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The Guarantor of Choice SM |
TG Public Benefit Grant Program
Grants Awarded in FY 2006
Grantee Name: Board of Regents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Educational Administration
Project Title: Paths to the Baccalaureate: A Study of Transfer and Native Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution
Amount Funded: $44,158
Summary of Proposal: Education research
The grantee studied the two paths that Hispanic students choose in pursuit of a bachelor's degree: enroll in a community college (63 percent of Hispanic undergraduates are enrolled here) or enroll directly at a four-year college. The study examined why students followed a particular path; who influenced or helped the student in that path; what barriers were experienced; and how did the student overcome those barriers. The researcher drew from a sample of students enrolled at a Texas Hispanic-Serving Institution; and interviewed 60 students, 18-24 years of age, who were on-track to complete the baccalaureate degree in 2006.
Grantee Name: College For All Texans Foundation, on behalf of THECB
Project Title: Letters from the Governor (GO Campaign)
Amount Funded: $50,000
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee sent letters signed by the Governor of Texas to every high school senior (approximately 242,771) in Texas, encouraging them to prepare for and apply to college. The project targets seniors who have had little exposure to college-going resources. The letters provide links to resources available for going to college, including details about the application process and financial aid. The accompanying brochure (printed in English and Spanish) provided the telephone number of the Texas Financial Aid Information Center. In 2005, about 75 percent of Texas high schools participated in this project.
Grantee Name: College Forward (formerly Admission Control)
Project Title: College Forward Partnership
Amount Funded: $98,883.65
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee expanded its services of providing pre-college outreach and student retention support primarily to low-income and first generation college students. Programming included weekly SAT and ACT test prep, college application and financial aid workshops and labs, a summer tour of colleges, and retention efforts such as monthly contacts, reunions, and E-retention services. TG funds were used for the design and production of marketing materials, coaching training, curriculum development, partnership agreements, and evaluation, and grant writing.
Grantee Name: Communities In Schools of San Antonio
Project Title: Financial Awareness for College Success (FACS) Project
Amount Funded: $175,000
Summary of Proposal: Services to students and families
The grantee enhanced the service delivery component to 150 first-generation college students currently enrolled in the existing Educational Talent Search (federal TRIO) program. The project addressed academic advisement, postsecondary awareness and financial literacy. Services included accessing educational needs, providing academic advisement, career assessment, test preparation, and financial aid assistance.
Grantee Name: Council for Opportunity in Education (COE)/Pell Institute
Project Title: Improving Pre-College Services for First-Generation Students in Texas
Amount Funded: $73,515
Summary of Proposal: Education research
The grantee studied what makes a difference for first-generation students in terms of whether or not they enroll in college. The study examined the experiences of students who have — and have not — been successful. The final report chronicled these experiences and made recommendations to pre-college programs, institutions, policy-makers, and others, regarding (1) what practices work for students, (2) what needs are not currently met, and (3) what messages get through in conveying critical information about going to college. The study focused on three regions: South Texas, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and San Antonio/Austin.
Grantee Name: Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges (GFIC)
Project Title: The Graduación Project
Amount Funded: $50,000
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
Five independent colleges will collaborated to: enhance recruitment of Hispanic students; develop retention strategies; and show the economies of colleges collaborating by sharing the cost of a recruiter and an advisor/mentor, whose primary focus was the recruitment and retention of Hispanic students. The applicant also conducted focus group research of Hispanic families to determine attitudes, assumptions, and aspirations.
Grantee Name: McLennan Community College Foundation
Project Title: First Generation College Student Initiative
Amount Funded: $62,139
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid to students and Services to students and families
The grantee provided multiple integrated services, to include: (1) early college awareness (grades 4 through 12) about what college means and importance of academic preparation; (2) summer course for a cohort of 18 graduating seniors to strengthen their academic skills and self-confidence; (3) Accuplacer assessment for 30 potential first-generation college students; and (4) a need-based grant of $1,000 per student (12 supported by TG and six supported by Rapoport Foundation). To increase retention, the "TG" cohort of students received supplemental instruction and study in learning communities.
