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

2 College Access and Completion in the U.S.

Good News! College attendance has increased over the past 40 years. Students are increasingly diverse. Growing evidence that a college degree pays off. 3

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. 4

Why Don’t More Students Succeed? 5

Personal Factors Competing Demands Competing Demands Low Basic Skills Low Basic Skills Financial barriers Financial barriers 6

Institutional Factors Reduced resources Reduced resources Difficulty engaging all students Difficulty engaging all students Financial Aid Financial Aid Gaps Gaps Distribution Distribution 7

Modifying what already exists… 8 Most common path taken to address these issues.

Different Focus Performance Based Scholarships 9

Performance-Based Scholarships? Need-based grants Need-based grants Contingent on academic performance and/or student services Contingent on academic performance and/or student services Paid directly to students Paid directly to students Paid in addition to other financial aid, such as Pell Paid in addition to other financial aid, such as Pell 10

A nonprofit social policy research group, dedicated to finding what works to improve programs and policies that affect low-income populations. 11

12 The Performance-Based Scholarships (PBS) Demonstration American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention Adult learners: Borough of Manhattan and Hostos Community Colleges (NY) Parents: Lorain County, Owens, and Sinclair Community Colleges (OH) High school seniors: California Cash for College (CA) Traditional college students: University of New Mexico (NM) Latino males: Pima Community College (AZ) Developmental math sequence (in progress): Hillsborough Community College (FL) UNCF

13 WHY care about Latino Male college completion?

By % 14

The Evaluation 15 Fall 2010

Random Assignment 16 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

17 Implemented at Pima Community College

Eighth-largest community college in the Eighth-largest community college in the United States United States Almost 80,000 students Almost 80,000 students Six campuses, four education centers Six campuses, four education centers Full-time student enrollment up 10% Full-time student enrollment up 10% fall 2009 vs. fall 2010 fall 2009 vs. fall

Latino Males Latino Males Low-income as defined by an EFC of 5273 or less Low-income as defined by an EFC of 5273 or less Accumulated 45 or fewer PCC credits at time of enrollment in the program Accumulated 45 or fewer PCC credits at time of enrollment in the program Enrolled in 6 or more credits for the term Enrolled in 6 or more credits for the term 20 Eligibility Criteria

26 years old 26 years old Majority unmarried Majority unmarried 30% have at least one child 30% have at least one child 38% first generation college 38% first generation college 21 Who’s in Adelante?

22 45% receive government benefits About 50% employed Over 2/3 working more than 20 hours per week Who’s in Adelante?

23 Most intended to attend full-time in their first semester of the program

Adelante: Award Plus Services 3 semesters 3 semesters Differential award full-time/ Differential award full-time/ part-time part-time Award paid directly to students Award paid directly to students 24

Performance Award 2.0 (“C”) 12 + credits (full-time) 2.0 (“C”) 6-11 credits (part-time) 2.0 (“C”) 6-11 credits (part-time) 25

Services Award REQUIRED Completion of Services REQUIRED 26

Support Services Program Orientation 27

Support Services Dedicated Adelante Advisors 28

Support Services Tutoring Academic Workshops 29

Pláticas Support Services 30

Where are we now? 31 Implementation Students still in Adelante Students still in Adelante Last group will end program in fall 2012 Last group will end program in fall 2012 Data Collection and Analysis Transcript Transcript Survey Survey Focus groups Focus groups

Early Findings 32 Credits Attempted/Earned Credits Attempted/Earned Full-time Attendance Full-time Attendance Debt Reduction Debt Reduction

33 Student Voices…

“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”. 34

35 “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 $ (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”. 36

Contact Information Frank Velasquez (520) Ireri Valenzuela (510)