Dive Brief:
- The Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities released a report this week called “Foiling the Dropout Trap,” illustrating how relatively small-dollar cash payouts to struggling students can help them make it to graduation.
- The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Georgia State University’s Panther Retention Grant Program has been in place since 2011, targeting seniors who are well on their way to a degree but comprise the biggest subgroup of students dropping out each semester because they get behind on their bills.
- The average grant is $900 and students are more often first-generation, low-income, students of color who, once they get their checks, must sit down with a financial counselor and academic adviser to think about their future, which contributes to the 88% retention rate among grant recipients.
Dive Insight:
For students who are barely making it, a relatively small amount is enough to dramatically change their futures, from dropout to college graduate. The recent report and Georgia State, however, emphasize the importance of the supplemental support services that come with the money. The payout should be part of a comprehensive plan.
As student outcomes become more important for state and federal funding as well as collegiate reputations, administrators are going to have to implement a number of new strategies. There are plenty of successful models to choose from in addition to completion grants, including targeted advising. Data analysis often provides a map of a college’s unique student population and the supports that would be most helpful to the largest number of students.