A "How-To" Guide on Using Student Workers to Provide Comprehensive Student Financial Supports

• Published in: Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success
• Main Author: Kashen, Julie
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success 01.08.2014
• Subjects: California; College Students; Colleges; Community Colleges; Evaluation Methods; Financial Support; Guides; Interviews; Legal Aid; Low Income Groups; New York; Ohio; Recruitment; Social Services; Student Financial Aid; Student Personnel Services; Student Role; Training; New York; Ohio; California

The Benefits Access for College Completion (BACC) initiative funds innovative approaches to increase the number of students earning postsecondary credentials by connecting students to public benefits in seven community and technical colleges across the country. BACC was launched in September 2011 to help colleges develop and institutionalize scalable and sustainable organizational and funding policies and practices that connect low-income students to an array of public benefits, such as food assistance and health insurance. Each college either developed or expanded upon its own model. Providing students with these comprehensive supports increases financial stability for students and their families. This brief offers practical guidance to colleges that wish to provide to students access to public benefits by incorporating student workers into their student support service activities. Student workers can effectively conduct a substantial portion of work related to accessing public benefits, including outreach, screening, application assistance, counseling, referrals, and data tracking. The guidance is based on the experiences of three of the community colleges in the BACC project--Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Cleveland, Ohio; LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC) in Long Island City, New York; and, Skyline College in San Bruno, California. The three community colleges utilized student workers in a variety of ways. The brief applies lessons from both their shared and unique experiences. Three appendices are included: (1) BACC Student Benefits Ambassador--SparkPoint at Skyline College Interview Questions; (2) Student Assistant--Skills Test--October 31, 2012; and (3) Background on the Benefits Access for College Completion Initiative. [The BACC initiative is is funded by the Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations and managed by CLASP and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).]