Chopping Down Barriers: Positive Impacts of NAU’s Lumberjack

Scholarship

Abby Tudor Phoenix Recruitment Coordinator

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

Mark KulikDistrict College Counselor

Tempe Union High School District, Tempe, AZ

Northern Arizona University’s in-state full tuition Lumberjack Scholarship has assisted in increasing diversity on NAU’s campus and has increased retention through attainable renewable criteria. The scholarship helps

diverse student populations obtain a merit award. Lumberjack Scholars are awarded not based on standardized test scores, but instead by only using high school coursework and grades. Additionally, the

session will highlight some best practices for replicating this scholarship program and discuss how high school counselors and college admissions representatives work together to help increase awareness of these kinds

of scholarship opportunities

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

• AIMS scholarship– 2006-2012

– students who exceeded all three standards in reading, writing, and math

– eligible for a scholarship to any of the three public state universities

• must complete all 16 core competency courses (4 units English, 4 units Math, 3 units Lab Science, 2 units Social Science, 2 units Foreign Language, and 1 unit Fine Arts) by graduation with a B or better

• must also meet one of the following:

– A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on an unweighted 4.0 scale

– top 5% of class.

– September 20, 2010

• ABOR votes 9-1 to cut AIMS scholarship to 25% of freshman year tuition because it was “too easy to earn”

– Added ACT score of 28 or SAT of 1300

– Changes applied to graduating class of 2013

History

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

• Students must meet 3 criteria:– Complete all 16 core courses (4 units English, 4 units Math, 3 units Lab

Science, 2 units Social Science, 2 units Foreign Language, and 1 unit Fine Arts)

– Complete all core course with a B or better – Have a 3.5 or higher unweighted core GPA – Fall 2017: 3 course retakes allowed– Fall 2018: 2 course retakes allowed – Fall 2019: 1 course retake allowed– Must accept offer of admissions by May 1

• No limit on number of scholarships awarded

• Full Tuition Scholarship– Current value: $10,390

NAU Creates AZ Resident Lumberjack Scholarship – Fall 2013

• Renewable for four years provided the student meets the renewal criteria each year:– minimum GPA 3.0

– full-time enrollment

– Complete enough credit hours to progress to the next academic level (30 credits to be a sophomore; 60 credits to be a junior; 90 credits to be a senior).

• Total Value = $41,560

Renewal Criteria

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

• SATs have become a tool for exclusion and unfairness

• “SAT’s real problem: It is inherently biased against women, the poor, minorities, and older students.”

• Test scores are highly correlated with income

– Students from families earning over $200,000/year = avg SAT score 1,714, while students from families earning under $20,000/year = avg SAT 1,326 (Old SAT score)

• Students from educated families do better

– A student with a parent with a graduate degree scores 300 points higher on their SATs compared to a first generation student

• “Asians and whites get much higher scores than other ethnic groups”

• Most schools find that high school grades and rigor of courses is best indicator for future performance

– 16 core course GPA best indicator of how NAU students will do at NAU

Test Score Bias

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

• Self Reported Application

– Grades (verified with 7th semester transcripts)

– Test scores

– Quick admissions decision

• Test score optional for admissions

– Not needed for Lumberjack

• Affordable Application - $25

– Option to pay later

– AZ students on free/reduced lunch get waiver

– Waiver for app workshops

• No additional scholarship application

• Option to retake courses

• Attainable Renewal Criteria

Chopping Down Barriers

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

Advising Students and Families

• Clear scholarship criteria

• Can begin conversation in 8th grade

• Non-Competitive in nature

• Helps high schools promote “you are more than just a test score”

• Keeps students on track to graduation with award renewal

• Allowing retakes keeps it from being “one strike and you are out”

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

Freshman Merit Tuition Scholarship Criteria

Effective as of March 1, 2017

* Starting Fall 2018, these scholarships can only be used at the Flagstaff Campus. Incoming freshman are

automatically considered for scholarships once admitted and SAT or ACT scores are received. All merit tuition

scholarships are for Arizona residents only. Students who qualify must accept their offer of admission at

www.nau.edu/acceptmyoffer by May 1, 2018 in order to receive any scholarships.

Lumberjack Scholars Award

Award Amount: Covers up to 100 percent of tuition; does not cover fees or other expenses

• Minimum 3.50 unweighted core GPA or higher in the 16 core college preparatory courses

• No letter grade lower than a “B” earned in any of the required 16 core courses

• No deficiencies

• 7th semester high school transcripts must be received by February 10th in order to verify eligibility

• Test scores will not be used for eligibility

Retake Policy

Effective immediately the number of allowed course retakes that a student can complete in order to be eligible

for the Lumberjack Scholarship is specific to the term that they enroll.

• Students beginning Fall 2018: allowed up to two (2) course retakes

• Students beginning Fall 2019: allowed up to one (1) course retake

• Course retakes completed after the date of high school graduation will not apply

Renewal Criteria

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in university course work

President’s Tuition Scholarship Award Amount: $7,000 per academic year

• Minimum 3.50 unweighted core GPA or higher in the 16 core college preparatory courses

• Minimum 19 ACT Composite or 900 SAT old exam (taken prior to March 2016) or 990 SAT new

exam (taken after March 2016)

Renewal Criteria

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in university course work

Dean’s Tuition Scholarship Award Amount: $4,000 per academic year

• 3.0-3.49 unweighted core GPA in the 16 core college preparatory courses

• Minimum 19 ACT Composite or 900 SAT old exam (taken prior to March 2016) or 990 SAT new

exam (taken after March 2016)

Renewal Criteria

• Maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA in university course work

Admissions Officer Contact Abby Tudor

Abby.tudor@nau.edu 928/523-0448

Results/Data

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

Results • Over All first year Averages :

– ACT -24

– SAT-1154

– 48% first generation

• Lumberjack first year averages: – ACT-23

– SAT-1049

– 43% first generation

• 18% of Students awarded Lumberjack Scholarship never turn in a test score

• Of Lumberjack students that took ACT, 7% had 18 or less

• Of Lumberjack students that took SAT, 18% had 980 or less

• In 2013, 27.7% of Lumberjack students identified as students of color

• In 2017, 35.4% identified as students of color

#nacacGWI @NACACedu

Other Similar Scholarships• Can you think of any examples of similar scholarships?

– No test score?

– High School grades only?

• University of Maine Farmington – Academic Achievement scholarship

• Admitted first year students from out of state with a class rank in top 30%

• Awarded based on admissions to university

– Diversity Scholarship• first-year students from out-of-state who would help create a more

diverse campus community• Preference to students who demonstrate high school achievement,

contributed to schools and communities, and can contribute to diversity on campus

• Criteria used include: special talents (except for athletic ability**), geographic location, ethnicity, and academic interests and ability.

– Amount of $4,000, $6,000, or $8,000 depending on rank

Other Similar Scholarships

• St Josephs College of Maine– Merit Scholarship Program

• Awarded based on high school grades on 4.0 GPA scale

• Need not considered

• No test score component

• Test optional school

• Renewable for 4 years if 2.0 cumulative GPA is maintained

– Award Amount: $11,000-$19,000 depending on GPA

Other Similar Scholarships

Questions?

• mkulik@tempeunion.org• Abby.Tudor@nau.edu

Resources

• https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Your-College-Should-Dump/146209

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/03/05/these-four-charts-show-how-the-sat-favors-the-rich-educated-families/?noredirect=on

• https://www.chronicle.com/article/An-Ultra-Selective-University/243678

#nacacGWI @NACACedu