College Pays Students for "C" in Math

(Tampa, Florida)

A Florida community college is trying to inspire students to finish their degree by doling out up to $1,800 in cash to students who make a C or higher in three semesters of math courses.

The program, called Mathematic Access Scholarship Program (MAPS), has run at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) for the past three years and is spearheaded by Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC).[…]

Participants in the program could earn $600 per semester, for three semesters. Students were also required to attend tutoring sessions and utilize academic support services. Students who earned a “B” or better received a math textbook or book voucher for the next math course in the sequence.

"[T]hese math classes were a major barrier to student success,” Craig R. Johnson, Vice President of HCC's Academic Affairs, told Campus Reform in an email. “We hoped the incentives would inspire behaviors that would lead to increased student success.”

Reportedly, the paying-for-grades program awaits a final determination of success.