IES Predoctoral Program Seminar: Dr. Adela Soliz

The University of Pennsylvania Predoctoral Training Program in Interdisciplinary Research Methods for Field-based Research in Education, sponsored by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), welcomes Dr. Adela Soliz to our weekly seminar series.

Does Federal Work Study Work for Students?
Presented by Dr. Adela Soliz, Vanderbilt University

Along with collaborators at the Community College Research Center, I am conducting a randomized control trial (RCT) evaluation of the Federal Work Study Program (FWS) at 16 campuses of the City University of New York (CUNY). In addition to the RCT we are collecting survey, interview and focus group data from administrators and students. Ultimately, we hope to understand how participating in FWS impacts students' academic and labor market outcomes, as well as how students make decisions about working while enrolled and how variation in the implementation of the program across campuses mediates students' experiences. We are currently in our second year of data collection, though this poject has been in the making since at least 2016. I will talk about the process of setting up a large-scale RCT evaluation in collaboration with an education agency partner, as well as the challenges of inserting random assignment into an already existing administrative process - in this case, the mass packaging of financial aid. I will also talk about the process of assessing and adjusting in response to unanticipated challenges.

More information

The IES Predoctoral Program’s weekly seminar series connects program fellows and affiliates to scholars and practitioners who engage in educational research and the development of research methods.

Seminars are likely of interest to doctoral students and faculty. If you are interested in attending virtually, please email Melanie Bahti for Zoom information.