The Wisconsin Covenant: A public-private partnership

An Opportunity for all Wisconsin students

The Wisconsin Covenant

The Wisconsin Covenant

The goal of the Wisconsin Covenant is for 8th grade students to aspire to and prepare for higher education.

Every Wisconsin student should know that if they are willing to work hard in high school, stay out of trouble and contribute to their community, college IS possible.

The Wisconsin Covenant Pledge

The Pledge

Students who sign agree to

– Graduate from a Wisconsin high school– Maintain at least a B average while

in high school– Take classes in high school that will prepare

them for entrance into higher education and will meet or exceed college entrance requirements

– Demonstrate good citizenship and engage in activities that support their community

The Pledge

– Apply for state and federal financial aid in a timely manner

– Apply and do all that is necessary to gain admission to a University of Wisconsin System institution, a Wisconsin Technical College, and/or a Wisconsin private college or university

Students who sign agree to

The Pledge

– Recognition as a Wisconsin Covenant Scholar– A place in a University of Wisconsin System

institution, a Wisconsin Technical College, or a Wisconsin private college or university

– A financial aid package based on their family’s federally defined financial need that includes the WI Covenant Scholars Grant and the WI Covenant Foundation Grant

Students who sign and complete the pledgerequirements can expect

Wisconsin Covenant Partners

Office of the Wisconsin Covenant, State of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin System

Wisconsin Technical College System

Wisconsin Association of IndependentColleges and Universities

Wisconsin Covenant Partners

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Wisconsin Tribal Colleges

Higher Educational Aids Board

Stakeholders

• Students

• Parents

• Teachers and School Counselors

• Financial Aid Administrators

• College Admissions Advisors

• The business community

• Citizens of the State of Wisconsin

History of the Wisconsin Covenant

Introduced by Governor

Doyle in 2006

MOU signed by partners

in 2007

First cohort of Wisconsin

Covenant Students sign pledge in 2007

History of the Wisconsin Covenant

Legislature approved $25 million annual

appropriation in

2009-2011 state budget

UW Systemannounces UW

System WisconsinCovenant

Scholars package in 2010

First cohort of Wisconsin

Covenant Scholars enter

higher education in 2011

The Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Inc.

Creation of the Foundation

• A 501(c)(3) public charity

• Created from an initial endowment of $40 million from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates

• Established in November 2007

Foundation Grants

• In October 2009, WCFI announced it would award $1,500 to covenant scholars with a $0 EFC

Foundation Administration

Goals of the Foundation

Benefits of partnering with the Wisconsin Covenant

Leveraging existing resources

Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Grant

• State’s plan to distribute the $25 million annual budget appropriation

• Based on student’s Estimated Family Contribution as determined by the FAFSA

• Grants between $250 - $2,500 based on need

Administrative Rule

• Governs the distribution of the $25 million appropriation per cohort

• Includes– How students are designated as Scholars– Eligibility and continuing eligibility– Terms of the grants– Role of high schools, role of partners– Wisconsin Covenant College

Access Network Council

Two New Grants

• Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Grant– WCSG– State grant

• Wisconsin Covenant Foundation Grant– WCFG– Foundation grant

WCSG and WCFG

WI Covenant Scholars Grant

WI Covenant Foundation Grant

Acronym WCSG WCFG

Funding Source The state budget

processThe WI Covenant

Foundation

Funding GuaranteesThe state budget

process

Guaranteed for the 2011-2012 academic year

only; reviewing funding on annual basis

EligibilityStudents who complete the pledge requirements

and maintain SAP

Students who complete the pledge requirements

and maintain SAP

WCSG and WCFG

WI Covenant Scholars Grant

WI Covenant Foundation Grant

Enrollment Requirements

Half-time or greater Half-time or greater

Prorated Based on Enrollment?

Yes No

Winterim and Summer eligibility?

Yes No

Length of Eligibility 8 terms over 5 yearsFall 2011 and Spring

2012

Full-Time Enrollment(12 credits or more per term)

EFCWI Covenant Foundation

Grant

WI Covenant Scholars Grant

Yearly Total*

$0 $1,500 $1,000 $2,500

$1 - $3,499 $0 $1,500 $1,500

$3,500 - $11,999 $0 $1,000 $1,000

$12,000 - $999,999 $0 $250 $250

*assuming no attendance during winterim or summer terms

HEAB’s Role

• The Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board will distribute funds for both the WCSG and the WCFG

• Both grants use existing processes

New Opportunities

• Partnering with Covenant students in your community

• Partnering with other existing programs

Collaboration

• Collaboration leads to more effective ideas

• Working in a silo can decrease your effectiveness

Contact Information

– Shannon Loredo• wisconsincovenant.wi.gov• wisconsincovenant@wi.gov• 866-967-9389

Office of the Wisconsin Covenant

Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Inc.– Amy Kerwin

• wisconsincovenantfoundation.org• wcfi@glhec.org• 608-24-1785

Contact Information

Higher Educational Aids Board

– Connie Hutchison• heab.wisconsin.gov• connie.hutchison@wisconsin.gov • 608- 264-6181

Questions?Thank you for attending this session!