Grantee Name: Mountain View College
Project Title: Opening Pathways for Educational Excellence
Amount Funded: $200,000
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid for students and Services to students and families
The grantee established a Transfer Resource Center that will provide financial aid and academic credit transfer of new to college, first-generation students entering the college from high school or other institutions and leaving the college to other institutions. The project operated as a comprehensive academic, support services and advocacy program that included: academic advising, personal and career advisement, services on transfer, admissions, and scholarships at four-year institutions, and monitoring of academic progress through mid-term reports. Approximately 200 students (where unmet need is determined) received financial stipends ($1,000 each), critical information, and support services to ensure academic success.
Grantee Name: San Antonio Education Partnership
Project Title: At-Risk Student Scholarships
Amount Funded: $25,000
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid for students
The grantee provided academic scholarships for low-income and first-generation college students. The scholarship is a part of an integrated system of incentives, motivation, and support services designed to help at-risk students. The program involves college awareness, college preparation, and college transition. Students and parents are encouraged to sign a "Commitment to Excellence Form," in which the student agrees to achieve a 95 percent attendance rate and keep a "B" grade point average upon graduation from high school. TG funding provided scholarships ranging from $350 (2-year schools) to $1,000 (4-year private school) per student.
Grantee Name: South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc.
Project Title: TG First Generation Scholars Program
Amount Funded: $20,000
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid to students
The grantee expanded its existing Scholars Program by awarding 20 need-based scholarships ($1,000) to first-generation students (one each) at the 20 independent institutions in the state. The scholarships aimed to address college affordability among first-generation college students.
Grantee Name: Texas Woman's University
Project Title: TWU Academic Boost for College Success & Excellence
Amount Funded: $110,000
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families and Need-based aid for students
The grantee supported approximately 50 first-generation college students who were at-risk of not completing their college degree. The program provided academic support for students with GPAs of 2.75 or below. Students worked on a one-to-one basis with tutors, and participated in a variety of skill-building and self-development workshops that affect persistence. TG funds also provided scholarships ($500 per semester) for students to pay for required textbooks, academic planners, supplies, and related expenses. The university provided $20,000 (in-kind match) to support mentors and tutors through the project partners.
Grantee Name: Texas A&M University — Department of Student Financial Aid
Project Title: TG Aggie Summer Institute
Total amount funded: $288,444
Summary of Proposal: Services to students and families and Education research
The grantee conducted two projects: (1) TG Aggie Summer Institute — $176,750. The project involved three four-week institutes in each of the Regional Prospective Student Centers throughout the state. Each institute provided pre-college outreach (including transportation stipends) to 50 students; (2) TG Studies on Barriers to Higher Education — $107,694. The grantee conducted five studies to examine Texans perceptions about barriers to higher education. Telephone surveys were used to study the following: accuracy of the knowledge about college costs, perceptions of how financial aid acts as a barrier to college enrollment, identifying significant social barriers students face in applying to/attending/graduating from college; and identify how perceptions of higher education changed from pre-college to post-college for college graduates.
Grantee Name: Texas State Technical College — Waco
Project Title: Another Chance to Succeed
Amount Funded: $96,050
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee delivered customized learning strategies and intensive resource support services to at-risk students to improve default aversion, retention, graduation, and credit transfer rates. Targeted students included those who were on "academic alert" or financial aid probation. Services included developing student-specific success plans; a four-week training seminar; weekly contacts with retention lab assistants, counselors and advisors, and tutoring.
Grantee Name: Texas Tech University
Project Title: Raider Assistance Program
Amount Funded: $37,500
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid for students and Services to students and families
The grantee provided academic, financial, and career assistance to students who were at risk of withdrawing during their sophomore or junior year. Grant aid was awarded to 15 students to substitute for one year of Stafford loans ($2,000 each). Students receiving this aid participated in academic tutoring, academic support services, course counseling, financial literacy, and career counseling. Students were selected from those who were not meeting satisfactory academic progress and have high loan indebtedness. Priority were given to first-generation college students.
Grantee Name: University of Houston — Downtown
Project Title: Summer Academy
Amount Funded: $27,870
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee operated a one-week summer institute to introduce incoming students to the college experience, including financial fitness, academic course work, career counseling, and mentoring opportunities. The institute largely served students whose GPAs indicated academic risk. The institute emphasized academic preparation and financial responsibility. Also, separate events were scheduled for parents. A series of reinforcement activities were offered during the first semester, including a workshop on studying for finals.
