The Inspiration “Only 3 percent of Minnesota’s African American and American Indian 9th graders, and 5 percent of Latino 9th graders, are projected to complete a bachelor’s degree before they are 25 years old.” Citizen’s League Higher Education Report 2004

The Promise Graduate from a Minneapolis or Saint Paul public high school in the spring and you can go to college in the fall, TUITION FREE.

Why Minneapolis/St. Paul? Public Schools at a Glance MinneapolisSaint Paul Number of Students36,37041,225 Eligible for Free & Reduced Lunch66.8%70.9% Students of Color71.8%73.5%

The Power of YOU Goals: 1.Reach Back: Change Expectations and Improve College Readiness 2. Grants: Increase Participation by Removing Financial Barriers 3. Retention Services: Increase College Graduation Rates

Program Requirements Graduate from a Minneapolis or Saint Paul public high school Reside in either the city of Minneapolis or the city of Saint Paul Meet the criteria to apply for federal financial aid Meet the admission requirements of the college/university Enroll in 12 credits each term Participate in 30 hours of service learning Enroll in “Strategies for College Success” class Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards each term No Income Cap

Our Community Partners Endorsed By: The Minnesota Business Partnership City of Lakes Chamber of Commerce Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce In Collaboration With: YMCA of Metropolitan MinneapolisAfrican American Family Services NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center Page Education Foundation Hospitality House Youth Directions Circle of Discipline Achieve!Minneapolis Minneapolis and Saint Paul Public Schools Hennepin County YMCA of Greater St. Paul Neighborhood HouseCities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Funded By: 3M Foundation ADC Foundation F.R. Bigelow Foundation General Mills Foundation Graco Foundation Jerry Christenson Family Mardag FoundationMedtronic Foundation RBC Dain Rauscher Minneapolis Foundation Otto Bremer Foundation Tennant Foundation Perlman Foundation St. Paul Travelers Foundation Xcel Energy Foundation Saint Paul Foundation Timberwolves/Lynx Mpls. Empowerment Zone Mpls. Downtown Network

Meet Our First Power of YOU Class Registered Fall 06Students% Black or African American % White8423.5% Asian4612.9% Hispanic/Latino185.0% American Indian154.2% Other10.3% Total Students % GenderStudents% Female % Male % Total Students %

Financial Profile Total Students (357) Average Household Income$30,000 Average Cost Per Student (Scholarships) $1,050 Average Cost Per Student (Support Services) $855

Evaluation Results Enrollment of Minneapolis and Saint Paul public school graduates doubled over prior year; 76% were students of color. 4 of 5 students reported the program influenced their decision to attend college. Power of YOU students had an overall retention rate of 85% during the first year. The program did not simply draw students to MCTC and Saint Paul College who would have attended college anyway.

Evaluation Results The colleges experienced large increases in Black students, low-income students, ESL students and students taking developmental courses. Almost one-third of Power of YOU students made their decision to attend college in their senior year. A higher proportion of Power of YOU students took developmental courses (81% v 68% at MCTC and 75% v 60% at SPC).

Evaluation Results On average, Power of YOU students had a higher GPA during fall semester than their non-POY classmates. Average cumulative GPA at the end of the first year was the same for POY and non-POY students. At the end of the first year, 62% of Power of YOU students were in good academic standing.

Challenges Extent to which students were under-prepared for college Concerns by sister institutions about enrollment and fund raising Fear about creating expectations that could not be fulfilled FAFSA as a barrier for undocumented students Concerns about long-term sustainability

Questions?