Lois DouglassFinancial Aid Counselor, UNC-Chapel Hill

Julie Rice MalletteAssoc. Vice Provost & Dir. OSFA NC State

Emily Bliss, DirectorOSFA UNCW

The Carolina CovenantWhat is It?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Announced in 2003, but first entering class in 2004-05.

• A promise for students to graduate debt-free who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

• Meet 100% of need with grants, scholarships, work-study, no loans.

• Receive a laptop grant.• Summer Orientation fees and housing

on campus for student and one parent.

The Carolina CovenantPoverty Guidelines

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Family SizeFederal PovertyGuidelines 150%

Federal Poverty Guidelines 200%

1 $16,245 $21,660 2 21,855 29,1403 27,465 36,6204 33,075 44,1005 38,685 51,5806 44,295 59,0607 49,905 66,5408 55,515 74,0209 61,125 81,500

10 66,735 88,980

Fall 200

4

Fall 2005

Fall 2006

Fall 200

7

Fall 2008

Fall 2009

Number of New Covenant Scholars

224 350 417 398 410 533

Average High School GPA 4.21 4.25 4.19 4.26 4.30 4.13Average SAT Scores 120

91223 119

81202

1206

1230

State of Origin: North Carolina

87% 89% 84% 87% 84% 86%

North Carolina Counties Represented

68 74 72 77 74 80

GenderFemale 69% 63% 61% 63% 60% 61%Male 31% 37% 39% 37% 40% 39%

Students of Color 63% 60% 63% 61% 61% 62%First Generation 55% 52% 57% 53% 55% 55%

[*] The income threshold for consideration for the Carolina Covenant was initially established at 150% of federal poverty guidelines. Starting in fall 2005, it was increased to encompass students with parents’ adjusted gross income up to 200% of the federal poverty standard.

Characteristics of Covenant Scholars*

Characteristics of Covenant Scholars, cont.

Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Average Parental Income

First Year Scholars $18,428$22,967$22,484$23,972 $22,913$26,026All Covenant Scholars $23,086$24,551$25,856$26,716 $27,744

Average Expected Family ContributionFirst Year Scholars $ 769 $ 1,221$ 1,060$ 951$ 910$ 681All Covenant Scholars $ 1,415$ 1,508$ 1,469$ 1,505$ 1,079

Percentage of Award by Type of Assistance (All Covenant Scholars)Grant 91.2% 88.8% 86.7% 87.2% 86.9% 93.1%Loan 3.2 5.41 7.2 7.1 8.3 5.0Work Study 5.6 5.9 6.1 5.6 4.7 1.9

Percentage of Award by Source of Assistance (All Covenant Scholars)Federal 40.5% 36.0% 35.1% 35.6% 35.5% 30.4%State 13.4 18.9 17.8 18.9 21.0 28.6Institutional/Other 46.1 45.1 47.1 45.5 43.5 41.0

Fall 2009 data as of December 1, 2009, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

The Carolina CovenantMore than Financial Aid

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Summer Orientation for students and parents

• Faculty Mentoring Program • Peer Mentoring Program• Programming for students through

Learning Center, Career Services, Memorial Hall, Medical School, Student Advisory Board

• Academic counseling – monitoring grades, and intrusive contracts for summer restoration of grades

The Carolina CovenantOther Access Initiatives and websites

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Covenant Website: http://www.unc.edu/carolinacovenant/

• Access Initiatives Clearinghouse: http://studentaid.unc.edu/pdf/misc/CollegeAccessInitiatives.pdf

• Poverty Guidelines: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

• Development Office support – major fund raising campaigns for support programs.

NC State’s Pack PromiseApproved by the Board of Trustees in April 2006

Communication Plan

www.ncsu.edu/packpromise

NC State’s Pack PromiseMeets 100% of need for up to 9

semesters for students from families with incomes at or below 150% of poverty level.

Parents must not have significant assets (less than $100K)

Not a debt-free commitmentProvides mentoring and academic

support in addition to funding

NC State’s Pack Promise Numbers of New Students Funded Per Year: 2006-07 – 315 2007-08 – 319 2008-09 – 332 2009-10 – 285   Cumulative Total Pack Promise Scholars Per Year 2006-07 – 315 2007-08 – 576 2008-09 – 833 2009-10 – 1058 (enrolled for fall 2009 as of 8/31/09)

91% NC Resident (compared to 89% of all FR) 9% Non-Resident (compared to 11% of all FR)

53% Male (compared to 53% of all FR) 47% Female (compared to 47% of all FR)

Ethnic Diversity of Pack Promise Scholars Enrolled Ethnic Group Number (based on fall 09 ethnic

enrollment data) Caucasian 494 2.8% Native American 15 12.4% African American 328 16.7% Asian 112 9.5% Hispanic 68 10.1% Unknown/Multi 41 4.3%

Greensboro GuaranteeImplemented for first time in 2010-

2011Individual academic success plan to be

developed for studentsFull time academic advisor assigned to cohort

Will keep them on track to graduate in 4 years

Will meet with students 3 to 4 times per semester

Greensboro GuaranteeServices to be offered

TutoringMentoring from within the Greensboro University and the surrounding community

Workshops on study skills, time management, money management, etc.

UNCW’s SOAR200% of Poverty2.5 GPAVerificationOpportunities for Non-Financial Aid

ProgramsGraduated Increments of Grant

FundingDesired Outcomes

UNCW’s SOARTried to run as a financial aid

program onlyAwarded too late in the yearWere not able to keep loans as low as

we would have likedNot as many students in the 200%

range as we had expectedHad difficulty tracking due to time

UNCW’s SOARRevamped Program

Still at 200% povertyWill contact upon admission for freshmenBase amount will be $3000Students can receive more if they participate

in different programsJob ShadowingGPA 3.0Leadership activitiesWork or volunteer

UNCW’s SOARRevamped

Succeeded in getting buy-in from other officesTutoring LabCounseling CenterCenter for LeadershipAdvising (freshmen seminar)Dean of StudentsDiversity Office

UNCW’s SOARRevamped

Financial Aid willAward FundsTrack academic success of studentsTrack involvement of studentsMeet with students at least once a yearSurvey students to see what works and what

doesn’tTry to get more funding

Working with funds you have

Identify an amount of current funding and direct it to a single cohort

Ask for funding from your budget office, then ask again, and then again. Do not stop until they give you some to keep you from asking

Ask your Advancement Office for helpDo not give up. Sometimes this takes

years.