Collaboration between financial aid officers and advising staff at the University of South Carolina supports the retention of scholarship recipients.
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May 2024 Student Voice Survey conducted by Within Higher Ed and Generation Lab found the majority of college students identified balancing academics with personal, family and financial obligations as the most stressful.
Officials at the University of South Carolina saw this in real time, as half of the students would lose state award scholarships each year because their grades faltered or they did not clear the debt burden required to maintain the award. Counselor-led outreach helps enroll students in summer courses to ensure students meet requirements and stay on track to graduate.
Over the past three years, the intervention has helped thousands of students keep their scholarships and enroll for the fall semester.
Research says
A June 2024 study by ScholarshipOwl found that 35 percent of students nationwide plan to use state scholarships and grants to pay for college in the 2024-25 academic year.
Scholars at risk: Each year, the state of South Carolina awards high school students scholarships based on their residency and academic standing, which they can use at an eligible South Carolina institution of higher education. The top awards—the Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship—provide students with up to $20,000 and $29,200 over four years, respectively.
To maintain eligibility for both awards, students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average and complete 30 credit hours during the academic year.
“The high cost of higher education and academic requirements to maintain scholarships can create significant barriers for students who are at risk of losing their financial aid,” said Mike Dial, associate director of undergraduate academic advising. “Internal data shows that, without intervention, these students are less likely to continue their education.”
Of students who started in 2015, only 73 percent of those who lost their scholarships continued into the second year, compared to 96 percent of first-year students who kept their scholarships. Graduation rates, likewise, were much lower for those who lost scholarships (53 percent) than those who kept them in their first year (89 percent).
Starting in 2021, the University Advising Center (UAC) is partnering with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) to launch the Scholarship Risk Intervention program to help students hold on to their financial aid.
Put into practice: Every May, the financial aid office provides counselors with a list of at-risk students, who are identified based on their insufficient GPA, credit hours or both. From there, counselors create cases in the counseling software program, which is provided by the student’s academic advisor. The counselor will then review the student’s case and what scholarship they are receiving to see if it is possible for the student to meet the eligibility criteria during the summer, prior to the formal review of the scholarship by the financial aid office.
If it looks like the student can fill the gap during the summer, the counselor will reach out via email, text or phone calls. Once a student is engaged, counselors work with students to find strategies to make up for the deficit, such as enrolling in a course that plays to the student’s strengths or balancing the number of credits the student takes so they don’t further hinder their GPA.
What’s different: The initiative relies on a partnership between UAC and OFAS, breaking down silos to help student retention and graduation.
“This partnership provides a comprehensive approach to student support, helping them understand that their academic choices directly affect their financial aid,” Dial said. “Advisors now play a major role in helping students keep their scholarships.”
A recent study by Tyton Partners found that, while most students want to discuss financial matters with their advisors (48 percent), advisors are less likely to consider financial issues an important topic to discuss (30 percent).
Impact: This program has been very successful, improving retention and scholarship eligibility for students who engage with mentors.
From March 2021 to August 2024, 5,650 unique students were flagged as vulnerable, with 6,634 flags issued. About three in ten at-risk students were students of color, and a similar number were first-generation students.
Almost half (55 percent) of these students had a conversation with a counselor about their options, and 61 percent of these students signed up for a summer session, compared to 38 percent of students who did not contact a counselor. 46% of students who discussed programs with their advisor retained their aid, and 91% of those who had discussions with an advisor returned to campus in the fall.
Spring 2024 data, specifically, found 55 percent of students (n=1,676) engaged with a counselor, 80 percent enrolled in summer courses, 59 percent kept their scholarships and 95 percent were retained in the fall semester.
“Findings also demonstrate the important role of counselors in guiding students through financial aid needs, promoting retention, and improving academic performance,” according to the university’s report.
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