{"679915":{"#nid":"679915","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cracking the Code on Financial Aid Opportunities at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFinancial considerations play a significant role in the decision-making process for future first-year students pursuing a degree. \u201cTalent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. It is incredibly inequitable. That is why Georgia Tech is working to provide opportunities and pathways for all students\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/campus\/why-transfer-student-programmes-are-key-expanding-access\u0022\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d explained Executive Director of Strategic Student Access Rick Clark in a recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/campus\/why-transfer-student-programmes-are-key-expanding-access\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETimes Higher Education Campus\u003C\/em\u003E interview\u003C\/a\u003E. The effort is a key part of expanding access, a focus area of Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Plan. One way to achieve this goal is to leverage Institute researchers and the knowledge acquired through previous studies using machine learning techniques. With these tools, the Institute could better understand how to enhance the admissions process, streamline access to financial aid, and stay informed about student needs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2021, the C21U team has developed predictive tools using machine learning (ML) and AI through a partnership with Tech\u2019s Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMSA) program to provide tools to enhance the applicant selection process. The tools can help predict applicants\u0027 success in the program using various application data and comprehensive features, including letters of recommendation and statement of purpose documents. The team focused on identifying 21st-century skills and assessing leadership competencies. This data can benefit admission committees and learners alike, who can use it to tailor their professional development path. In this instance, the objective is to use AI to inform the Institute\u2019s strategies to provide students with varied financial aid opportunities and resources. The insights gained can also guide admissions practices to promote greater accessibility and fairness.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study will commence with collecting extensive data during the spring semester, followed by data analysis during the fall semester of 2025 to develop comprehensive profiles to predict first-year applicants\u0027 eligibility for various financial aid categories, including Pell Grant-possible students.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ETo create these profiles, C21U researchers will first analyze the data gathered from Tech\u2019s Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid offices by the Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) team. This data encompasses personal information, academic history, test scores, and financial aid details. Advanced machine learning techniques, including natural language processing and explainable AI, will analyze the relationships between various student characteristics and their financial aid outcomes. Given the sensitive nature of the data, the research team will implement stringent security measures to safeguard student information. The data will be de-identified, encrypted, and accessible only to authorized users, ensuring security and individual student information protection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis innovative project represents institutional advancement in using predictive analytics to improve the undergraduate admissions process and access to financial aid, and it is a collaborative effort between several Georgia Tech offices and units. These include the Center for 21st Century Universities\u2019, Executive Director \u003Cstrong\u003ESteve Harmon\u003C\/strong\u003E, Director of Research in Education Innovation \u003Cstrong\u003EJeonghyun (Jonna) Lee\u003C\/strong\u003E, Research Scientist \u003Cstrong\u003EMeryem Yilmaz Soylu\u003C\/strong\u003E, Postdoctoral Researcher \u003Cstrong\u003EGayane Grigoryan\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Digital Learning Data Analyst \u003Cstrong\u003EAdrian Gallard\u003C\/strong\u003E. The study will be conducted in collaboration with Executive Director of Strategic Student Access \u003Cstrong\u003ERick Clark\u003C\/strong\u003E, Interim Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission \u003Cstrong\u003EMary Tipton Woolley\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Executive Director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid \u003Cstrong\u003EKatie Conrad\u003C\/strong\u003E. Additionally, Institutional Research and Planning\u2019s Senior Director \u003Cstrong\u003EJason Wang,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EData Scientist \u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Lyczak,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand the Division of Enrollment Management will contribute. While C21U will lead the study, the research team will consult with each participant unit for guidance and feedback.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETech will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict applicants\u0027 eligibility for different financial aid categories. The effort is a key part of expanding access, a focus area of Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Plan. Led by C21U, this collaborative effort aims to increase educational opportunities and improve the accessibility of financial aid.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The innovative project represents institutional advancement in using predictive analytics to improve the undergraduate admissions process and access to financial aid."}],"uid":"33969","created_gmt":"2025-01-23 21:45:38","changed_gmt":"2025-01-23 21:50:10","author":"ymrv3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676115":{"id":"676115","type":"image","title":"Tech_Entrance.JPG","body":null,"created":"1737668763","gmt_created":"2025-01-23 21:46:03","changed":"1737668763","gmt_changed":"2025-01-23 21:46:03","alt":"A young man crossing a brick archway at Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"259835","name":"Tech_Entrance.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/23\/Tech_Entrance.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/23\/Tech_Entrance.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2205982,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/23\/Tech_Entrance.JPG?itok=smKK8kyr"}}},"media_ids":["676115"],"groups":[{"id":"66244","name":"C21U"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ymrv3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYelena M. Rivera-Vale, M.A.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(she\/her(s)\/ella)\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003ECenter for 21st Century Universities\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Lifetime Learning\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStrategic, Learner, Relator, Intellection, Input\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}