Technology

As the mechanisms for delivering emergency aid improve, institutions can begin to further their understanding of the types of aid that are most needed and the different events that might imperil a student's continued attendance. It's critical that colleges and universities capture this information — along with other key data for overall emergency aid evaluation — so that emergency aid programs can be fine-tuned to meet student needs. Institutions with emergency aid programs have a variety of ways to identify students facing an urgent need. Data collection and analysis, as well as cross-departmental coordination, can ensure that aid is matched up with students in need and delivered in a timely and appropriate fashion.

Colleges and universities should think strategically about the ways they identify students in need, review aid requests and deliver the correct support. Often, existing systems for information sharing can meet the needs of an emergency aid program. At times, a simple and straightforward information-sharing strategy is the best solution for identifying students and delivering emergency aid.