Report for Academic Year 2010-2011
Ending August 2011
October 17, 2011
Prepared By
Edmund H. Portnoy, Ph.D.
Director of Grants Programs-Arizona
Michael R. Twyman, Ph.D.
Director of Grants Programs-Indiana
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
2201 E Camelback Road, Suite 600B
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
135 N. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 1200
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Executive Summary
The 2010-2011 Nina Scholars report marks the 10th year of tracking student progress and marks
an important juncture in the program history. In total, more students have now completed the
program than are currently active, giving more weight to any conclusions drawn from the data.
Cohorts 1 through 5 at IUPUI and ASU have completed their full tenure in the program. At Ivy
Tech and MCCD, Cohorts 1 through 7 are complete.
In years one through six, the annual report assessed student progress in comparison to a group of
similar students who were eligible but not selected for the program. The findings of the initial
study concluded that Nina Scholars performed at a higher level than their comparison group in
grade point average, successful completion of credit hours attempted, and persistence. The sixyear longitudinal study affirmed the benefits of the program design that afforded students the
support of on-the-ground program directors, student support services including tutoring and
mentoring, the guaranteed financial benefits of a scholarship for up to six years at the university
level and four years at the community college, and the community created by being part of a
cohort of scholars.
The last four years continue the assessment of Nina Scholars, tracking success indicators such as
grade point average and credit hour completion rates. Now, however, the key criteria are
persistence and graduation rates and how Nina Scholars compare to the general student body
population of each college.
Report Highlights
Scholar Selection

Beginning with Cohort 10, the Trust reduced the number of available scholarships from
42 to 22.
o The ratio of applicants per scholarship increased from 5:1 in 2009 to 8:1 in 2010,
making the selection process more competitive.
o Scholar selection for Cohort 10 showed greater parity among the eligibility
groups than in the nine previous cohorts.
Scholar Performance

Nina Scholar graduation rates for Cohorts 1 through 5 at the universities and Cohorts 1
through 7 at the community colleges exceed the general student populations of their
respective institutions:
IUPUI
ASU
Ivy Tech
MCCD
Nina Scholar Graduation Rate (%)
71
64
60
47
General Student Population Graduation Rate (%)
35
59
5
19
ii





Universities have a combined graduation rate of 67 percent.
Community colleges have a combined graduation or successful transfer to a program
vacancy or Passport slot at ASU or IUPUI of 52 percent.
In combination, the success rate is 57 percent.
The Nina Scholar graduation and persistence rate for active scholars, in combination with
scholars who have completed the program is 66 percent with a range of 56 to 76 percent.
All Cohort 10 Nina Scholars continued to their second year compared to:
Cohort 10
IUPUI
ASU
Ivy Tech
MCCD
Successful completion of first year (%)
100
100
100
100
Completion rate for full-time first-year
students (%)
74
84
54
57
Indicators of persistence towards graduation – Increase in GPA and Credit Hours Completed
For active students in the Nina Scholars Program (Cohorts 5 through 10 at ASU and IUPUI and
Cohorts 7 through 10 at MCCD and Ivy Tech).

For the first time in 10 years, all four institutions had a combined Grade Point Average
(GPA) above 3.0 with GPAs ranging from 3.07 to 3.22.

In total, Nina Scholars completed 87 percent of all credit hours attempted with
completion ranging from 82 to 95 percent.
Utilization of scholarship slots
The utilization of scholarship slots averages less than three of the four years awarded at the
community colleges and less than five of the six years available at the universities. Factors
influencing scholarship utilization, both positively and negatively, include early graduation and
differing student replacement policies for scholars who leave the program by choice or by not
meeting persistence requirements.
iii
NINA MASON PULLIAM LEGACY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
REPORT FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011
Cohort 10 Selection Process
Applicants
Tenth Cohort Selection
In 2010, the Trust reduced the total number of available scholarships from 42 to 22. Program
costs were escalating at a rate exceeding original projections, and the Trust decided to reduce the
number of scholarship slots to begin moving the total grants budget allocated to the Nina
Scholars program back to the target of 10 percent. Maricopa Community Colleges (MCCD) fell
from 15 scholarships to eight, Ivy Tech from 12 to six, ASU from eight to four and IUPUI from
seven to four. A new agreement with the universities guaranteed funding over six years at a set
amount (rather than a reimbursement system) for each scholarship slot allowing the schools to
leverage Trust dollars with available grants, scholarships and other awards to fund additional
students in Cohort 10. ASU was able to fund two additional students and IUPUI one additional
scholar.
