Keeping college dreams alive
Marquette’s Assistant Financial Aid Director works overtime to increase FAFSA completion in Milwaukee Public Schools
By Abigail Ng
There are few things more exciting than getting accepted into college. On the other hand, there are few things harder or more stress inducing than figuring out how to pay for it. But Marquette Assistant Financial Aid Director Mark Levine hopes to ease that anxiety by making sure every high school senior in Milwaukee knows what FAFSA means — and why it’s essential to keeping each of their college dreams alive.
Teaming up with Milwaukee Succeeds, a data-based non-profit organization focused on improving education in Milwaukee, Levine has taken his own personal time to go out into Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to educate families about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Without applying for financial aid using the FAFSA, many Milwaukee students are unable to afford higher education.
“There are a lot of myths that surround the application, so it really takes some time and individual conversation to demystify the process,” Naomi Esteves, college access advisor for the Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation, said after presenting with Levine at Rufus King High School’s financial aid night last fall. “There is a lot of need for people like (Levine), and the fact that he is so gracious and professional is just awesome.”
When Milwaukee Succeeds reached out to Levine to help with their FAFSA Challenge, he jumped at the opportunity.
“I don’t care where a student goes to school, as long as they go to school, because it’s really important nowadays,” Levine said passionately.
Much to their shock and disappointment, Levine and Milwaukee Succeeds found that a mere 39% of MPS seniors planning on attending higher education had completed the FAFSA by the end of July 2016, and the other 61% were not taking advantage of this opportunity. Now, they’re striving to increase completion to 60% by the end of June.
Part of Levine’s motivation for taking part in the FAFSA Challenge is his dedication to helping students achieve their goals. He, along with the guidance counselors he works with, understands the importance of submitting the FAFSA and believes that money should not be a barrier to higher education.
“The cost of college today is at a point where you have to fill out the FAFSA form in order get aid and bridge that gap between what parents can afford and the cost of attending,” Jill Boeck, guidance counselor at Rufus King High School, said at the financial aid event.
After working in financial aid for nearly 30 years, Levine not only has the passion for helping students, but the experience and knowledge to make a difference. Within the past few months, Levine, leading the effort in partnership with other financial aid professionals and Milwaukee Succeeds, created a FAFSA Toolkit, a collection of pre-existing and original FAFSA resources, and arranged a group of financial aid presenters to talk at 15 Milwaukee high schools.
Levine’s expertise is especially valuable this year as the FAFSA has undergone some changes — notably its earlier Oct. 1 release date.
“The students are still struggling with it,” Boeck said. “So it’s so nice for us to have the help and support because changes have been made. It’s so helpful to have someone we can go to and ask questions.”
In Boeck’s perspective, it is also beneficial that Levine brings his knowledge from Marquette University.
“I like that fact that he’s from Marquette,” she said. “Many of our students attend Marquette, so for the students and the parents to hear from someone from Marquette, I think that is a really good thing.”
After four months since the FAFSA has been available for completion, Levine has seen incredibly encouraging signs of progress.
In the first five weeks alone, the number of completions for the 2017–2018 school year increased almost 500% from the 2016–2017 completion rate. Approximately 40% of the MPS graduating class has completed the FAFSA so far, well on their way to reaching their goal.
According to Levine, the ultimate goal is not only to increase completion, but to do so by getting more people involved in helping students fill out the FAFSA. He wants schools to be able to show that the FAFSA doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and he wants to fully equip other financial aid workers and guidance counselors.
Levine said, “We want to give any financial aid person in the city of Milwaukee the tools… to be able to get the students started, tell them what they need to do, give them the resources they need.”
This way will help schools reach more families and continue to increase the rate of completion.
“The biggest thing we’re pushing for is to change the paradigm in MPS. It’s always been the guidance counselors that have to take on the responsibility of making sure students (submit the FAFSA)…. It’s not just one or two people’s responsibility, it’s the entire staff that deals with senior students,” Levine said. “We want them all to be aware of what the changes are, that they should be talking to students about the FAFSA. Be creative. Do different things…Get the students excited about it.”
