Seminole State College of Florida Public two-year; 29,000 students Type of Emergency Aid: Community Resources & Unrestricted short-term grants Length of Time in Existence: Since fall 2015 Responsible Department: Partnership with United Way of Central Florida/Student Affairs Number of Students Served Annually: 332 connected to community resources; 75 funded

Seminole State College of Florida Public two-year; 29,000 students Average Aid Distributed Annually: $788 Budget: $60,000 initial Lumina grant; $45,000 grant and foundation funds Primary Communication Methods: Advising & Counseling referrals, emails and marketing

Demographics Average Age 29 (Range 18- 55) Gender Female: 70% Transgender: 1% Race/ Ethnicity Black/African American: 56% White/ Caucasian: 24% Hispanic or Latino: 17% Multicultural: 3% Employment Status Part-Time: 33% Full-Time: 31% Unemployed: 35% Self-Employed: 1% Enrollment Status Full-Time: 61% Part-Time: 36% Not Currently Enrolled: 3% Eligibility Pell Eligible: 89% First-Generation: 76% Veteran: 8% Household Type Single (No Children): 45% Single (w/ Children): 41% Married (w/ Children): 9% Married (No Children): 4% Referral Source Counselor/ Advisor: 57% Faculty/ Staff: 19% Word of Mouth: 14% Email/ Marketing: 10%

Seminole State College of Florida Public two-year; 29,000 students Emergency assistance funded: Housing & utilities (41%), financial aid gaps (39%), transportation (6%) Re-Enrollment Rates Student Served 83% Students 2-1-1 only 62% Students Not Served 61% Low Income Students at SSC 68%

Type of Emergency Aid: Emergency Loan/Unrestricted grant University of the Incarnate Word School of Pharmacy Private, Faith Based; 11,000 students (400 Pharmacy) Type of Emergency Aid: Emergency Loan/Unrestricted grant Length of Time in Existence: 2007 Responsible Department: Pharmacy Student Affairs Number of Students Served Annually:15-20

Average Aid Distributed Annually: $10,000 Budget: ~$20,000 University of the Incarnate Word School of Pharmacy Private, Faith Based; 11,000 students (400 Pharmacy) Average Aid Distributed Annually: $10,000 Budget: ~$20,000 Primary Communication Methods: Orientation, Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs, Word of Mouth

Effective Strategies for Implementing Know your students Set up and streamline administrative functions Identify funding resources (i.e. student fees, financial aid fees, auxiliary, foundation) Coordinate across units – educate & engage faculty, work with financial aid Consider privacy Work with development and external partners Marketing (e.g., web site, flyers)

Resources 2012-2015 Emergency Grant: Closing Report and Best Practices. Wisconsin HOPE Lab: Madison, WI Dachelet, K. & Goldrick-Rab, S. (2015). Investing in Student Completion: Overcoming Financial Barriers to Retention Through Small-Dollar Grants and Emergency Aid Programs. Wisconsin HOPE Lab: Madison, WI Duke-Benfield, A. E. & Saunders, K. Benefits Access for College Completion: Lessons Learned from a Community College Initiative to Help Low-Income Students. Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success. Emergency Aid: Help Students Weather the Unexpected. Leadership Exchange, v. 14 issue 2, Summer 2016.

Resources Foiling the drop-out trap: Completion grant practices for retaining and graduating students. Coalition for Urban Serving Universities. Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Kruger, K., Parnell, A. & Wesaw, A. (2016). Landscape Analysis of Emergency Aid Programs. NASPA: Washington DC Orozco, V. & Mayo, L. Keeping students enrolled: How community colleges are boosting financial resources for students. Demos: NY Scholarship America, Dreamkeepers, Emergency Financial Assistance Program Implementation Guide

Contact Us Amy Diepenbrock: diepenbr@iwutx.edu Jan Lloyd: lloydlesleyj@seminolestate.edu Andy Wilson: andy.wilson@jhu.edu