Verification Gateway
Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Verification Gateway Provides a Reliable Verification Portal to Enable Steady Enrollment
There’s a good reason 85,000 students call Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) their home. Students can choose from CSCU’s 12 community colleges, four universities, or its online degree program. Plus, CSCU has the lowest tuition cost in the state, making it the leader in higher education. More than 300,000 degrees and certificates have been awarded since CSCU’s inception in 1983 from all discipline studies, ranging from liberal arts, manufacturing, and nursing degrees. Enabling Steady Enrollment Higher education continues to face enrollment obstacles. To further the issue, COVID-19 has created an increase in financial burdens resulting in a downward spiral in student enrollment, especially among incoming freshmen who are uncertain on how to adjust their plans or unwilling to pay a higher tuition for online classes. Despite the challenges, CSCU remains diligent in keeping enrollment steady. Using Verification Gateway (VG) to complete verifications sooner so students can plan accordingly plays a role in their success. With a 29 percent average decrease in verifications completed 14 days prior to semester and a 38 percent average decrease in verifications completed 7 days prior to semester, more of those verifications were completed earlier resulting in a 15% average increase in packaging rate by the first day of classes. More students receiving their aid sooner equals a higher potential for enrollment. “One of the biggest challenges CSCU students faced during COVID-19 was the transition to distant learning and the technological requirements that went with it,” said Steve McDowell, Associate Vice President, Financial Aid Operations and Title IV Compliance. “With this challenge, we were fortunate to have VG already in place because students could safely complete verifications from home. It was one less thing they had to worry about.”
CHALLENGE Steve McDowell and the financial aid team needed a verification platform that could handle CSCU’s larger student population and higher verifications numbers. The solution needed to be efficient for students and families and provide workload relief for the financial aid staff. SOLUTION Selecting Verification Gateway allowed verifications to be processed more efficiently; created a user-friendly experience for students and families; reduced foot traffic and call volume in the financial aid office; and helped drive enrollment. RESULTS • Reduced call volume • Two-day turnaround of verified records • 50% average decrease in time from first ISIR to verified • 28% average increase in completed verifications • 29% average decrease in verifications completed 14 days prior to semester • 38% average decrease in verifications completed 7 days prior to semester • 15% average increase in packaging rate by first day of classes
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