FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF COLLEGE OUTREACH PROGRAMS

27th Annual Student Financial Aid Research Network Conference

June 2 - 4, 2011

Presented by:Maly Fung

Dr. Watson Scott Swail

ABOUT THE STUDY

Background Information

• In 2010, EPI received a TG Public Benefit Research Grant to survey college outreach/access programs around the nation

• The survey was based on an earlier version created by Dr. Watson Scott Swail in 2000 for The College Board.

Methodology

The National Survey of College Outreach Programs (NSCOP) consisted of 10 sections:

1. General Information2. Program Information3. Goals and Services4. Program Operation5. Staff and Training6. Student Characteristics7. Operating Budget8. Program Outcomes9. Program Evaluation10. Barriers to College Access

Methodology – cont’d

• The survey was distributed electronically to national association mailing lists, including the National College Access Network (NCAN), federal GEAR UP and TRIO lists, the Association of Institutional Research (AIR), NCCEP, and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA).

Methodology – cont’d• Examples of programs considered included:– GEAR UP and TRIO Programs– Non-federal community-based– Summer Bridge programs that help students

during the transition from high school into college

– Programs that enhance self-esteem– Bring students to campus to learn skills to

succeed in college

Methodology – cont’d

• Examples of programs NOT included in the study were:– Articulated high school programs – Campus sports – Dual Enrollment programs – Short, one-time episodic events

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Distribution of Programs by TypeCACGN=164%

State-FundedN=267%

GEAR UPN=3910%

NonprofitN=5214%

University-FundedN=6317%

TRION= 10528%

PartnershipsN=4813%

PrivateN=144%

Other FederalN=113%

Percentage of Outreach Programs (N=374)

Distribution of Programs By Geographic Location

Programs by First Year of OperationProgram Type  Year First Operated

  Median Range

All 1999 1963 - 2010

CACG 2007 1982 - 2010

GEAR UP 2005 1989 - 2005

TRIO 1990 1965 - 2010

State-Funded 1990 1969 - 1998

University-Funded 2003 1969 - 2010

Nonprofit 1997 1966 - 2010

Other

Partnerships 2001 1967 - 2010

Private 1998 1963 - 2008

Federal 2005 1989 - 2010

Programs by First Year of Operation – cont’d

Before 1960 Between 1960 & 1979 Between 1980 & 1999 After 2000

1

46

149

172

Number of Programs by 1stYr of Operation

Distribution of Programs by Sponsoring Agency

 College Campus

Elementary/ Secondary

School

Community Center

Other

 N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)

All 189 (50.5%) 77 (20.6%) 61 (16.3%) 47 (12.6%)

CACG 5 (31.3%) 4 (25.0%) 4 (25.0%) 3 (18.8%)

GEAR UP 12 (30.8%) 23 (59.0%) 1 (3.6%) 3 (7.7%)

TRIO 79 (75.2%) 17 (16.2%) 7 (6.7%) 2 (1.9%)

State-Funded 13 (50.5%) 3 (11.5%) 3 (11.5%) 7 (26.9%)

University-Funded 46 (73.0%) 3 (4.8%) 4 (6.3% 10 (15.9%)

Nonprofit 2 (3.8%) 15 (28.8%) 27 (51.9%) 8 (15.4%)

Other

Partnerships

20 (41.7%) 8 (16.7%) 10 (20.8%) 10 (20.8%)

Private 5 (35.7%) 3 (21.4%) 5 (35.7%) 1 (7.1%)

Federal 7 (63.6%) 1 (9.1%) 0 (0.0%) 3 (27.3%)

Distribution of Programs by Location of Services

 College Campus

Elementary/ Secondary

School

Community Center

Other

 N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)

All 144 (38.5%) 144 (38.5%) 26 (7.0%) 57 (15.2%)

CACG 2 (12.5%) 7 (43.8%) 2 (12.5%) 4 (25.0%)

GEAR UP 3 (7.7%) 33 (84.6%) 0 (0.0%) 3 (7.7%)

TRIO 54 (51.4%) 39 (37.1%) 2 (1.9%) 9 (8.6%)

State-Funded 13 (50.0%) 6 (23.1%) 1 (3.8%) 6 (23.1%)

University-Funded 41 (65.1%) 12 (19.0%) 3 (4.8%) 7 (11.1%)

Nonprofit 5 (9.6%) 24 (46.2%) 13 (25.0%) 10 (19.2%)

Other

Partnerships

16 (34.0%) 14 (29.8%) 4 (8.5%) 13 (27.7%)

Private 5 (37.5%) 7 (50.0%) 0 (0.0%) 2 (14.3%)

Federal 5 (45.5%) 2 (18.2%) 1 (9.1%) 3 (27.3%)

Program Goals

Improve Vocational SkillsPromote Interest/Strength in Subject Area

Encourage Long-Term Financial PlanningProvide Recreational or Cultural Opportunities

Increase High School Persistence/Prevent Drop OutsEncourage Parental Involvement

Improve Self-EsteemEncourage Rigorous Course-Taking

Provide Role ModelsImprove Academic Skills

Increase Likelihood of Completing CollegeProvide Exposure to CollegeIncrease College Awareness

Increase Likelihood of Attending College

21.1%

36.4%

57.0%

58.0%

65.2%

66.3%

69.8%

71.9%

76.7%

78.9%

79.9%

91.2%

92.0%

92.8%

Percentage of Programs that Identify Goals

Students Targeted

Elementary School StudentsHigh School Graduates

Middle School StudentsHigh School Students

Learning DisabilitiesGifted/Talented Students

ESL StudentsAt-Risk, Stop-Out, Drop-Out

FemaleMale

Low Academic PerformanceHistorically Underrepresented Minorities

First Generation CollegeLow Income

10.7%11.0%

38.0%65.2%

12.8%17.4%

20.6%22.2%

32.1%32.9%33.4%

64.7%77.5%

84.8%

Percentage of Programs by Target Population

Instructional Approach

Peer Learning Groups

Assessment & Testing

Tutoring

Classroom Instruction

Role Models

Mentoring

Workshops

44%

51%

63%

66%

67%

68%

85%

Percentage of Program that Use Instructional Approach

Academic Services

Accelerated Courses Below the College LevelCollege-Level CoursesRemedial Instruction