In total, MCCD, ASU, IUPUI and Ivy Tech received 186 eligible applicants for the 22 Nina
Scholars Cohort 10 scholarships compared to 212 applicants in 2009 for 42 scholarship slots.
The ratio of applicants per scholarship increased from 5:1 in 2009 to 8:1 in 2010, making the
selection process more competitive. This is a very healthy ratio, and the applicant pool
represented diversity among the three eligibility categories. Eligibility categories for the Nina
Scholars program include adults 25 years or older with dependents in the family unit, college-age
youth or adults with physical disabilities; or incoming freshman between the ages of 18-25 who
have been raised in the child welfare system and have no form of financial support. The
breakdown of applicants follows:
Applicants with/from
MCCD
ASU
IUPUI
Ivy Tech
Dependents in the family
unit
47
22
11
51
Physical Disabilities
7
7
4
4
Child welfare system
13
13
6
1
Totals
67
42
21
56
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 1
Eligibility Group Representation
Cohorts 1-10
The selection of Cohort 10 showed greater parity among the eligibility groups than in the nine
previous years. Cohort 10 marked the first time adults 25 years or older with dependents in the
family unit fell below 50 percent of the total applicants selected. In total, the number of adults
with physical disabilities and youth raised in the child welfare system increased to their highest
selection rate in the 10 years of the Nina Scholars program. Although the overall selection
reflected an increased diversity among the three eligibility groups, the reduction in available
scholarships to each school limited their ability to balance selections.
The following graphs display the percentage of Scholars selected for the program by each
eligibility group for each of the first 10 years of the program:
Selection Across All Schools
100%
90%
80%
70%
58
69
60%
63
62
53
55
59
50
50
50%
23
18
12
12
21
21
10
13
28
26
30
33
29
29
29
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
15
20%
10%
56
24
40%
30%
40
20
15
1
2
17
36
27
0%
CWS
PD
10
Average
DFU
__________________
Legend Explanation
CWS Youth raised in the child welfare system
PD
Adults with physical disabilities
DFU Adults 25 years of age or older with dependents in the family unit
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 2
Eligibility Group Representation
All Schools
Arizona State University combined Trust funds with other sources of financial aid to select six
students for Cohort 10. Five of the six, or 84 percent, represented college-age students from the
child welfare system category. The remaining student came from the students with disabilities
category (16 percent). For the first time in 10 years, ASU did not select any adults with
dependents in the family unit. The following graph displays cohort selection at ASU.
Cohort Selection
ASU
100%
25
80%
50
50
50
75
60%
40%
63
75
13
12.5
25
25
37.5
13
25
50
20%
25
25
1
2
84
25
38
25
62.5
62.5
37.5
13
0%
3
16
4
5
CWS
6
PD
7
8
9
10
DFU
IUPUI also leveraged Trust funds with other sources of financial aid to fund five students for
Cohort 10. Students with disabilities comprise 60 percent of the new cohort, the largest
percentage over the past 10 years. Selections from the child welfare system and adults with
dependents in the family unit each had a 20 percent representation. The following graph displays
cohort selection at IUPUI.
Cohort Selection
IUPUI
100%
20
80%
40
14
29
29
57
60%
100
100
60
40%
20%
29
14
80
20
20
80
71
43
40
57
57
20
20
0%
1
2
3
4
5
6
CWS
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
7
PD
8
9
10
DFU
October 17, 2011
Page 3
Ivy Tech selected all students for Cohort 10 from the adults with dependents in the family unit
category. The following graph displays cohort selection at Ivy Tech.
Cohort Selection
Ivy Tech
100%
80%
60%
67
83
67
58
67
75
75
75
92
100
40%
20%
17
8
0%
1
2
17
17
17
17
3
4
25
17
25
17
17
17
6
7
5
CWS
8
PD
17
8
8
9
10
DFU
MCCD, with the largest cohort size of the four institutions, continued to select applicants from
each of the three categories. MCCD selected equal numbers from the child welfare system and
adults with dependents in the family unit categories with the remainder representing the students
with physical disabilities category. The following graph displays cohort selection at MCCD.
