Approximately 3 million U.S. students drop out of college each year due to a small, unexpected expense—such as a medical bill or car breakdown.
While 70% of colleges provide some form of emergency aid (EA), few have robust programs that offer maximum potential for impact on student success.
A Proven Solution:
The Roadmap to Effective Emergency Aid
Institutions that have undertaken a pilot version of the Roadmap are reporting strong results:
Austin Community College (ACC):
EA recipients are returning, semester to semester, and graduating at a higher rate than non-recipients. ACC has experienced a three-fold return on investment from tuition.
Florida International University:
88% of 2018-2019 EA recipients enrolled in the following quarter or graduated during the school year.
University of Washington:
90% of students who utilized EA between May 2018 and August 2019 stayed enrolled or graduated.
About the Roadmap
The Roadmap to Effective Emergency Aid guides higher education leaders in transforming informal EA efforts into a comprehensive program that increases student retention and completion.
The process is delivered through:
An interactive, online course
In-person workshops led by coaching Reos Partners
Coaching
More than 100 higher education leaders, students, and faculty worked together over 18 months in the Emergency Aid Lab, undertaking a process similar to the that of the Roadmap.
Here is what lab participants have to say about Roadmap’s impact:
Reos Partners: Perspectives on the Emergency Aid Lab
Perspectives from lab participants
Reos Partners: Student Services learnings from the Emergency Aid Lab
Student Services learnings from the lab
Reos Partners: Financial Aid learnings from the Emergency Aid Lab
Financial Aid learnings from the lab
The Emergency Aid Lab was led by Reos Partners and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
About Reos Partners
Reos Partners helps organizations work in a systemic, collaborative, and experimental way to design breakthrough solutions to complex challenges.
We will guide you in creating an EA program that works – and in the process, transform the way teams work together to address your institution’s highest priorities.
“I don’t think most of us will look at our work the same way ever again.”
Tori Hill-Ouhl, Financial Aid, University of Washington, Tacoma
