The ELAC FAFSA Challenge! Increasing Student Success through Financial Aid Access ELAC Student Services Division & Communication Studies Department at East Los Angeles College | 11.13.2018

Financial Aid & Student Success Student Success is undeniably at the core of the institution’s mission. Little is mentioned about the important links between financial aid and student success: 1. Financial aid is about more than just finances—it can incentivize behavior correlated with success 2. Clear communication and financial aid opportunities is an enrollment imperative 3. Strictly enforcing unpaid balances is a lose-lose proposition for institutions and students Godow, D. (2015). Three innovative was to use financial aid to promote student success. EAB Student Success Insights Blog. Web. EAB.com

Financial Aid @ ELAC Barriers to success as reported by students regularly include issues related to finances. Issues include costs for : Textbooks Transportation Instructional materials (eg. Lab) Living expenses Number of Students potentially eligible: 4000-6000

The ELAC FAFSA Challenge To Increase the proportion of ELAC students who complete the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Academic Departments are invited to Set bold, attainable goals for FAFSA completion among students in their major and To implement strategies for promoting FAFSA completion among students in their majors and courses. Departments with marked improvements will be winners! Challenge Timeline: December 5, 2018 until March 29, 2019. Are you up for the challenge?

Faculty and Direct Communication The Academic Department Approach The Student Services Approach Students have the most and regular exposure to classroom instructors Departments/Disciplines maintain strong connections to majors. Faculty promote FAFSA completion through in-class reminders, activities, and presentations. Faculty are the Champions of the Challenge! Financial Aid has been reconfigured to include a 20-person computer lab. Financial Aid and Financial Wellness Counseling are stationed in the computer lab. These added resources lab with existing technical staff provide support for the increase in new applicants. The Staff see the students to the finish FAFSA line!

Join the Challenge- Here’s how! Faculty – Make plans to attend the ELAC Challenge Launch- Wednesday, December 5- E1- Financial Aid Office- 11:00-1:30pm Additionally, in your classrooms, consider this before finals… Schedule a Financial Aid classroom presentation Write students an e-mail or share a fresh FAFSA promotional video Post an eye-catching gif or banner on social media Post printed flyers in your classrooms and work spaces

Join the Challenge- Here’s how! Student Launch – FAFSA Day & FAFSA Night Events Dates: TBD Event held in computer lab and assists students in completing the application both in South Gate and Monterey Park. Specialized sessions to help students, especially those students of Challenge participants, complete the FAFSA Trained and professional support available during the sessions.

Joining the Challenge Here are strategies for promoting FAFSA Completion: During class sessions, ask your students if they have completed the FAFSA. If they have not, encourage them to do so. At the Launch, collect and plan to distribute the materials provided during the tour. Consider hosting a brief or extended classroom presentation on the topic of FAFSA. Design and implement brief class assignments oriented toward financial aid and financial wellness. (Warm-up writing prompts; scavenger hunts; informative presentations; calculation exercises).

Joining the Challenge E-mailing and Communicating with Students Online FAFSA Videos: Overview https://youtu.be/H_iS7gmQd9o Types of Aid: https://youtu.be/Pn4OECMTh5w After completing FAFSA: https://youtu.be/1c1gNefSw78 FAFSA Graphics to share via e-mail or Canvas: FAFSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FederalStudentAid FAFSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fafsa FAFSA on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid

FAFSA Resources for Staff Search for tools and resources to help you or your students learn about financial aid for college. https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/search#YourSearchResults

WINNING the Challenge Winner’s Categories MVP: Departments with the highest overall rates of FAFSA completion. Most Improved: Departments that have the highest increase in FAFSA completion compared to baseline. 50/50 Club: Departments who reach 50% FAFSA completion by the end of the challenge. FAFSA Champions: Departments that achieve 5% or more increase in FAFSA completion by the end of the challenge. (Note: Awards not necessarily listed in “rank” order. Rather, each award is it’s own category allowing some departments to qualify for awards in more than one category.) Awards Luncheon TBA.

The Faculty Launch -11*28*2018 Outline of the Day’s event- A self-guided walking, informative tour of financial aid for faculty that ends with an invitation to join the challenge. Will be available for 1.5hrs Consists of six stations (tables, staffed with volunteers), each focusing on a critical financial aid element for faculty Why FAFSA? Why Me? How faculty impact student success. How faculty help students start FAFSA (FAFSA Overview) After FAFSA? How Staff move the process forward. Financial Literacy Are you up for the challenge? Explaining the commitment & Sign Up. Location: Financial Aid Office- E1 Computer Lab, Waiting Patio, Entry Desk

Are you up for the challenge?

Adapted from the Florida College Access, 2018. http://floridacollegeaccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2018FAFSA-Challenge-Toolkit.pdf Godow, D. (2015). Three innovative was to use financial aid to promote student success. EAB Student Success Insights Blog. Web. EAB.com