Cohort Selection
MCCD
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
47
33
53
47
37.5
53
33
27
27
1
33
2
13
20
13
33
33
33
3
4
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
53
67
60
73
25
7
40
5
6
CWS
PD
20
27
13
13
7
8
7
37.5
20
9
10
DFU
October 17, 2011
Page 4
The chart below displays the average percentage of students chosen from each priority group
over the 10-year history of the program, both by individual school and the program as a whole.
The basis for percentages is the actual number of students chosen, therefore, schools with a
greater number of scholarships, weight percentages accordingly. For example, over the 10-year
period, MCCD originally selected 143 students, Ivy Tech 116, ASU 78 and IUPUI 58.
10 Year Average
Cohort Selection
100%
90%
80%
44
45
70%
56
19
17
28
27
MCCD
Total Program
75
60%
50%
53
15
14
40%
30%
20%
41
41
16
10%
9
0%
ASU
IUPUI
Ivy Tech
CWS
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
PD
DFU
October 17, 2011
Page 5
Gender
Throughout the 10 years of the Nina Scholars program, the majority of students selected are
females. Cohort 10 continues the trend of more females than males in the program accounting
for approximately two thirds of the new cohort. ASU and Ivy Tech selected an equal number of
males and females. MCCD and IUPUI selected more females than males at a 3:1 and 4:1 ratio
respectively. The following chart displays gender selection for Cohorts 7, 8, 9 and 10 for all
schools.
Cohort 7
M
F
ASU
MCCD
IUPUI
IVY TECH
TOTAL
4
4
3
12
0
7
0
12
7 (17%)
35 (83%)
Cohort 8
M
F
ASU
MCCD
IUPUI
IVY TECH
TOTAL
1
7
3
12
1
6
1
11
6 (14%)
36 (86%)
IVY TECH
TOTAL
Cohort 9
M
F
ASU
MCCD
IUPUI
3
5
1
14
3
4
6
6
13 (31%)
29 (69%)
Cohort 10
ASU
M
F
3
3
MCCD
2
6
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
IUPUI
1
4
October 17, 2011
IVY TECH
3
3
TOTAL
9 (36%)
16 (64%)
Page 6
Credit Hours
For Cohort 10, the number of credit hours completed by Scholars ranged from 82 percent to 95
percent with a cumulative credit hour completion rate of 87 percent. Credit hour completion fell
slightly from last year’s overall rate of 89 percent. ASU Scholars completed 891 of 955 credit
hours attempted (93 percent), IUPUI Scholars completed 737 of 776 credit hours attempted (95
percent), Ivy Tech Scholars completed 538 of 630 credits (85 percent) and MCCD Scholars
completed 759 of 992 credit hours attempted (82 percent). Both IUPUI and Ivy Tech improved
over last year, and ASU and MCCD fell over the same period.
All Schools
Percentage of Total Credit Hours Completed
100%
90%
80%
99
100
93
89
96
91 90 95
70%
88
89
84 80 85
60%
82
82
63
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
ASU
2007-2008
IUPUI
2008-2009
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
Ivy Tech
2009-2010
MCCD
2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 7
ASU Percentage of Credit Hours Completed 2010-2011
93 percent
891/955
100%
90%
100 100
100
100
100
91
80%
86
70%
91
96
100
100
95 93
94 94
9
10
89
82
60%
50%
40%
30%
50
20%
10%
0%
5
6
7
8
Fall 10
Spring 11
Summer 11
IUPUI Percentage of Completed Credit Hours 2010-2011
95 percent
737/776
100%
90%
100100
100100100
100100
100
97 99
80%
91
86
87
70%
100 100
93
80
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
5
6
7
Fall 10
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
8
Spring 11
October 17, 2011
9
10
Summer 11
Page 8
Ivy Tech Percentage of Credit Hours Completed 2010-2011
85 percent
538/630
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
100
95
94
89
81
80
84
85
90
79
67
50
7
8
9
Fall 10
Spring 11
10
Summer 11
MCCD Percentage of Completed Credit Hours 2010-2011
82 percent
759/922
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
89
87
86
85
72
76
7
8
87
79
86
81
86
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Fall 10
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
9
Spring 11
October 17, 2011
10
Summer 11
Page 9
Grade Point Average (GPA)
For the 2010-2011 academic school year, all schools exceeded a 3.0 grade point average (GPA)
for the first time. Collectively, Nina Scholars averaged a 3.14 GPA, up slightly from 3.10 in
2009-2010. Ivy Tech and IUPUI Scholars showed the greatest gains in GPA rising from 2.99 to
3.18 and 2.93 to 3.08 respectively. MCCD Scholars continued annual improvement and
displayed the highest grade point average of 3.22 compared to 3.14 in 2009-2010. ASU Scholars
fell from the highest GPA of 3.32 last year to a GPA of 3.07 in 2010-2011.
