“I wish more institutions knew about this option for adult learners. Ability To Benefit (ATB) is PELL approved funds for adult learners CURRENTLY obtaining their GED/HSE. Most GED/HSE students meet financial aid requirements (low income, SNAP, UI, homeless, veterans, the list goes on) and are eligible for full grant funds if they attend full time. The college gets enrollment, and the student gets the opportunity to achieve dual certification and graduate to a job. College enrollment is always a struggle, especially with low unemployment levels, so why not tap into the students that want to be there?!!!!!! Then those students are also eligible for WIOA funds. If schools partnered with their Adult Education programs in the area AND had a working relationship with their Local Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) to send students for WIOA funds, BOOM, college tuition, books, fees, tools, equipment, gas, daycare, etc…. PAID FOR! Get rid of the obstacles and see how quickly a GED/HSE student soars!” Brandy Logan, Programs Specialist Workforce Development Technical College System of Georgia – Adult Education
Free ATB Flyer
Please email info@coabe.org with any questions.
| Agenda | |
| 9:00 am – 9:25 am ET |
Welcome! (Generously sponsored by Essential Education) |
| 9:30 am – 10:15 am ET |
Plenary Joint Session A Title: Ability to Benefit 101: Federal Student Aid for Students Who Are Not High School Graduates Description: Refresh your understanding of the Ability to Benefit provisions in Section 484 of the Higher Learning Act of 1965, as amended. Learn how to help adult learners without a high school diploma or equivalent access federal aid to support their career pathway education. Handouts |
| 10:15 am – 10:30 am ET | Break |
| 10:30 am – 11:30 am ET |
Plenary Joint Session B Title: Why ATB: Leadership to Achieve Access, Equity, and Enrollment Description: Community college leaders, learn how Ability to Benefit can drive your access, equity, and enrollment goals, and why your support is imperative in driving the implementation of ATB at your school. Handouts |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 pm ET |
Lunch Break |
| Session Options | Track #1 | Track #2 |
| 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm ET |
Title: The Power of Partnerships: Aligning With Adult Education to Expand Reach and Opportunity Through ATB Description: The presentation will cover how South Texas College and Region One Service Center, our local adult education provider, collaborate to be able to serve students using the ATB model. I will discuss how the partnership was established, including agreements and procedures that were set up, the role of each entity in the partnership, and the challenges that we have had and how we handled them. Handouts Presented by: Olivia De La Rosa, South Texas College |
Title: Cutting Through the Red Tape: Using the ATB State Option for Streamlining Eligibility Description: Join Terese Craig (Wisconsin) and William Durden (Washington State) as they share their stories, and details of their Dept. of Ed.-approved state plans for the “third” or “state” option for determining Ability to Benefit! Learn how your state can apply to create a new way of determining eligibility as alternatives to testing or paying for the first six credits. Handouts Presented by: William Durden, Washington SBCTC Terese Craig, Wisconsin Technical College System |
| 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm ET |
Break |
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| Session Options | Track #1 | Track #2 |
| 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm ET |
Title: Shining Stars: A Case Study in Leveraging ATB to Expand Access to Postsecondary Education Description: When the ATB provision for federal financial aid was reinstated in 2014, PCC moved quickly to set up a system to use ATB to expand access to postsecondary education for our adult learners. Participants in this session will learn the nuts and bolts of how we made ATB happen at our college, from program structure to student supports and financial aid compliance. The session will include time for discussion and Q&A with leaders from both the financial aid and adult education teams at PCC. Handouts Presented by: Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, Wendy Scheder Black, and Norma Navarro-Castellanos, Pima Community College |
Title: California’s Tale of Braided Funds: Transforming State Dual Enrollment Policies Description: This presentation will provide strategies for expanding current state dual enrollment agendas, policies, and funding mechanisms for high school minors to also include ATB-eligible adults. The presenters will discuss their experience as part of a team of authors of the 2019 California legislation (SB 554) that expanded dual enrollment tuition waiver funding to also include adults. They will also present how state and federal financial aid mechanisms can mutually support ATB-eligible students and how formally expanding the definition of dual enrollment opens grant-generated funding opportunities as well. Handouts Presented by: Matt Morin, and Laura Alvarado, Chaffey College |
| 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm ET | Break | |
| Session Options | Track #1 | Track #2 |
| 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm ET |
Title: Using ATB to Recruit Students During COVID-19 Description: Historically, enrollment in training and education has increased during times of recession. But since April, an estimated 28M Americans have canceled their enrollment plans due to COVID-19. If you are one of the 70% of community colleges reporting concerns about student enrollments, then join us to discover why a new recruitment lens is required during the pandemic using virtual strategies that attract vulnerable populations. Participants learn a formula to create highly effective marketing messages through “personas” that engage target audiences through online mediums using ATB as a powerful recruitment tool. Handouts Presented by: Celina Shands, Full Capacity Marketing Sharon Bonney, COABE |
Title: Connecting the Dots for Students – A Case Study in Using ATB for Guided Pathways Description: There are facets to connecting adult education students to ATB in a community college. Join in on this session to hear about Alamo Colleges District’s journey in establishing collaborative partnerships to include students from adult education literacy (AEL) programs. Learn about the program design and implementation plan for strategic enrollment of AEL students into Alamo College District’s guided pathways utilizing ATB. Hear about their continued efforts to finalize working procedures for implementation of their Guided Pathways and Ability to Benefit throughout all five colleges within the Alamo Colleges District. Handouts Presented by: Mary Helen Martinez, EdD, and Angela Guadian-Mendez, Alamo Colleges District |
| 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm ET | Break | |
| Session Options | Plenary Joint Session C | |
| 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm ET |
Title: Getting to Yes: Empowering Financial Aid Directors with Ability to Benefit Description: Financial Aid Directors will discuss how they are making Ability to Benefit work for their colleges in Mississippi. Learn how they have eliminated financial aid barriers and what processes they have put in place to support career pathways and student success. Handouts Presented by: Nikitna Barnes, Taneshia Turner, Lekeisha Murray-Hibbler, and Louanne W. Langston, Mississippi Community College Board |
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| 3:45 pm – 4:00pm ET |
Closing Remarks: Co-Chairs Regina Suitt and Sharon Bonney |
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