Hitting the Distance Ed TrailPASFAA

October, 2010

Evolutionlution

We followed the feds from 100% classroom instruction

…to 75% classroom instruction

…to 50% classroom instruction

Evolution

• And then our paths parted…

• The feds went down the “no distance education restriction” path while the State Grant Program remained on the 50% classroom instruction road.

Evolution

• The State Grant Program could no longer afford to mirror the federal programs– 2006-07 study on Distance Education

• Results: Estimated that it would have cost an additional $23M to fund the DE initiative

Funding

PA SG Appropriations

• 2006-07– $386.19M

• 2007-08– $386.19M

• 2008-09– $407.41M

• 2009-10– $403.63M

• 2010-11– $388.31M

Maximum SG Awards

• 2006-07– $4500

• 2007-08– $4700

• 2008-09– $4120

• 2009-10– $4120

• 2010-11– $3541

• Economy has lost ground

• SG appropriation has decreased by almost $19M in the last two years

• # of SG applicants has increased

• Amount of SGs has decreased by almost 25% during this period

What Does This All Mean?

• Educational costs have increased and grants have decreased

• BUT, at least PA still has a State Grant Program!!!

Program of Study Requirements

• Minimums– 2 academic years in length = 15 calendar months =

60 weeks of instruction– Program structured to be at least 50% classroom

instruction• Individual students must also be monitored to ensure that

they meet the 50% requirement

– 60 semester credits, 90 quarter credits or 1800 clock hours

• If AST/ASB – minimum clock hours is 1500

– Must be degree-seeking at degree schools

50% Classroom Instruction

• Recommendations– Use student agreement– Add Distance Education language to websites– Be conservative

• Review on a term by term basis– At least 50% classroom or ineligible

• Keep student enrollment pattern in balance or classroom heavy

50% Classroom Instruction

• Students enrolled in on-line programs who have no intention of meeting the 50% requirement are not eligible for State Grant at any point– On-line program which is ineligible– Stated or implied enrollment pattern

Monitoring Options

• This is the school’s choice!– Term by term– Academic year– Midpoint of the student’s program– Program as a whole

Term by Term Monitoring

– Enables the school to catch ineligible students up front

• If student’s enrollment pattern for the term is not at least 50% classroom, then ineligible for SG for that term

• Still have to monitor program totals as well

– Might be easiest method to administer and explain to students

Term by Term Example 1

– Student enrolls in an eligible program but during Fall term takes 3 credits in the classroom and 9 on-line. Student would not be eligible in this scenario for the Fall SG. During the Spring, student takes 9 credits in the classroom and 3 on-line. Would be eligible for the Spring award and at this point would have met 50% requirement and would potentially be eligible for the next AY.

Term by Term Example 2

– Student takes 3 classroom and 9 on-line credits for the Fall term; not eligible

– For the Spring term, the student takes 6 classroom and 6 on-line credits. Would be eligible for the Spring SG but is still short by 3 classroom credits going into 2nd year. Must make up that 3 credit deficit before or during the Fall term of Year 2 in order to remain SG eligible.

• If student takes 3 credits on-line and 9 in the classroom during the Fall, then OK for SG

• If student takes 3 credits in the classroom and 9 credits on-line, would not be eligible

Academic Year Monitoring

– Gives the student the benefit of the entire year but may then require whole year cancellation

Academic Year Example

• Student takes 9 on-line credits and 3 classroom for the Fall term. Because the school is checking the 50% classroom instruction requirement on an AY basis, OK to credit the Fall. Student then enrolls for 6 on-line and 6 classroom credits during the Spring. OK to credit the SG for the Spring but will not be eligible for any SG in the 2nd year until come back into balance.

Midpoint Monitoring

– At the midpoint of the student’s program– Must be at 50/50 or be classroom heavy to

maintain eligibility• Half of the number of credits required for the

specific degree– 30 of 60 semester credits or quarter equivalent –

associate degree– 60 of 120 semester credit bachelor’s degree program

Midpoint Monitoring

• If student indicates will meet the required 50% classroom instruction, then– Can pay Year 1 SG

• If does not meet the 50% balance at the end of the first year, then would not be eligible for Year 2 funds until comes into compliance

• Like AP, the term after that balance is achieved, then becomes SG-eligible again

Program Midpoint Example 1

• Student takes 30 credits Year 1 in the classroom. The associate degree is 60 credits. Therefore, the student can take all 30 credits in Year 2 on-line and maintain SG eligibility.

Program Midpoint Example 2

• Associate degree student takes 15 credits in the classroom Fall term. For Spring term, takes 15 credits on-line. Student is eligible for SG in both terms.

• Year 2 the student takes 15 credits on-line during the Fall. Student is eligible for the Fall award but unless he/she takes 15 classroom credits during the Spring or subsequent terms to complete the program, ineligible for the Spring and Fall would need to be cancelled.

Total Program Monitoring

• Program as a whole– Works well if the program is constructed such

that the 50% minimum classroom enrollment requirement is not an option

Monitoring

• School is required to monitor the 50% classroom instruction requirement– Can look at in same manner as Academic

Progress, i.e., at the end of the AY• Check 50% rule for those who:

– Enrolled in eligible programs– Indicated that they intended to meet the 50% rule and

thus were initially awarded

Change of Program of Study

• What happens if the student changes majors?– If the credits previously taken are not counted

toward the current major, then not able to use toward the 50% classroom requirement

Program Change Example

• Student enrolls as a business management major and takes 30 credits in the classroom and 30 on-line. The student then switches his major to accounting. Of the 30 classroom credits, only 10 will be used toward the accounting major but all 30 on-line credits. This student will not be SG eligible until another 20 credits are completed in the classroom.

Monitoring

• Separate degrees

• Hybrid/blended courses

• Transfer students

Degree Differentiation

• Separate degrees are reviewed independently

• 2 + 2 Programs– View as separate degrees– Evaluate independently

Degree Example

– Student enrolls in Associates degree and completes it, taking at least 50% of the coursework in the classroom – receives 2.0 State Grants. Then begins a bachelor’s degree where:

• 100% of the program is on-line• 50% of the program is on-line

• Is the student eligible for the State Grant?• What if the Associates degree was all

classroom?

Hybrid/Blended Courses

• Definition: those courses that blend a mix of on-line and in-classroom instruction.

• Hybrid/blended courses are considered to be distance education

• Course credits are not split– Ex: Class is scheduled for M/W/F but the

Friday class uses a Learning Management System. This is considered to be distance education for SG purposes

Transfer Students

• Only responsible for monitoring at your own institution– Includes all branches, other locations, or any

facility operated by the school.

• Start 50% requirement anew with the first term of enrollment at the new school, not the first term that they receive a State Grant.

50% Classroom Instruction

• Recommendations– Use student agreement– Add Distance Education language to websites– Be conservative

• Review on a term by term basis– At least 50% classroom or ineligible

• Keep student enrollment pattern in balance or classroom heavy

There is no EASY button for Distance Education!

More Questions????

• Contact State Grant and Special Programs staff:– 1-800-443-0646, option 3, option 1 (a private

number reserved for the use of financial aid administrators only)

– Email: sghelp@pheaa.org