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Supporting students

in accessing higher education

ANO ANG BAGAY SA KOLEHIYO?

Mga usapin sa kolehiyo, a $15 million grantmaking initiative of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, seeks to increase college enrollment rates for Marion County high school seniors, especially for students less likely to enroll in college, including students from low-income households, Black students, and Hispanic and Latino students.

High school students face a variety of challenges when considering college, including accessing coursework that prepares them for college, identifying possible career options, and obtaining financial aid. For students without access to relevant support and resources, these challenges can turn into barriers that keep them from applying to and enrolling in college – furthering existing racial and socioeconomic disparities in education and worsening talent shortages in the Indy region.

To help remove some of these barriers and increase college enrollment, Mga usapin sa kolehiyo is awarding grants to Marion County public high schools and community organizations in two phases, Meeting the Moment and Reversing the Trend. The grantees in both phases will use the funding to support Indianapolis students and their families as they navigate the process of exploring, enrolling in and financing college.

48%
Of all 2021 Marion County high school graduates, only 48% enrolled in college, a 28% decrease in just 10 years. 1
39%
Only 39% of 2021 high school graduates from low-income households in Marion County enrolled in college, compared to 55% of their higher-income peers. 1
45% / 38%
In 2021, Black high school graduates and Hispanic and Latino high school graduates in Marion County were less likely than others to enroll in college, with 45% of Black graduates and 38% of Hispanic and Latino graduates enrolling compared with 63% of their Asian peers and 52% of their white peers. 1
39%
In 2023, only 39% of Marion County seniors completed the FAFSA. 2

1 Indiana College Readiness Dashboard, 2 Dashboard ng Pagkumpleto ng FAFSA

THE PROBLEM: WE NEED COLLEGE GRADS

More college graduates needed

Low college enrollment is a challenge to our economic vitality. Indianapolis employers continue to report difficulty finding talent with the education and skills needed to fill open positions. Fewer Marion County residents have college degrees than many of our peer cities, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage when trying to attract new businesses and better jobs.

For individuals, education beyond high school contributes to a higher annual income and improved financial stability. Further, increased educational attainment is associated with increased health, happiness, quality of life and civic engagement.

COLLEGE MATTERS: MEETING THE MOMENT

Grants to support FAFSA completion and college enrollment

Through College Matters: Meeting the Moment, the Foundation awarded nearly $5 million in short-term grants to Marion County public schools, community organizations, and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in September 2023. These grants provide support to students in two areas: completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — now a requirement to graduate high school in Indiana — and exploring their college options.

Meeting the Moment: Grants to schools

To assist students and their families in meeting Indiana’s new FAFSA mandate during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, the Foundation awarded a total of $3.25 million in grants to 37 Marion County public high schools within 17 school corporations.*

Korporasyon ng paaralanHalaga ng grant
Mga Paaralan sa Lungsod ng Beech Grove$160,000
Christel House Indianapolis$160,000
Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana$200,000
Herron Classical Schools$200,000
Mga Pampublikong Paaralan ng Indianapolis$240,000
Irvington Community Schools$145,500
KIPP Indy Public Schools$150,000
MSD of Decatur Township$200,000
MSD ng Lawrence Township$240,000
MSD ng Pike Township$200,000
MSD ng Warren Township$240,000
MSD ng Washington Township$177,750
MSD ng Wayne Township$240,000
Perry Township Schools$240,000
Phalen Leadership Academies$150,000
Purdue Polytechnic High School$160,000
Victory College Prep$150,000
* The amount of grant funding was awarded based on a school’s organization type and total enrollment of high school seniors.

Meeting the Moment: Grants to community organizations

To reach students and their families in places other than schools, four Marion County community organizations received grants totaling $1.35 million over three years to support students in exploring, enrolling in and financing college.

Organisasyong nakabatay sa komunidadHalaga ng grant
Sentro para sa Pag-unlad ng Pamumuno$300,000
Indiana Black Expo$300,000
Indiana Latino Institute$450,000
Indianapolis Urban League$300,000

Meeting the Moment: Grant to Indiana Commission for Higher Education

To fund convenings and facilitate the exchange of information between grantees and the State of Indiana, the Komisyon ng Indiana para sa Mas Mataas na Edukasyon received a three-year, $363,000 grant.

COLLEGE MATTERS: REVERSING THE TREND

Grants to implement proven college enrollment strategies

Through College Matters: Reversing the Trend, the Foundation will provide up to $9.7 million in competitive funding to Marion County public high schools for the implementation of strategies aimed at increasing college enrollment.

There are two steps in the application process. First, any eligible Marion County public high school is invited to apply for one of up to six $20,000 competitive short-term planning grants, which will provide them with resources to create a four-year plan for increasing college enrollment among their students. Second, the schools that received planning grants will be invited to submit proposals for competitive grants of up to $1.5 million each to support the implementation of their plan over a four-year period.

Only schools that received planning grants in the first step of the process are eligible to submit proposals for four-year implementation grants.

Application materials for College Matters: Reversing the Trend

More information about this phase of Mga usapin sa kolehiyo can be found in the Request for Applications and Frequently Asked Questions documents linked below, including:

  • School eligibility.
  • Strategies and tactics shown to increase college enrollment.
  • Examples of metrics grantees will be expected to track.
  • Questions that must be answered as part of the grant application.
  • Application evaluation criteria.
  • Permissible uses of grant funds.
  • Details on informational webinars.

