Table Of ContentPATHWAYS TO COLLEGE NETWORK KEY FINDINGS SELECTED SOURCES OF FINDINGS
(cid:220) The fundamental purpose of student
The Pathways to College Network was Baum, S., 2003. The Federal Government and
financial aid at all levels is to assist the Student Aid Partnership. Boston:
launched in 2001 to advance college access
financially needy students and assure Pathways to College Network.
and success for under-served students,
that they have access to and choice Gandara, P. & Bial, D., 2002. Paving the Way
including low-income students and
among higher education institutions to Higher Education: K-12 Intervention
underrepresented minorities. The Network is Programs for Underrepresented Youth.
without regard to ability to pay.
Washington, DC: National Postsecondary
deeply rooted in collaboration among over 30
Education Cooperative.
organizations and funders that promote
(cid:220) Financial aid is an integral component
Heller, D.E., January 2003. State Financial Aid
college access at the national, state, and
of an overall P-16 strategy to and College Access in Challenging Times,
local levels. Clear Choices: An Action Agenda for College
facilitate college access and success.
Access and Success. National Dialogue on
The Pathways to College Network is Student Financial Aid. New York: College
distinguished by an emphasis on using data (cid:220) A well-grounded state financial Entrance Examination Board.
and research to affect practice and policy. assistance program is student- Longanecker, D.A. & Blanco, C.D., 2003.
Our work connects practitioners, oriented, integrated with state tuition “Student Financial Assistance” in Student
Success: Statewide P-16 Systems. Denver:
policymakers and community leaders with and financing policies as well as with
State Higher Education Executive Officers.
research on effective strategies, advances, federal and private aid programs,
McPherson, M.S. & Schapiro, M.O., January
research; and focuses resources, activities, accountable and appropriate for the
2003. Getting the Most Out of Federal Student
and policy on programs and initiatives with goals it serves, transparent and Aid Spending—Encouraging Colleges and
evidence of improving college access and predictable, and reinforces students’ Universities to Promote the Common Good in
Challenging Times, Clear Choices: An Action
success for under-served students. readiness for college. Agenda for College Access and Success.
Financial Aid – A Shared
National Dialogue on Student Financial Aid.
(cid:220) Federal, state, institutional, and New York: College Entrance Examination Board. Agenda to Achieve
PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE AND private partners must invest more Jones, D.P & Paulson, K., 2001. Some Next
Access and Success for
equitably and efficiently in college Steps for States: A Follow-up to Measuring Up
FINANCIAL AID 2000. San Jose, CA: National Center for Public
success skills for students from all Under-served Students
Policy and Higher Education.
backgrounds.
A key objective of the Pathways to College St. John, E., Musoba, G.D., Simmons, A.B. &
Network is to disseminate effective, Ghung, C-G., August 2002. Meeting the Access
(cid:220) Expanding access to and opportunity Challenge: Indiana’s Twenty-first Century
research-based practices and policies that
for a successful postsecondary Scholars Program. Indianapolis, IN: Lumina
address access and managing college costs. Foundation for Education.
experience for all students who are
As part of our effort to inform parents, prepared and desire to attend is The College Board and Pathways to College
Network. January 2003. Challenging Times,
families, students, and policymakers, we essential to the nation’s social
Clear Choices: An Action Agenda for College
have compiled here a few of the key progress and economic prosperity. Access and Success. National Dialogue on
principles and strategies that underlay a Student Financial Aid. New York: College
Entrance Examination Board.
well-focused financial aid approach. The (cid:220) Accountability for outcomes of
Van de Water, G. & Rainwater, T., 2001.W hat
chart in this brochure reflects these investments in pre-college and college
is P-16 Education? A Primer for Legislators. www.pathwaystocollege.net
principles and strategies along with support programs, as well as financial Denver: Education Commission of the States.
indicators of federal, state, and institutional aid, should focus on measuring the Western Interstate Commission for Higher The Education Resources Institute (TERI)
responsibility. degree to which student access, Education. 2003. Policies in Sync: 31 St. James Avenue, 6th Floor
persistence, and success are Appropriations, Tuition, and Financial Aid Boston, MA 02116
for Higher Education. Denver: Western Phone: 617.556.0581
increased.
Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
Key Findings Corresponding Strategies Strategy Targets Key Findings Corresponding Strategies Strategy Targets
Federal State Institutions Federal State Institutions
The fundamental purpose Provide a guarantee of adequate grant aid to cover the P P P If we are to achieve greater Increase support for programs that provide college success skills, P P P
of student financial aid at average fixed costs (tuition, fees, room, board) of students access and success, federal, early information about college preparation, admission, costs and
federal, state, institutional at four-year public institutions. state, institutional, and student financial aid as well as programs that connect and
and philanthropic levels is Target need-based aid on students with the least ability to P P P private partners must invest transition students to college, and that promote retention and
to assist financially needy more equitably and college graduation.
pay. Make grants the primary form of aid for the neediest
students and assure that students. efficiently in college Provide lower income students and families with early and P P P
individuals have access to success skills for students
and choice among higher Substantially increase Pell grant funding. P from all backgrounds. How straightforward information about available aid, qualifications,
and expected contributions for families in their circumstances.
education institutions Make the Pell grant an entitlement. P college will be financed is a Include information about the benefits of postsecondary
without regard to ability to necessary and integral
pay. Improve loan terms for low-income borrowers, e.g. no fees; target P component of early education. Use communications strategies similar to those used
to Pell recipients. intervention activities by financial institutions to market 529 savings plans to middle/
upper income families. Incorporate financial aid information and
Assure that growth of state merit programs is not at expense P counseling into outreach programs and community based support
of need-based funding and that merit programs, while services for students and families.
meeting other state needs, focus on promoting college access for
needy students. Provide federal incentives to institutions, states and the private P
sector to fund student support and persistence services.
Use criteria for merit programs that support equity, e.g. 2.0 GPA, P P
income cap, 4-year sequence of college prep courses. Design and fund financial aid programs that commit resources to P P P
students long before they leave high school.
Increase focus/messages in national media on available of need- P
based aid and on the national priorities underlying this funding. Make early aid commitments of financial aid in conjunction with P
comprehensive, sustained support and integrate academic
advising with finance aid counseling.
The federal government, Integrate aid policies across federal, state and institutions P P P Structure aid programs to motivate and reward student P
states, institutions and the in complementary and supplementary ways. Make net cost achievement and encourage strong academic preparation.
private sector should work to neediest students zero through grant aid by integrating financial
in partnership to develop aid and tuition financing policies at federal and Provide/increase aid for students to participate in accelerated P
programs and incentives state levels options such as dual enrollment, AP and IB programs.
that promote investment in Improve design and increase funding for federal matching programs P
need-based aid.
to induce states, institutions and private entities Expanding access to and Simplify financial aid application process for students. P P
A well-grounded (state) to provide more need-based aid to students. Increase use of opportunity for a successful Provide students with early notification of aid eligibility by P
financial assistance federal dollars to leverage state and institutional investment postsecondary experience
examining feasibility of tying notification to other federal means
program is student- in financial aid and college access support a.k.a Federal for all students who are
tested benefit programs such as free/reduced school lunch
oriented, integrated with Work Study, SEOG, GEAR UP, Perkins and FFELP loans. prepared and desire to
program.
state tuition and financing Reallocate public and private resources in ways to enhance P P attend is essential to the
policies, as well as with affordability for all students, particularly those with nation’s social progress and Link increases in public college and university tuition to increases P P
federal and private aid greatest need. economic prosperity. in need-based aid.
programs, transparent and Higher education in the 21st
predictable, accountable Design incentives for the private sector to subsidize P P P century is essential, rather
and appropriate for the students with high levels of need. than simply beneficial, to
goals it serves, and Increase federal and state support for institutions serving P P the pursuit of economic
reinforces students’ large percentages of high-need students. Provide incentives well-being for most
readiness for college. for institutions that retain needy students. Americans. To achieve this
goal, public policy must
Minimize disincentives for work and savings in determining student P P P
evolve from enabling
eligibility for need based aid.
participation to enhancing
Simplify the application and allocation process for need-based aid P participation in higher
and make it more transparent to students and families. education.
Lift restrictions on the ability of institutions and states to target P
funds effectively to needy students, e.g. by broadening anti-trust Accountability for outcomes Measure the effectiveness of federal matching funds in generating P
exemptions and eliminating counter-productive regulations such as
of investments in pre- incremental state and institutional funding and determining
over award policies.
college and college support optimal design for these policies.
programs, as well as Build in mechanisms to assess effectiveness of financial aid in P P
financial aid, should focus
meeting program and federal/state policy goals of programs.
on measuring the degree to
which student access,
persistence, and success are
increased.
