Project Success
Project Success began in 2017 initially funded by Great Lakes. In 2018 Ascendium Education Group was formed and continues to provide student success and financial wellness solutions among other services with its "focus on removing barriers preventing people from achieving the academic and career goals that matter most". (Ascendium, 2023).
At SIPI, Ascendium funds two programs the Emergency Aid Program and the Paid Internship Program.
The Emergency Aid Program provides one-time financial assistance to students who are experiencing an unexpected financial emergency allowing them to focus on their academics and reduce the risk of dropping out of college. Oftentimes, students face unexpected financial hardship like loss of employment, food insecurity, or vehicle repairs.
Are You Eligible to Apply?
The following criteria determines your eligibility:
- Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $7,000 or less.
- Able to provide documentation of financial emergency.
- Currently enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Seeking a degree or certificate.
- Complete Grad Ready - a Financial Literacy Program.
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Examples of Eligible Expenses |
Example of Ineligible Expenses |
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Child Care Food Gas Housing/Rent Medical/Dental Auto Repair Public Transportation/ Bus Pass Utilities Death of immediate family member (mother, father, brother, sister) Accident/Illness |
Books Entertainment Student Fees Legal Fees Tuition Cell Phone Bill
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APPLYING
Students seeking emergency aid must create an account and submit an application on the Ascedium Portal here. Within this portal you will be able to upload documents to support your request (bills, or estimates, etc.). Supporting documents are required.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY?
After submitting an application, staff in Student Affairs and Financial Aid Office will review your application and confirm you meet all eligibility requirements. From there, the outcome, whether approved or denied, is forwarded to SIPI Board of Regents. You will be notified of the decision.
IF AWARDED, HOW IS PAYMENT MADE?
When approved, the Board of Regents Office will make payment directly to the entity where expense is identified. In most cases, award payments will be processed within two business days of approval.
Upon notification of the emergency request, please complete the module, "Money Management" in GradReady, an online Financial Literacy Program. When you are able, we ask that you return to GradReady and complete remaining informative modules.
Students whose program of study requires an internship for completion of their degree can tap into the Paid Internship Program. This opportunity is available to students whose degree requires an internship or recommend an internship as part of the degree plan. Ascendium may provide funding for a paid internship.
What is an internship? It is a professional learning experience offering meaningful and rewarding work related to a student's program of study.
What to expect? Internships provides opportunities for networking and career exploration while learning new skills.
If you are interested in doing an internship, please contact your Faculty Advisor and you can contact:
Bobby Wallace
Executive Director
505-918-4177
[email protected]
Financial Literacy is more than budgeting. Making financial decisions can be overwhelming and many college students do not believe they are prepared or know where to begin. Ascendium provides six modules that are informative and useful to get you started. To learn more about; Paying for College, Money Management, Real-World Finance, Learning to Learn, and Life Skills for Success visit GradReady and create an account.
