The William H. Gray III College Completion Challenge Grant Program

Congress makes the following findings:
1. Students from low-income families are significantly more likely to leave a four-year institution of higher education without a baccalaureate degree than are students with higher incomes.
2. Even among students with above-average grades, low-income students are still more likely to leave a four-year institution of higher education without a baccalaureate degree than are students with higher incomes, especially low-income students enrolled at private institutions.
3. This lack of persistence to completion of a baccalaureate degree continues to contribute to the gap in educational attainment and ultimate income levels between disadvantaged students and their more affluent classmates.
4. While federal financial assistance programs for students and higher education systems have traditionally focused on ensuring access to postsecondary education, the federal government should expand its role in student financial assistance programs for postsecondary education to address this lack of persistence to baccalaureate-degree completion.
5. The amount of grant assistance provided to postsecondary students is critical to their persistence and degree attainment.
6. In addition to economic disadvantage, the following factors significantly contribute to a student dropping out of a four-year institution of higher education:
nA delayed entry into postsecondary education after graduating from high school.
n A low grade-point average.
nWorking full time while enrolled.
nBeing a first-generation college student.
7. Most students who drop out of college, particularly those at the greatest risk of leaving their programs of study without a baccalaureate degree, do so during the first two years of study.
8. At-risk students who receive targeted academic support services persist to degree completion at higher rates than at-risk students who do not receive such services.
9. Educators interested in student retention have long viewed intensive academic summer programs for incoming first-year students as very important in helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds become acclimated to college life and in improving retention…