Third Year Report on ACG and National SMART Grant

Third Year Report on ACG and National SMART Grant Outcomes Released

The U.S. Department of Education has released the third report from a five-year program evaluation study conducted by MPR Associates, Inc. and JBL Associates, Inc. This report examined program participation data from the first three years of the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grant programs. Major findings include:

• The number of ACG and National SMART Grant recipients has increased, although the percentage of Pell Grant recipients with these grants has remained low.
• Many recipients could not meet the strict conditions required to renew their grants the following year.
• First-year ACG recipients and third-year National SMART Grant recipients persisted at higher rates than students who only received a Pell Grant

Read the report: Download PDF

JBLA Attends Achieving the Dream’s DREAM Conference

JBLA Staff presented inspirational and thought provoking ideas from our years of analyzing Achieving the Dream data.
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JBLA Report Addresses the Financial Aid Challenge

JBL Associates, Inc. prepared a report for the College Board and the American Association of Community Colleges on the underutilization of financial aid by students at community colleges. The study finds that millions of dollars are left on the table each year by low- and moderate-income students attending community colleges. Even though they are eligible for need-based federal financial aid, these students are the least likely to apply for funds.  The report also highlights success stories and provides concrete recommendations to community college leaders and administrators on how to get more students involved in the financial aid process.

The study was released at a news conference held on May 20, 2010 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Higher education advocates, community college leaders, and policymakers came together to talk about the challenges, obstacles and solutions facing community college students.

Read the report: The Financial Aid Challenge: Successful Practices that Address the Underutilization of Financial Aid in Community Colleges

Learn more about the College Board’s Community College initiative

How to Graduate High Risk Students: Lessons from Successful For-Profit Colleges and Schools

 

JBLA was hired by TG: The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation to study four career college and school campuses in Texas to determine what they did to achieve high graduation rates and low student loan default rates.  The purpose of the research was to look for policies and practices that lead to increased retention and graduation rates, especially for high-risk students. JBLA‘s subject matter expertise, experience with in-depth case studies, and networks in the for-profit community were essential to accomplishing the project.

Click here for more information on the TG study

Read the report: Download PDF

JBL Associates releases report urging independence for Community College in DC

JBL Associates, Inc., under the support of the Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed, reports that the Community College of the District of Columbia needs independence from the university to be “credible and legitimate”. After conducting a year long feasibility study, JBLA’s report recommends an “Independence Plus Partnership” option for the new community college, suggesting a partnership with the area’s suburban community colleges.

Click here for more information on the feasibility study

Read the report: Download PDF

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