Support students financially through the enhanced use of data, coordinated student communications and outreach across units, and initiatives to address financial stop-outs and students losing HOPE.
CSU’s evaluation plan for the Scaled Financial Wellness initiative focuses on reducing the percentage of students who lose HOPE scholarship eligibility by addressing financial literacy, aid awareness, and proactive outreach. Efforts are monitored annually through integrated academic and financial aid data dashboards and aligned with institutional retention and completion goals.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
| Indicator |
Baseline (2023–2024) |
Target (2030) |
Milestones / Process Indicators |
Timeline to Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
% of students who lose HOPE by 30 credit hours |
24% |
12% |
|
6 years (AY 2024–2030) |
|
% of students who lose HOPE by 60 credit hours |
22% |
10% |
|
6 years (AY 2024–2030) |
Anticipated Timeline:
Progress will be evaluated annually through AY 2030, with early impact measures expected by 2026 following full integration of financial wellness content and the Momentum Grant pilot.
CSU planned to scale financial literacy across the curriculum by embedding financial wellness content into high impact, required FYE courses and launching a social science course ECON 1101. Building strategic partnerships with local financial institutions, financial literacy workshops were designed to partner with PERS 1506 (as co-curricular engagement activities), and ECON 1101 (through applied personal finance components). These integrations aimed to normalize financial literacy as a part of the core, impacting student success while reinforcing CSU’s focus on purpose, planning, and persistence.
2025 Status Update:
- PERS 1506: Financial literacy workshops were offered as part of the engagement series for first-year students for the first time in FA2025. Partner financial institutions and campus offices provided interactive sessions on budgeting, credit, FAFSA, and managing college costs.
- ECON 1101: The new course moved through the curriculum process and is scheduled to debut its applied personal finance components in Spring 2026.
- Tools and Analytics: The TouchNet Student Accounts Advisor tool and HOPE/Zell risk dashboard remained integral to proactive outreach and student conversations about aid eligibility and balance management.
2025 Planned Activity:
The Keep HOPE Alive initiative was designed to provide structured financial education and targeted micro-grants to students who experience temporary aid loss or unmet financial need. The goal was to help students maintain enrollment and progress toward graduation through short-term financial assistance combined with financial coaching and literacy support.
2025 Status Update:
During implementation planning, the initiative was restructured and renamed the Momentum Grant to align with CSU’s broader retention and completion strategies. The program’s pilot was deferred to Spring 2026 following adjustments to internal funding timelines and financial aid processing schedules. The additional planning window allowed the university to refine eligibility criteria, develop outreach processes that integrate financial aid and academic data, and ensure coordination among the Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and Student Success teams.
Embedding financial wellness into required first-year and social science courses represents a sustainable, equity-focused strategy that meets students where they are. Early efforts through PERS 1506 demonstrated strong engagement from students and campus partners, affirming that financial topics are most effective when presented in a practical, relationship-based context. The integration of financial literacy into ECON 1101 in Spring 2026 will extend this reach beyond the first year, reinforcing financial decision-making as part of lifelong learning.
At the same time, the forthcoming Momentum Grant represents a critical next step in CSU’s holistic approach to student success, addressing short-term financial barriers that threaten persistence. By combining financial support with proactive coaching and data-informed outreach, the program will allow CSU to intervene earlier and more effectively with students facing unexpected financial challenges.
Next Steps:
- Launch ECON 1101 with embedded personal finance content in Spring 2026.
- Continue offering PERS 1506 (soon to be RIVR 1102) engagement sessions in collaboration with financial institutions and campus partners.
- Launch the Momentum Grant pilot in Spring 2026 using a coordinated process that leverages existing financial aid and academic dashboards.
- Evaluate the pilot’s impact on student persistence and re-enrollment rates among recipients.
- Develop training and communication materials for coaches and staff to guide consistent implementation and follow-up.
- Use pilot findings to inform recommendations for future funding, sustainability, and potential expansion.
Assess KPIs, student feedback and retention trends to refine and scale financial wellness programming across the curriculum.
CHALLENGES
Several challenges may affect CSU’s ability to fully implement and scale financial wellness initiatives and the Momentum Grant pilot:
- Staff and Faculty Training:
Financial literacy and aid conversations can be complex. Faculty, coaches, and staff will need ongoing professional development to confidently guide students through budgeting, scholarship eligibility, and resource navigation while maintaining consistency of message across divisions. - Funding Sustainability:
Initial implementation of the Momentum Grant relies on limited foundation resources. Identifying ongoing funding and developing a clear process for renewal or scale-up will be important to ensure long-term viability.
Student Engagement and Awareness:
As financial wellness becomes more deeply embedded in the curriculum, maintaining student interest and ensuring participation in workshops and support programs will require ongoing communication, faculty reinforcement, and integration with advising and coaching.
SUPPORTS
To successfully scale financial wellness and sustain the Momentum Grant initiative, CSU would benefit from continued collaboration and targeted support from the University System Office and peer institutions:
- Shared Resources and Best Practices:
Access to systemwide examples of effective financial wellness programs, curricular modules, and communication strategies would accelerate CSU’s integration efforts and ensure alignment with broader USG student success priorities. - Training and Professional Development:
System-sponsored workshops or micro-credentials for faculty, advisors, and coaches focused on financial literacy and aid awareness would strengthen institutional capacity to engage students confidently in financial conversations. - Data and Analytics Support:
Continued investment in dashboards and predictive analytics to identify students at risk of financial attrition, particularly those losing or close to losing HOPE or Pell eligibility, would enhance proactive outreach and coordination across campuses.
Peer Collaboration Networks:
Opportunities to connect with other USG institutions implementing similar financial literacy or micro-grant initiatives would allow for cross-campus learning, shared evaluation tools, and collective refinement of best practices.
