Keeping the Dream Alive: Dreamkeepers® Student Emergency Financial Assistance Program

Presented by Scholarship America ® Presented by Scholarship America ®

About Dreamkeepers Dreamkeepers®, a program of Scholarship America®, is designed to help students stay in college when faced with an unforeseen financial emergency.

About Dreamkeepers

Dreamkeepers helps Community College Students. -Completion, and persistence -Financial Literacy -Student Support Services Dreamkeepers helps Community Colleges. -Communicate with their students -Communicate internally with faculty and staff

History of Dreamkeepers 2004 Lumina Foundation for Education grant – 11 colleges 2007 Research and Best Practices developed 2007 Walmart Foundation grant – 7 colleges 2009 Kresge Foundation, Walmart Foundation, Lumina Foundation for Education – 13 colleges 2012 Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation colleges

Dreamkeepers Results Average success rate (Persistence, re- enrolled, transferred or graduated) –Phase I 78% –Phase II 93% –Phase III95% Since 2004, nearly $2.3 million in financial assistance has been provided to more than 5,227 students in 28 schools Average grant is $456 –Most common uses are housing, utilities, meals, transportation/car repairs, child care and medical bills.

Dreamkeepers Resources Administrative and Fundraising Best Practices Fundraising support Communications support One-One technical administration support On-line application resource Financial Literacy Resource

Components of Funding Student Funding - over three years Year 1 – seed grant Year 2 – 1:1 matching grant Year 3 – 2:1 matching grant Capacity and Sustainability Grant

Moraine Valley’s Dreamkeepers Solution As part of Moraine Valley Community College’s college-wide initiative to encourage student success and retention, the Dreamkeepers program, provided through MVCC Foundation and Scholarship America, has assisted in supporting at-risk students’ readiness to persist in their college enrollment and academic achievement.

Moraine Valley’s Dreamkeepers Solution Dreamkeepers encourages faculty and staff to be sensitive to students who may be experiencing an unanticipated financial emergency that threatens to impede their academic success or even their continued enrollment. Once identified, these at-risk students are referred to the Counseling and Career Development Center by college faculty, staff, and administrators so that a short-term solution can be sought for the problem. The goal is to keep students in class and moving forward while addressing the problem, and to help students learn how to avoid financial emergencies in the future.

Student Pre-Application Process Assistance provided by Counseling and Career Development Center begins: An initial counseling session helps to assess the student’s financial emergency. During the session, all potential college resources, social services, and alternative sources are explored: Federal and state financial aid sources Academic and Student Funded Scholarships Community-based township and social service Funding for food, clothing, and housing Local teaching health colleges and universities Providing medical, visual or dental support

Eligibility Criteria Criteria for Dreamkeepers funds includes the following: Has a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Has completed 12 credit hours at Moraine Valley Enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours during the academic Semester, or Enrolled in 3 credit hours during summer session Has an unanticipated financial emergency that could cause the student to drop/ stop out of school Has not have received a previous grant from Dreamkeepers If the candidate does not meet one or more of the eligibility requirements above, the student is directed to contact the Dean of Counseling and Advising.

Application Process If the counselor determines that the student fits the criteria, the student is directed to complete the online application. The on-line application includes: General information questions Demographic questions Brief narrative questions to explain the emergency and answer the question about why a grant would assist them A budget outline document A signature page, and A requirement to upload documentation of need. All questions must be completed to support the review and potential approval for assistance

Application Process (continued) Before closing the application, the student is directed to an online resource video highlighting how to develop and manage a budget. After submitting the online application, students who have been approved receive a call from the Dean of Counseling and Advising to arrange to meet the student. The meeting’s purpose is to determine the student’s viability for the funds and to obtain original copies of supportive documentation including original and current bill(s) or invoice(s) to support the request. Students are also required to provide the business name and address, along with a contact name or department for the purpose of issuing and mailing a check. Students who are not approved, receive an from the administrator explaining why the application was declined.

Payment Process The Dean approves the request forwards it to the Moraine Valley Foundation for payment. The foundation issues the check(s) within three business days following the request for payment. All checks are made payable to third parties on behalf of students. Depending on the need, a student may receive a gift card in the amount of $50 for food and/or gas. The student can receive up to $500 in gift cards, but students must provide receipts for the first card before receiving an additional gift card. Payment is recorded in the online data retrieval program.

Dreamkeepers Impact on Moraine Valley Student Persistence and Degree Completion 200 students have applied for Dreamkeepers assistance 158 students received funding 134 or 85% completed the semester 125 or 79% graduated with an Associate Degree or certificate 26 transferred to a 4-year institution after completing 37 credit hours on average Listen to what the students have to say about receiving a grant from Dreamkeepers.

The Impact On Student Retention

The Impact On Student Retention

Fundraising for Program Sustainability Moraine Valley’s Dreamkeepers program started in 2008 with a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation through Scholarship America. On average, approximately $25,000 to $30,000 is awarded To date, approximately $80,000 has been awarded in the form of $500 grants. The fundraising plan relies on a mix of: Annual gifts for individual donors Grants from local foundations, and Proceeds from special events. This program resonates with donors!

Questions and Answers Today’s presentation has been posted on the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) website (listed under “Presentations” on the menu bar)