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NOW. NOT TOMORROW.

In partnership with the Florida College System Foundation, with the generous support from the Helios Education Foundation, the Florida Student Success Center (Center) is pleased to announce a grant opportunity to incentivize enrollment of recent high school graduates for fall 2021. The public health crisis caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus has disrupted high school graduates’ enrollment in the Florida College System (FCS). While the changes in the economy and job markets may promote future enrollment at the state’s community colleges, there is an immediate need to promote educational opportunities at FCS institutions, particularly for students who intend to earn an associate degree to transfer to a four-year institution or gain entry into employment.  

Informational Webinar

The center hosted a webinar on Monday, May 3, 2021, to review key components of the Now. Not Tomorrow. campaign. 

Click here to view the PPT slides


Click here to view the webinar recording 

 

From fall 2019 to fall 2020, the FCS experienced a 16 percent decline in fall headcount enrollments. In that same time period, the FCS saw a 25 percent decline in enrollment of first-time-in-college (FTIC) students—from 66,430 to 49,897. This drop is disproportionate when compared to other student populations. There is an urgent and growing need for institutions, in partnership with school districts, to ramp up their recruitment efforts and incentivize recent and near high school graduates to enroll in Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) programs, which experienced a decline in enrollments of 16 percent and 9 percent, respectively. The A.A., in particular, is critical to many students who seek to enter the State University System through Florida’s 2+2 transfer process and complete their baccalaureate degree. 

 

Now. Not Tomorrow. is phase 2 of a two-phase enrollment campaign targeting recent high school graduates. Phase 1, the Fast Track Enroll Now Scholarship Program, provides funding to FCS institutions to support student scholarships to incentive enrollment during the 2021 summer term. This second phase provides additional scholarship funding to incentivize fall 2021 enrollment as well as to support promotion and engagement activities related scholarship opportunity. The Florida College Access Network (FCAN) and Local College Access Networks (LCANs) are partners in this project and will promote the opportunity through their engagement channels.  

Project Summary 

Proposal Submission Deadline 

May 19, 2021 

 

Eligible Applicants 

All 28 FCS institutions are eligible to apply.  

 

Funding Amount 

The amount of funds awarded to the college will be prorated based on the population of high school seniors in the college service area, educational attainment rate, and presence of a local college access network. On April 28, 2021, Foundation Directors will be notified of the maximum amount of funding an institution may request in its proposal budget.  

 

In the future, the Center may make additional awards to funded proposals using unclaimed funds. 

 

Funding Purpose 

The intent of this program is to: 

  • Increase the number of 2020 high school graduates enrolling in Florida College System associate degree programs. 

  • Increase the number of 2021 high school graduates enrolling in Florida College System associate degree programs. 

 

Use of Funds 

Colleges will expend funds on financial incentives to cover student tuition and fees and other costs of attendance as determined by the college. Outreach and engagement efforts may also be included.  

 

Target Population 

This award is limited to first-time-in-college 2020 and 2021 high school completers in Florida who are pursuing an AA or AS degree in fall 2021.  

 

Budget/Performance Period 

June 11, 2021 - December 31, 2021. 

 

Match Requirement 

Funds expended on student scholarships/financial incentives must be matched dollar for dollar by a private donor or through public funds. 
 

Collateral Toolkit 

The Center will provide a collateral toolkit for colleges to use promote the opportunity. The toolkit will include collateral items with messaging targeted to both students and parents, including logo files, ready-made social media posts, email copy and assets, and templates for print materials. These items will be customizable so that colleges can tailor them to align with local messaging and outreach activities while maintaining a consistent brand for the initiative across the state.   

 

Timeline 

April 28, 2021 

RFP issued to colleges  

 

May 3, 2021, 10 a.m. EDT 

Webinar to review RFP 

 

May 19, 2021 

Deadline for submitting proposals 

 

June 11, 2021 

Grants announced and collateral toolkit disseminated 

 

Upon submission of countersigned agreement 

Grantee will receive funding in one installment  

 

December 31, 2021 

Grant period ends 

 

February 15, 2022 

Grantee submits final report 

 

 

Reporting 

By February 15, 2022, each institution will be required to submit a final report. The Center will provide the report template. The report will include the following: 

  • Institution’s grant amount 

  • Total amount of funds expended 

  • Summary of student financial incentive 

  • Summary of outreach campaign efforts 

  • Demographic data on each award recipient 

  • Student’s name 

  • Student’s email address 

  • High school graduation year (2020 or 2021) 

  • Gender 

  • Race and ethnicity 

  • County of permanent residence in Florida 

  • Pell eligibility status 

  • Full-time/part-time enrollment status 

  • Program of enrollment (A.A. or A.S.) 

  • FTIC status 

  • Budget 

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