Default Prevention: A CDR Success Story at Southern Polytechnic State University

Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) did not have a Cohort Default Rate (CDR) issue in 2012. However, with all of the buzz surrounding the new 3-year CDR, the Director of Financial Aid, Gary Mann, wanted to ensure it did not become an issue. He wanted a plan but not one that would sit unused. He wanted a plan that would help his campus of 5,500 students in Marietta, GA avoid default and continue its role as a leader in the progressive University System of Georgia.

We chatted about what he wanted to accomplish using limited time and resources. He asked me, “How can I make the biggest impact?” I recommended he start working through the Late Stage Delinquency Report on Nsight. So each month Gary began sending letters to the students that were on the cusp of default (241-360 days late). In December 2012, he began tracking the number of letters sent; by April 2013, the number had dropped by 50%.

Congrats to Gary and his team at Southern Poly for beginning a simple plan to positively impact your CDR. Great job! If you have a success story, we would love to hear about it. You can also visit our new Default Prevention tab to view other success stories as well as a seven-step default prevention plan that you can use to start impacting your CDR right away.

Amy Moser, Southern Regional Director, Nelnet Partner Solutions