Achieving The Dream
Financial Aid Strategy Team
Year One Progress Report
And
Year Two Strategies
April 15, 2009
Action Items Year One 2008-2009
1. Increase Number Of Joint Recruitment/
Financial Aid Presentations To Schools
And Agencies Serving Adult Populations
 Result: Complete
 2007-2008 48 Presentations
 2008-2009 55 Presentations through
12/2008
 Remains an action item
1
2. Expand Marketing Of Financial Aid On College
Homepage: Prospective Student Link And
Student Right-To-Know Link
 Result: Complete
 Revolving banners on main homepage
 Promotion of free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on
student Right-To-Know emails sent to all students
 Student Right-To-Know link to financial aid webpage
 Student Right-To-Know information page in course schedules each
semester
 Financial aid section of college catalog
 Extensive financial aid information in student handbook
 Remains and action item
2
3. Utilize Students in Recruitment Process
 Result: Complete
 Students are utilized regularly both on
and off campus
 Students are made aware of option to
apply for community service learning credit
Remains an action item
3
4. Collaborate with the Bursar to create
comment on student fee statement to
encourage student to seek financial aid for
help with tuition and fees
 Result: Complete
4
5. High School Senior Lists To Inform Prospective
Students To File The FAFSA
 Result: Complete
 Remains an action item however other
strategies used in recruitment and public
relations compliment this item, i.e.,
 Online application and Hobson’s Contact
Management Software
 Prospective students who indicate an interest in
Financial Aid information on the Online
Administration Application are identified by email
to the Financial Aid Office for follow-up contact
5
6. Right-To-Know Emails To All Students
And Right-To-Know Link On Financial Aid
Website Used To Encourage Current
Students And Prospective Students To
File The FAFSA
 Result: Complete
 See item 2 above
6
7. Increase The Number Of Financial Aid
Presentations To Success In College Life
Classes
 Result: Complete
 2007-2008 14 Presentations
 2008-2009 24 Presentations through
12/2008
 Remains an action item
7
8. Increase OCCC Faculty And Staff Awareness
Of Financial Aid Resources Through Distribution
Of U.S. Department Of Education Publication:
Counselor And Mentor’s Handbook On Student
Financial Aid To Faculty Advisors And Other Key
Professional Staff. Financial Aid Presentation
Through Staff Development Sessions





Result: Partially complete
Handbooks were distributed
Financial aid presentation is on financial aid website
Have not yet delivered staff development presentation
Remains an action item: 2009-2010 Counselor and Mentor’s
Handbook is ready for delivery to Faculty Advisors and key
professional staff
8
9. Utilize Hobson’s Contact Management
Software To Identify Current And
Prospective Student Inquires About
Financial Aid. Develop A Message From
The Financial Aid Office To Respond To
These Inquires
 Result: Complete
9
10. Establish A Separate Books And Supplies Program
For late Filing Applicants For Financial Assistance Who
Have Not Yet Been Awarded Federal Funds. Enables
These Individuals Who Are “At Risk” To Obtain Their
Essential Books And Supplies To Begin Their Semester.
Reduces Barriers To Early Class Participation In Their
Courses.
 Result: Complete
 Fall semester: 65 students; $ 29,068 Authorized
 Spring semester: 0 This is positive in that more students are
receiving Pell Grants and Loans and do not need to use this
alternative
 Remains an action item
10
11. Recommend Schedule Adjustment To
Academic Division Tuition Waiver Program
To Award For The Academic Year Rather
Than Semester By Semester.
 Result: Dropped
 Most waivers are awarded and on student
accounts prior to payment due date
published by the Bursar
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12. Measurable Change
 Increase the number of AtD Cohort
students who file the FAFSA for Fall 2008
by six percentage points over the Fall
2007 Cohort
 Result: Seven percentage points increase
Fall 2007 to Fall 2008
12
13. Measurable Change
 Increase the number of AtD Cohort
students awarded and having financial aid
on their Bursar account prior to the
beginning of Fall semester 2008 by three
percentage points over the Fall 2007
Cohort
 Result:
13
15. Measurable Change
 Assess the academic success rate for financial
aid recipients in the Fall 2008 AtD Cohort having
and EFC of $1,500 or less compared to the
academic success rate of the Fall 2007 Cohort
having and EFC of $1,500 or less
 Result: Success defined as a grade A,B,C,S.
Fall 2007 success rate
Fall 2008 success rate
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Year Two Strategies
 Continue action items from year one
 Strategies to increase the number of FAFSA
filings for Fall 2009 and number of applicants
awarded
 Increase FAFSA filing for Fall 2009 by five
percentage points over Fall 2008
 Increase number of awarded students with
available funds on the Bursar account prior to
start of Fall semester 2009 by three percentage
points over Fall semester 2008
15
1. Conduct Outreach Activities Focused On
Community Based Agencies Serving
Adults And Families
 Collaborate with recruitment office to
hold a seminar for agencies to include:
Recruitment, Financial Aid, Veterans
Services, Advising and Academic
Representatives
16
2. Conduct A Financial Aid Event For
Current Students To Encourage Early
Filing Of The FAFSA And An Opportunity
To Provide General Financial Aid
Information
17
3. Enhance Financial Aid And Veterans
Services Website To Update For 20092010 Academic Year And To Update For
Changes In Higher Education Opportunity
Act (HEOA) And New G.I. Bill
18
4. Organize Financial Aid Operation To Expand
The Number Of Time Full Time Staff Working
The Front Counter Providing Direct Service
5. Develop A Professionally Oriented Student Loan
And Financial Literacy Service To Accommodate
Continued Growth In The Number Of Student
Loans And Federal Initiatives In Support Of
Financial Literacy Services. Hire A Full Time
Coordinator
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6. Utilize Early Contact With May 2009 High
School Graduates Who Are Eligible For
The Oklahoma Promise Program To
Encourage Completion Of The FAFSA For
The 2009-2010 Academic Year
7. Contact Concurrently Enrolled High
School Seniors To Encourage Early
FAFSA Filing And Enrollment At OCCC
After Graduation
20
8. Insure Financial Aid And Veterans
Services Website Is Prominently Identified
On College Homepage To Enhance
Awareness Of Financial Assistance
Opportunities For Prospective And Current
Students
21
9. Continue To Improve Financial Aid
Processes Such As Work Flow And Online
Forms By Use Of Technology In
Collaboration With Enrollment And
Student Services, Director Of E-Services
22
10. Insure Financial Aid Information
Available On Its Website And In Key
College Documents, I.E., Catalog Clearly
Explains Costs Of Attendance And Impact
Of Financial Aid To Reduce Cost To
Families: “Net Cost”
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