GPA by Institutions and Overall Average
4
3.5
3
3.08
3.07
IUPUI
ASU
3.18
3.22
3.14
Ivy Tech
MCCD
Total
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 10
Individual School/By Cohort
IUPUI GPA Cohorts 5-10
4
3
4
3.88
3.5
3.47
3.17
3.45 3.38
3.13
3.33
3.31
2.92
2.5
2
3.25
2.93
2.79
2.822.68
3.3
2.63
2.2
1.5
1
0.5
0
5
6
7
Fall 10
8
9
Spring 11
10
Summer 11
ASU GPA Cohorts 5-10
4
3.5
3
3.31
3.5
3.37
2.5
3.24
3.14
1.5
3.21
3.04
3.01
3.02
2.82
3.04
3.01
2.5
2.61
2
3.69
3.5
2.6
1.67
1
0.5
0
5
6
7
Fall 10
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
8
Spring 11
9
10
Summer 11
October 17, 2011
Page 11
Ivy Tech GPA Cohorts 7-10
4
3.5
3.66
3.32 3.35
3.3
3
3.5
3.16
3.21
3
3.37 3.23
2.91
2.5
2.71
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
7
8
9
Fall 10
Spring 11
10
Summer 11
MCCD GPA Cohorts 7-10
4
3.5
3.6
3.6
3
3.1
2.5
2.9
3.1
3.2
3
3.1
3.3 3.3
3.3
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
7
8
Fall 10
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
9
Spring 11
10
Summer 11
October 17, 2011
Page 12
Student Persistence and Graduation
Student persistence and graduation are success measures for the Nina Scholars program.
Comparing Nina Scholar data with the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES) 2011 report, both IUPUI and ASU Nina Scholars exceeded six-year
graduation rates of the general student population of their respective schools. Nina Scholars in
Cohorts 1-5 and Passport Scholars Cohorts 6-8 at IUPUI achieved a six-year graduation rate of
71 percent compared to the six-year graduation rate of 35 percent for IUPUI’s traditional student
body. ASU Nina Scholars had a six-year graduation rate of 64 percent compared to 59 percent
for ASU’s general population.
For Scholars in Cohorts 1-7, Ivy Tech Scholars had a four-year persistence or graduation rate of
60 percent compared to 5 percent for the general Ivy Tech student body population. MCCD
Scholars persisted or graduated at a rate of 47 percent compared to a rate of 19 percent for the
general MCCD student population. (MCCD graduation rate is based on an average of Phoenix,
Mesa, Glendale, Chandler-Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, South Mountain and Rio Salado
Community Colleges).
Universities had higher graduation and persistence rates than the community colleges. IUPUI
had an overall persistence rate of 76 percent for Cohorts 1-10, while ASU Scholars persist at a
rate of 71 percent. Ivy Tech and MCCD had persistence rates of 66 percent and 56 percent
respectively. In total, Nina Scholars persist or graduate at a rate of 66 percent.
First year retention is another success measure reported by schools. Again comparing Nina
Scholars with the 2011 NCES report, 100 percent of Nina Scholars in Cohort 10 continued to
their second year compared to 84 percent of full-time first-year students at ASU, 74 percent at
IUPUI, 54 percent at Ivy Tech and 57 percent at MCCD.
