Impact
Dreamkeepers has proven to be a catalyst that keeps students enrolled in their college programs. In 2008, 84 percent of Dreamkeepers recipients either reenrolled the following term or graduated - compared with the national average of 55 percent.
The Need
According to the U.S. Department of Education the leading reason students drop out of college is a lack of financial resources. More than 30 percent of college students leave after their first year and 50 percent never graduate. Many of these students leave because of an unforeseen financial emergency. The Dreamkeepers program provides a safety net for students; Dreamkeepers helps students overcome unforeseen financial emergencies so that they may remain in school to achieve their stated education related goals.
The Impact
Dreamkeepers is currently offered at 31 colleges across the nation. While the Dreamkeepers program empowers students to overcome financial emergencies, it also connects students to other support systems within their colleges, and provides a financial literacy resource online portal that helps educate students on critical financial management skills and techniques.
Testimonials
"The Dreamkeepers program has allowed Durham Tech to further manifest our desire to help students stay in school and meet their educational and career goals," says Beth Shulman from Durham Technical College. "We know that students leave school because of unforeseeable life events that impact their finances. With Dreamkeepers, we can keep some of those students in school and avoid having them lose ground on their programs. That means both the students and the school win."
Seberina's Success Story
A single parent, Seberina worked full-time and took the occasional college course whenever she could. But despite her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, most of Seberina's energy was spent caring for her boys.
When Seberina was laid off, she saw an opportunity to attend college full-time and enrolled at a local community college. Her goal: earn an Associates Degree, and then transfer to a university to complete her teaching degree.
Unfortunately, the income Seberina earned from her work-study position was not enough to pay her mounting bills. On the day she came home and found an eviction notice from her landlord, Seberina was forced to face the reality that she could not afford to go to college.
Seberina learned that the school's Dreamkeepers program was there to help-and she received a grant to help her pay her rent, stay in her home and stay in school. She's since graduated with her Associates Degree and has enrolled in a 4-year university to complete her dream.