Request for Applications

Budget Template

Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline

Activity Date 
Informational webinars Jan. 10, 2024 and Jan. 12, 2024
Planning grant applications due Noon EST on Feb. 1, 2024
Planning grantee notification March 25, 2024
Planning grant period March 25, 2024 – July 31, 2024
Implementation grant proposals due July 31, 2024
Implementation grantee notification Sept. 3, 2024
Implementation grant period Sept. 3, 2024 – June 30, 2028

BAGAY SA KOLEHIYO MGA RESOURCES

Below, you’ll find a variety of items used to inform the creation of the Mga usapin sa kolehiyo initiative, including data sources and relevant research. For more information on Mga usapin sa kolehiyo, makipag-ugnayan sa kawani ng Foundation sa college@RMFF.org.

This appendix to the College Matters: Reversing the Trend Request for Applications contains summaries of evidence-based interventions that fall under three strategies to increase college enrollment: 1) strengthen college and career counseling; 2) increase families’ financial awareness and help students apply for financial aid; and 3) bolster students’ academic preparation for college.

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Itinatampok ng artikulong ito sa journal ang epekto ng patakaran ng estado ng Louisiana upang i-utos ang pagkumpleto ng FAFSA bilang isang kinakailangan upang makapagtapos ng mataas na paaralan. Ang pag-aaral ay nagpapakita ng FAFSA na mandato ng pagkumpleto ng Louisiana na humantong sa isang 19 na porsyento na pagtaas sa pagkumpleto ng FAFSA, na nauugnay sa isang 1-2 na porsyento na pagtaas sa pag-enroll sa kolehiyo.

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The College Readiness Dashboard provides interactive data to supplement the annual College Readiness Reports; data is available for the state overall as well as by county, school district and school. The Dashboard includes data for high school graduates from the classes of 2012 through 2021.

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Itinatampok ng ulat na ito ang mga demograpiko ng mga nagtapos sa high school sa 2019, ang kanilang antas ng paghahanda sa akademiko, mga rate ng pagpasok sa kolehiyo, mga sukatan ng tagumpay sa unang bahagi ng kolehiyo (mga nagtapos ng 2018) at mga rate ng pagtatapos (mga nagtapos sa 2020).

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Ang taunang ulat na ito ay nagbibigay ng impormasyon kung gaano karaming mga mag-aaral ang nakatapos ng kanilang degree o sertipiko sa mga pampublikong kolehiyo at unibersidad sa Indiana. Bilang karagdagan sa mga uso sa buong estado, ang data ay ibinibigay ng kampus at ng mga katangian ng mag-aaral.

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Ang College Completion Dashboard ay nagbibigay ng interactive na data upang madagdagan ang taunang College Completion Reports; ang data ay magagamit para sa pangkalahatang estado gayundin ng county, distrito ng paaralan at paaralan. Kasama sa Dashboard ang data para sa mga mag-aaral na pumasok sa kolehiyo simula noong taglagas 2006.

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Ang ulat na ito ay nagbibigay ng impormasyon sa mga ibinabalik ng isang kolehiyo degree na magbubunga pagkatapos ng graduation, na higit pa sa mga benepisyong pinansyal. Ayon sa ulat, ang mga Hoosier na may degree sa kolehiyo ay may higit na seguridad sa trabaho, pinahusay na panlipunang kadaliang kumilos, nadagdagan ang pakikilahok sa sibiko, pinabuting kalusugan at kagalingan at mas mataas na kalidad ng buhay.

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Ang College Value Report Dashboard ay nagbibigay ng interactive na data upang madagdagan ang College Value Reports; ang data ay magagamit para sa lahat ng institusyon ng estado sa pangkalahatan gayundin ng indibidwal na pampublikong institusyon, antas ng degree at lugar ng programa. Kasama sa Dashboard ang data para sa mga mag-aaral na nagtapos ng kolehiyo simula noong 2008 at nagtatapos sa klase ng 2017.

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Ang ulat na ito ay nagbibigay ng pagsusuri sa kabuuang halaga ng kolehiyo sa lahat ng pampublikong institusyon sa Indiana at sinusuri ang average na load ng utang para sa mga nagtapos sa kolehiyo, gayundin ang epekto ng tulong pinansyal ng estado at pederal sa pagbabawas ng gastos para sa mga estudyante at pamilya ng Hoosier. Ang impormasyon ay ibinibigay sa pangkalahatan at ng campus.

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Ang libreng data resource ng Fairbanks Foundation, na tinutukoy bilang Community Data Snapshot (CDS), ay kinabibilangan ng Marion County- at state-level na impormasyon sa iba't ibang hakbang sa mga pokus na lugar ng Foundation sa Education, Health at Vitality of Indianapolis. Kasama sa seksyong Edukasyon ng Snapshot ng Data ng Komunidad ang maraming hanay ng data na may kaugnayan sa Mga usapin sa kolehiyo, kabilang ang graduation sa high school, college-going at college persistence rate pati na rin ang SAT performance at high school diploma type. Marami sa mga hakbang na ito ay makukuha rin sa CDS sa distrito ng paaralan at mga antas ng paaralan.

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Ang Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed Dashboard, na nilikha ng Indiana Department of Education, ay nagtatampok ng data sa antas ng paaralan at distrito para sa mga estudyante ng Hoosier sa mga baitang PK-12. Ginawa pagkatapos ng Indiana General Assembly na magpatibay ng isang kinakailangan upang maglunsad ng dashboard ng pagganap ng paaralan, impormasyon sa GPS na partikular na nauugnay sa Mga usapin sa kolehiyo kasama ang pagkumpleto ng FAFSA at pagtatrabaho/pagpapatala (ang porsyento ng mga mag-aaral na nagtatrabaho sa loob ng Indiana o naka-enroll sa isang pampublikong institusyong postecondary sa Indiana isang taon pagkatapos ng kanilang inaasahang taon ng pagtatapos).

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