Computer-Training SkillsReading/Writing Instruction

Academic Enrichment CoursesMathematics/Science Instruction

Grade and Attendance MonitoringTest-Taking Skills

Preparatory CoursesCritical Thinking Skill Development

Study-Skills Training

28.9%

30.7%

34.8%

38.0%

51.3%

51.6%

53.2%

55.3%

55.9%

56.1%

56.4%

61.5%

Percent of Programs Providing Academic Services

Non-Academic Services

Job Placement Assistance

Employability Skills Training

Career Days

College Fairs

Meetings with College Faculty/Students

Personal Counseling

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

Academic Advising

Career Counseling and Information

Social Skills Development/Confidence Building

Campus Visits and Tours

College Awareness

21.1%

27.3%

37.7%

52.9%

56.4%

58.0%

61.0%

65.0%

68.4%

69.8%

74.9%

86.9%

Percentage of Programs Providing Non-Academic Services

Program Admissions and Capacity

First-Come, First-Serve

Open Enrollment

Competitive Admission

Based on Parent Financial Information

Parent Contract

Specifically Targetted

Must Apply

17.4%

27.8%

31.0%

35.0%

46.0%

52.7%

61.0%

Admissions Process5 Years5%

Less Than a

Year6%

1 Year11%

2 Years15%

3 Years15%

More Than 5 Years22%

4 Years26%

Percentage of Programs by Number of Years Students Participate

Program Capacity – cont’dProgram Capacity

Max. # of Students

Max. # of Parents

All 33,794 42,992

CACG 7,380 978

GEAR UP 3,291 2,858

TRIO 470 35

State-Funded 399 213

University-Funded 1,971 70

Nonprofit 280,213 306,026

Other

Partnerships 2,694 637

Private 575 139

Federal 5,816 1,522

Hispanic/Latino

Black/African American

White

Asian or Pacific Islander

Other Race/Ethnicity

American Indian/Alaskan Native

Low Socioecomic Status

Female

Male

45.7%

22.6%

21.8%

5.7%

3.3%

0.8%

66.4%

57.7%

42.3%

Students Served in 2009-2010

Parental Component

No33%

Yes (Mandatory)20%

Yes (Not Mandatory)

45%

Yes (No Answer)2%

Percent of Programs with Parental Component

Parental Component

Family Counseling

Instructional Programs

Meeting with College/University Faculty or Students

Motivational Speakers

Campus Visits and Tours

Participation in Student Activities

Academic Classes

Financial Aid Counseling/Guidance

College Awareness

9.1%

14.2%

24.1%

24.6%

35.8%

39.3%

40.0%

54.5%

58.3%

Percentage of Programs Providing Services to Parents

Program Incentives

Tuition/Fees Reimbursement

Academic Credit

Cash Stipend

Special Recommendation

Dinner/Party

Scholarship

Certificate of Recognition

12.3%

15.0%

23.3%

23.5%

36.1%

37.4%

44.4%

Percentage of Programs that Offer Incentives

Program Operation

Academic Year AND Summer

N=26270%

Academic Year Only N=7721%

Summer OnlyN=339%

Period of Operation, All Programs

Program Operation – cont’d

One Summer

One Month

One Semester

One Week

Full Academic Year

More Than One Acad Yr

0.5%

1.9%

2.1%

2.7%

22.2%

35.6%

Program Duration

On Weekends

Episodic Events

During School Hours

After School Hours

54.0%

60.8%

66.3%

71.1%

Time of Services Provided

Funding and Support

ExternalN=262

78%

InternalN=5917%

Tuition/FeesN=165%

Primary Source of Funding

  In-Kind Financial Support

 N (% of

Programs)N (% of

Programs)ALL PROGRAMS

   

Federal Government 2 (0.5%)

169 (45.2%)

AmeriCorps 26 (7.0%) 11 (2.9%)

State Government 30 (8.0%) 74 (19.8%)

Local Government 23 (6.1%) 17 (4.5%)

Local School System 104 (27.8%) 21 (5.6%)

Community Organization 80 (21.4%) 30 (8.0%)

Business/Industry 45 (12.0%) 58 (15.5%)

Private Foundation 18 (4.8%) 120 (32.1%)

Individuals 52 (13.9%) 58 (15.5%)

Colleges/Universities

128 (34.2%)

64 (17.1%)

Fundraising 5 (1.3%) 65 (17.4%)

Staffing & Training

YesN= 31183%

NoN=6316%

Percentage of Programs with Pre-Service Staff Training

Meet Less than Monthly

Meet Biweekly

Meet Monthly

Meet Weekly

Have Regular Meetings

13.4%

20.9%

23.8%

35.3%

93.3%

Frequency of Staff Meetings (Percentage)

Monitoring & Tracking

Monitor Student Progress

Track Students After Program Completion

Track Students After High School

Track Students After College Graduation

86%

66%59%

36%

Percentage of Programs Who Track Students

Program Evaluation

Conduct Evaluations Conduct Evaluations Every Year

Conduct Evaluations According to Another

Schedule

Conduct Evaluations Every Two Years

Do Not Conduct Evaluations

85%

67%

15%

3% 2%

Percentage of Programs Who Conduct Evaluations and Frequency

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