DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM

DC CAP MAINTAINS ONE MAIN INITIATIVE STUDENT SUCCESS, WHICH PROVIDES SCHOLARS WITH INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM DC CAP. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROGRAM, DC CAP PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR A PIPELINE OF "SCHOLARS," THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ENROLL AT ONE OF DC CAP'S "UNIVERSITY PARTNER INSTITUTIONS." THIS STRATEGY WAS DESIGNED TO PAIR FEDERAL, PRIVATE, AND INSTITUTIONAL GIFT AID WITH HIGH-IMPACT, COLLABORATIVE COACHING FROM DC CAP AND UNIVERSITY STAFF. STUDENT SUCCESS COACHES PROVIDE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL AID, SOCIAL, AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT WITHIN A COHORT-BASED SCHOLAR COMMUNITY. THIS SUPPORT LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION RATES FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDENTS. DC CAP'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, THE DC CAP UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WAS ENACTED THROUGH COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH 14 HIGH-PERFORMING, FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION RATES FOR D.C. STUDENTS. PARTNER INSTITUTIONS MUST DEMONSTRATE HIGH COMPLETION RATES FOR LOW-INCOME (PELL GRANT RECIPIENT) STUDENTS AND OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTIONS COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH DC CAP TO RECRUIT AND SELECT A COHORT OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY, PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND HIGH INTENSITY RETENTION SUPPORT SERVICES AND TRACKING, AND AWARD SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES TO ENSURE THAT D.C. STUDENTS CAN EARN THEIR DEGREES. DC CAP UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARS ARE SELECTED AS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND RECEIVE RENEWABLE SUPPORT FROM DC CAP FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS VARY BASED ON THE INSTITUTION AND RANGE FROM $5,000 TO $7,500 ANNUALLY PER SCHOLAR.