The Student Financial Success Conference aims to advance the national dialogue about the use of data and technology to support undergraduate students by minimizing their financial risk that may adversely impact their academic success.

1. Using Predictive Analytics to
Enhance Student Academic and
Financial Success
James Blackburn
Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services
Carol Cohen
Director of University Advisement Center
May 2018

2. Academic, Financial or Both?

3. Identifying Financial Risks
Code_EFC_1617
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Cumulative
Percent
Valid EFC=0 10989 39.1 39.4 39.4
1<=EFC<=1000 3052 10.8 10.9 50.3
1000<EFC<=2000 1627 5.8 5.8 56.1
2000<EFC<=3000 1328 4.7 4.8 60.9
3000<EFC<=4000 1088 3.9 3.9 64.8
4000<EFC<=5000 861 3.1 3.1 67.9
EFC>5000 8975 31.9 32.1 100.0
Total 27920 99.2 100.0
Missing System 219 .8
Total 28139 100.0

4. Financial Aid Makes a Difference
85% 84%
72%
40%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Next Term Next Year
Student Persistence 2016-17 Award Year
With FAFSA No FAFSA
Students with
Financial Aid are two
times more likely to
persist

5. 16 Financial Risk Markers
• SAP Appeal Missing
• Missing Requirements
• Past Due Balances
• Financial Aid Not Accepted
• FAFSA Not Submitted
• Drop, No Reinstatement
• Inactivity On Requirements
• Net Balance
• Consistently Past Due
• Housing, FA Requirements
• Payment Not Made, Next
Term
• Unmet Need
• SAP Appeal Denied
• Close to Max SAP Hours
• Close to Losing Hope
• Received Retention Grant

6. Finding the Answer
Proactive Outreach and Intervention
Academic Data
Student Success
Financial Data
Predictive Analytics Engine

7. GPS Advising

8. 8
Student Overview
Quick overview of
Student Profile:
• Risk Analysis
• GPA, Credits
• Repeated Courses
• Categories and Tags
• Student Contact
Information
• Financial Markers

9. Institutional Analytics and Population Health
• Review health of all
students
• Select categories
• Outreach to not
registered students
• Strategic campaigns
• Provide end of
term information to
departments

10. Strategic Outreach
• Strategic outreach:
• Target student
populations based on risk
level
• By academic performance
• By financial markers

11. 11
Notes
A wholistic approach
to service.
Reports and Notes
tab allows you to
see the academic
and financial advice
given to the students
from various offices.
Upload all:
Advisement forms
SAP forms
Degree Planners
Schedule changes

12. Financial Markers Integrated into GPS Advising
Maximizing Impact of
54,000 Advising
Meetings Every Year:
SAP Issues, Financial
Holds, Aid Eligibility,
Missing Forms

13. Proactive Assistance
2018 Summer Financial Aid Process
Student Decides
on Summer
Enrollment
FA Advisor Manual Awards
Batch Exception
Student Notified of New
Award on PAWS
Student Registers for
Summer TermStudent Inquires
about Summer Aid
Batch Process of
Summer Awards

14. Packaging Status Promotion
4,471
404
1,613
375
56
499
1,110
2,273
4,334
89
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
No FAFSA FAFSA Selected for
Verification
Documents
Required
Award Needed RBS RBS -
Complete
Packaged Packaged -
Complete
Other Funding-
Complete
US
UA
Helping Students
Navigate the Process
will Improve Student
Success Rates

15. Packaging Status Promotion - Outreach
4,471
404
1,613
375
56
499
1,110
2,273
4,334
89
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
No FAFSA FAFSA Selected for
Verification
Documents
Required
Award Needed RBS RBS -
Complete
Packaged Packaged -
Complete
Other Funding-
Complete
US
UA
Focus Outreach
Efforts on Process
Constraints

16. Operational Analysis
Student
Student
Student
Student
Student
Student
SFMC Advisor
SFMC Call Center
Blackboard
FAStaff
FA Staff
FAStaff
FAStaff
FA Staff
FA Staff
Tickets
SFMC Manager
DFA
FAManager
FAManager
FAManager

17. Student Interaction Trend Analysis
Measure
communicatio
n channels to
predict usage
rates

18. Analyzing Interaction Data
Use interaction data to
create proactive outreach
messaging to students
and prepare staff
responses

19. Monitor Work Inventories
Monitor work inventories
to reduce delays in
response to student
inquiries

20. Balancing Daily Performance
Balance work to
ensure all activities
are completed
timely

21. Build on a Strong Data Foundation
Operational
to
Improve
Performance
Predictive
to Identify
Students
At- Risk
Student Success
Proactive
for Outreach
and
Intervention