Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program, the Hoosier state’s premiere scholarship and preparation program for low-income students, announced some new requirements earlier this month for high school seniors who are enrolled, but those changes shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Nearly three years ago, in the fall of 2013, changes to the program were announced to make students more accountable for staying on track to graduate from college in four years and ensure the financial need for the full-tuition scholarships after graduating high school still exists. What’s been seen and heard recently is more or less a reminder that those changes are now in full force for the class of 2017 and those who don’t meet the requirements, may be ineligible for the award.
Those requirements, called the Scholar Success Program, include completing and maintaining a graduation plan, participating in an extracurricular or service activity, taking a career interests assessment and college entrance exam, visiting a college campus, searching for scholarships and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, among other things.
“Students who don’t complete all of the Scholar Success Program activities will lose their scholarship,” said Kaylee Showers, communications project manager with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. “However, they have until June 30 of their senior year to complete the requirements and log them into the system.”
Current numbers show that about 80 percent of students currently enrolled in the program haven’t met those requirements yet. That 80 percent equates to more than 14,000 Hoosier students.
Showers said the Commission for High Education is taking action to try to increase the number of students meeting the completion requirements.
“In May, the commission sent postcards to all 21st Century Scholars in high school, as well as information packets to Indiana principals and superintendents alerting them to their current progress toward meeting those requirements. Student response was immediate,” said Showers. “In less than four weeks, the number of scholars who have completed all of the required activities increased by 12 percentage points.”
Additionally, Showers said the commission is working with K-12 schools, colleges and communities during the summer months to provide opportunities for scholars and their families to learn about and complete the Scholar Success Program requirements. One of those opportunities will take place Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Vincennes University Jasper Campus and a similar event will be held on June 21 at the University of Evansville at 2 p.m. Central time.
The Commission for Higher Learning, Showers said, is also offering grants to help communities support scholars, as well as guides and recently launched a new 21st Century Scholars website, scholars.in.gov.
“Commissioner Teresa Lubbers and the Commission for Higher Education senior staff have met with the Indiana Youth Institute, Indiana Superintendents and Principals Association, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Chamber, Central Indiana Community Foundation, the School Board Association and more to coordinate efforts to gain support,” she said.
For scholars already in college, Showers said 30 credit hours must be completed each year to remain eligible for the scholarship.
“Scholars are allowed to use aid to pay for summer classes to stay on track to complete 30 credits each year,” said Showers, adding that the number of college scholars taking and completing 30 credit hours per year has increased by 23.4 percentage points at four-year colleges and 24.2 percentage points at two-year schools since the Indiana General Assembly created the credit completion requirements two years ago.
Findings from the credit completion report show that students who take more college credits are more successful and students enroll in 30 or more credits earn a higher percentage of the credits taken than students who enroll in lighter courses.The report also shows that scholars at community colleges are more likely to stay on track.
“While the percentage of 21st Century Scholars meeting the 30-credit hour benchmark has increased at all institutions, success rates for those at two-year colleges have more than doubled,” said Showers.