Grantee Name: University of Houston — Victoria, Regional Outreach
Project Title: Wharton County Junior College — Letting Education Achieve Dreams Initiative
Amount Funded: $94,479
Summary of Proposal: Services to students and families
The grantee expanded its existing program — Letting Education Achieve Dreams (LEAD) — to the Wharton Junior College campus. LEAD provided (1) student ambassadors (college students visiting students in Pre-K through 12th grade) reaching approximately 2,625 students; (2) college campus visits (10) for approximately 1000 4th, 7th, and 10th graders; (3) two mentoring projects with 20 trained mentors; and (4) three parent/community presentations. LEAD has been recognized as a model program and received the Excellence in Higher Education Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Grantee Name: University of Texas — Pan American
Project Title: Mobile GO Center
Amount Funded: $69,900
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee operated a Mobile GO Center to bring Internet-equipped mobile computer lab to rural school districts in the Upper-South-Texas region, and targeted high schools. A total of 14 week-long Mobile GO Center launches were carried out during the grant period, January-September 2006. Programming included promotion of services, high school G-Force training, scheduling and coordination of services, transportation of the Mobile GO Center, 14 week-long launches, and on-site community-based GO Center services.
Grantee Name: University of Texas — Pan American
Project Title: Peer Advisory Project
Amount Funded: $17,993
Summary of Proposal: Services for students and families
The grantee provided peer-to-peer advising to approximately 1,000 students who went through the new student orientation during spring and summer 2006, and about 1,700 students currently enrolled. The project selected and rigorously trained upper-level students to provide intensive advising services to students. TG funds were used to hire and train six peer advisors, which resulted in an increase in the average advising time per student during orientation from 4.3 minutes to a minimum of 10 minutes per student.
Grantee Name: University of Texas at Brownsville
Project Title: Project Start Smart —Start Early
Amount Funded: $144,555
Summary of Proposal: Services to students and families
The grantee helped high school students apply early for student financial aid, take required college entrance examinations, complete college applications, receive one-on-one mentoring, and participate in dual enrollment courses while in high school by enrolling in summer classes. Targeted students (between 1,800 and 2,200) were those living in the Colonias, and other first-generation college students in South Texas. Parents and family members (4,000) received financial literacy and information about college testing requirements and preparation. Scholarships (50) for summer classes (dual enrollment) were provided to selected students.
Grantee Name: West Texas A&M University
Project Title: Living on Campus: A Critical Step to Earning a Bachelor Degree
Amount Funded: $80,000
Summary of Proposal: Need-based aid for students
The grantee increased the number of first-generation students who live on campus by providing room & board scholarships for 20 Achievement through Commitment to Education (ACE) students, who graduated in May 2006. ACE is a multi-partner program that provides intensive counseling and mentoring, as well as a financial commitment to encourage first-generation students to reach high levels of academic success. Students targeted by this project were those indicating that commuting to campus (either two-year or four-year) would be a forced choice due to financial constraints. The project provided 20 ($5,000) scholarships, of which ACE funded four scholarships.
Grantee Name: West Texas A&M University
Project Title: P-16 Partnering Through Joint Professional Development
Amount Funded: $8,000
Summary of Proposal: (Indirect) services for students and families
The grant allowed a student-focused partnership (team) of 16 faculty and administrators from the university and local schools to participate at the annual Recruitment and Retention Conference, sponsored by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Attending the conference as a group increased the school participants understanding of their role to improve college access, and helped the team develop a seamless pipeline of educational opportunities. School (non-university) personnel included counselors, principals, key administrators, teachers, and education service center staff. The university sponsored one person for every school staff member on the team (eight each). The group had a target make up of no less than 50 percent of the participants working directly with first-generation and low-income students.
Grantee Name: Wichita Area Technical College
Project Title: Mentoring in Electronic Times
Amount Funded: $45,100
Summary of Proposal: Services to students and families
The grantee aimed to increase retention and graduation rates by forming a consortium of technical colleges to establish mentoring services for technical education students. The consortium provided mentors for non-traditional students; provide college-student mentors for students in local middle schools; created on-line mentoring expectations and practices for all mentors. Each consortium college attempted to recruit business and industry mentors. The project's first year goal was 50 students receiving mentoring.
Sample Grant Agreement
(122k)
Want to know more about the TG Public Benefit Grant Program? Call (800) 252-9743, ext. 4518, or send an e-mail to public.benefit@tgslc.org.
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