How can technology improve college access?

A recent CHEPA survey of low-income, urban high school students found that over half would use financial aid information to decide about postsecondary enrollment. Students also indicated they were unclear about tuition costs and financial aid availability. We asked five scholars to consider how innovative uses of technology could increase college access for high school students.

Laura Perna Associate Professor Graduate School of Education University of Pennsylvania

A quick search of the Internet or a local bookstore suggests that information about financial aid is widely available. Yet, despite this apparent plentitude of information, most individuals are poorly informed about the costs of attending college and the availability of financial aid. The disconnect between the apparent availability of information and actual knowledge appears to be greatest among Latino and African American students and families as well as students and families with low socioeconomic status. Thus, inadequate knowledge of financial aid may be one cause of persisting gaps in college enrollment across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status groups.

There are at least two possible explanations for the seeming disconnect between the availability of information and actual knowledge of financial aid. First, information may be available, but individuals who do not believe that college is a realistic option do not use the information. Alternatively, information may be available, but not in a form that is accessible or useable by all students and families, especially those from historically underrepresented groups.

Technology may help address both of these issues. For example, computer programs could be created that educate students and their families about a range of issues that increase college-going behavior, including the benefits of attending college, academic requirements for college, and options for college tuition payment. In addition, technology could be used to adapt information presentations to respond to an individual's circumstances and knowledge needs, including native language, existing knowledge of higher education, literacy level, and cultural background.

Amaury Nora Editor, The Review of Higher Education Professor of Higher Education College of Education University of Houston

Research studies have illustrated a link between financial assistance and postsecondary enrollment. In an attempt to seriously address the issue of equal access to higher education for minority students, several efforts have been made to broadly disseminate financial aid information. Computer software programs and an array of websites provide information on loans and grants to different racial and ethnic groups. However, while these efforts are well-intended, they fall short of meeting their goal for some minority students.

The problem is not so much a lack of information. Rather, existing technology fails to embrace the complexity of the financial aid application process. A lack of connection exists among financial aid assistance, college admissions, and student support services as students engage in these interconnected processes. A highly interactive and sophisticated technology system that could provide notification of upcoming deadlines and dates, identify necessary data, and make available overall support would offer students an exciting and engaging format effective in reaching the desired goal - access to higher education. Audio and video blogging provide an interactive format on the Internet that is highly personal and effective in disseminating information. If an equally exciting format is made available to students, perhaps access for all students might become a reality. Such a system would be capable of creating a holistic visualization of the different possibilities and aspects of applying to college, applying for financial aid, and creating a safety net throughout the whole process.

Donald Heller Associate Professor Senior Research Associate Center for the Study of Higher Education Pennsylvania State University

One of the many challenges in providing financial aid for college to students is to ensure that students and their families are aware of the existing aid programs and how to access them. Historically traditional methods for distributing aid information to students have been prioritized, such as the distribution of FAFSA forms through guidance offices, financial aid information nights, early intervention programs, and an array of websites. Reaching the targeted students, particularly those from low-income, urban communities is a challenge that is often not being met by these traditional mechanisms.

We need to rethink how we can use technology to get timely and accurate information about financing a college education into the hands of students. For example, why not create a computer game that accomplishes this goal? Just as games like SimCity engage students into building a virtual community, a computer game could engage them into building a postsecondary educational life, including questions related to financial aid. Information could be presented in a lively, engaging, and entertaining manner that would both challenge students and help them prepare for life after high school. Another advantage of technology is that it "scales" well. Once the initial investment is made, the cost to roll it out to more students around the country is relatively low.

It is time to think outside the box - the one that holds brochures about financial aid and FAFSA forms - and find new ways to inform students about financing their postsecondary education.

Ann Coles Director, Pathways to College Network Senior Vice President of College Access Programs The Education Resources Institute (TERI)

Internet access connects students and families to a wealth of financial aid information and easy-to-use tools for calculating the costs of different types of institutions, determining Pell Grant eligibility, searching for scholarships, and comparing award packages. Most low-income students cannot take advantage of online resources, however, because they lack convenient Internet access. Online access at home and school may be unreliable or otherwise limited. Equally important, when students get on the web, they can be quickly confused by the tremendous volume of financial aid information available. If a student types in the words “financial aid” on Google, she will receive over 421 million hits, many of which are non sequitors. Parents of low-income students often have far less Internet access than their children, and can be unfamiliar with information available online. Due to the limitations of electronic access for this population, alternative measures (such as telephones) could be used to enhance access to information about college.

Students can benefit from multiple computer workstations established throughout their schools, reserved for individuals working on college and financial aid. Peer groups can be trained to help other students use financial aid sites and search for private scholarships online. Many high schools boast websites with event calendars and scheduling information; such websites should have financial aid sections with links to a number of priority sites. Local private scholarship databases can be identified and linked on the high school’s website as well, bringing students’ attention to local sources that are less competitive than widely publicized national sources. For parents, automated calls can relay information regarding financial aid nights and application deadlines. Schools can publicize voice menu options on the high school phone answering machine with information about financial aid sources, application procedures, deadlines, and special events. A financial aid hotline (operated in collaboration with local college financial administrators) can allow parents to call for answers regarding specific financial aid questions, or to help complete the FAFSA.

Linda Serra Hagedorn Chair and Professor Educational Administration and Policy University of Florida

Low-income students and students of color are not receiving financial aid in numbers proportionate to other students. While there are no quick fixes or magic elixirs, the educational imbalance of access to aid and aid disbursement may be assisted by increasing awareness among lower income families regarding the availability of financial aid resources, their eligibility criteria, and protocol for accessing these programs.

A possible method of building a communication network sufficient for this cause is to tap into technology resources that are popular among students. For example, many (perhaps even most) high school and college students use mobile phone and text messaging technology, yet a process to use the medium to provide financial aid information is not available. Another technology popular with high school age students involves handheld and desktop gaming. Utilizing individual and multi-player bases, the phenomenon of gaming has established itself as an economic and cultural institution that has influenced youth on developmental, social and cognitive levels. With a good dose of creativity, games can be developed that create a familiarity with college application and financial aid processes. The field of education merits a wake-up call. If we are serious about assisting all students to be successful, college is a must. If low-income students are to attend the best colleges and universities, they require financial aid. The aid process is complicated and fraught with deadlines. It is time to utilize existing technology that already has students' attention to dispense tips, deadlines, and other important financial aid information.