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 13
Percent of All Nina Scholars Persisting or Graduating by
Instititution (2001-2011)
100%
90%
80%
70%
76
71
60%
66
66
50%
56
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
IUPUI
60/79
ASU
75/105
Ivy Tech
78/118
MCCD
88/157
ALL SCHOOLS
301/459
Percent of Nina Scholars Persisting or Graduating
IUPUI
76 percent average
100%
100
90%
100
80%
70%
60%
86
80
78
75
67
60
50%
60
40%
30%
20%
20
10%
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Cohort 10
Cohort 9
Cohort 8
Cohort 7
Cohort 6
Cohort 5
Cohort 4
Cohort 3
Cohort 2
Cohort 1
0%
Page 14
Percent of Nina Scholars Persisting or Graduating
ASU
71 percent average
100%
100
87
70%
60%
89
89
Cohort 9
89
80%
Cohort 8
90%
75
67
60
50%
56
50
40%
30%
20%
10%
Cohort 10
Cohort 7
Cohort 6
Cohort 5
Cohort 4
Cohort 3
Cohort 2
Cohort 1
0%
Percent of Nina Scholars Persisting or Graduating
Ivy Tech
66 percent average
100%
100
90%
80%
50%
69
67
58
58
75
75
Cohort 8
60%
Cohort 7
84
70%
53
40%
38
30%
20%
10%
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Cohort 10
Cohort 9
Cohort 6
Cohort 5
Cohort 4
Cohort 3
Cohort 2
Cohort 1
0%
Page 15
Percent of Nina Scholars Persisting or Graduating
MCCD
56 percent average
100%
100
90%
93
80%
50%
55
59
40%
69
69
Cohort 8
60%
Cohort 7
70%
53
30%
38
20%
23
10%
29
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Cohort 10
Cohort 9
Cohort 6
Cohort 5
Cohort 4
Cohort 3
Cohort 2
Cohort 1
0%
Page 16
Scholarship Utilization
The purpose of the following graphs is to look at the average utilization of the four- or six-year
scholarship by cohort. Please note that the intent of the utilization chart is not to measure the
length of time scholars take to graduate. Program policy and scholar performance both impact
results. Program policy prohibits MCCD and Ivy Tech from replacing scholars after the first
semester, shortening the utilization of an awarded scholarship. Conversely, the replacement
policy allows ASU and IUPUI to replace scholars (who withdraw or lose eligibility for the
program) lengthening utilization of a scholarship slot. Student performance also influences
utilization. Many students graduate sooner than the four or six-year scholarship period by taking
additional credit hours, going to summer school, or having up to 24 credit hours at the time of
application. Each factor would shorten the utilization of a given scholarship slot.
Computation of the averages involved adding the length of time used for each scholar and
dividing that number by the cohort size. As the charts show, the average scholarship time in the
community colleges was approximately three years and in the university, an average of five
years or less.
Community Colleges
0
1
Years of Eligilibility
2
3
4
Cohort 1
Cohort 2
MCCD
Cohort 3
Cohort 4
Cohort 5
Cohort 6
Cohort 7
Ivy Tech
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 17
Universities
0
1
2
Years of Eligilibility
3
4
5
6
Cohort 1
IUPUI
Cohort 2
Cohort 3
Cohort 4
Cohort 5
ASU
Passport Program at ASU and IUPUI
The 2010-2011 academic year marked the fifth year of the Passport Program. The Passport
Program allows ASU and IUPUI to select a maximum of three Nina Scholars currently enrolled
at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges or Ivy Tech respectively each year. Passport
students receive up to three years to complete their baccalaureate degree.
Through the 2010-2011 academic year, both ASU and IUPUI have selected 14 Scholars each for
the Passport Program. Passport students at ASU have a persistence/graduation rate of 57
percent*, and IUPUI Passport students have a persistence/graduation rate of 93 percent.
Grade Point Averages for the 2010-2011 academic year averaged 3.27 at ASU and 3.14 at IUPUI
for Passport students in Cohorts 8, 9 and 10. ASU Passport students completed 98 percent of
credit hours attempted (196/200). IUPUI Passport students also completed 98 percent of credit
hours attempted (185/188).
*The low rate of 57 percent is due to only two of the first eight ASU Passports graduating. All
current Passport students are persisting at both ASU and IUPUI.
Nina Scholars Program Year 10 – 2010-2011
October 17, 2011
Page 18