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GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FINAL REPORT (3) Opportunities for the Foundation’s Engagement:
• ConsidertheFoundation’ssupportofcollegecareerdevelopmentprogramsthatemphasizeinternships or other employment-based experiential learning activities for economically-disadvantaged college students with disabilities.
• Combine efforts with appropriate State officials to provide earlier summer notification to the SUSF institutions of their budgets for the scholarship awards so that disability services offices have more time to determine the allocations to each student recipient (initial and renewing students), share that information with their related University offices (registrar, bursar, enrollment), and notify funded students.
• Consider establishing a requirement that each disability services or other institutional office annually collect data from JSF scholars that includes their primary and secondary email addresses and other contact information.
• Engage in advocacy work with the SUSF institutions and State officials to build budget increases for expanding professional positions in disability services offices (and other related services offices) in order to support the needs of all eligible students.
Summary
Findings from this study suggest that the Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s awards to economically-disadvantaged students with disabilities provides critical support to a population of students who may otherwise struggle to persist in college. Interviewed graduates and current students describe the importance of their college experiences as they take initiative to pursue their future career goals. At the same time, findings from the study further offer insights into areas the Foundation might leverage to build on the impact of their investment. Nevertheless, the importance of the scholarship in students’ lives cannot be understated. As one graduate explained, “It Is one of those things, where I have only been able to go to college because of programs like the JSF Scholarship.”
Report of Milestone 3 Activities:
1. Present final analysis of graduate and student interviews;
2. Provide a final report to the Foundation and proposed channels for dissemination activities.
Page 32 May Report