Creating A Coordinated and Comprehensive Approach To College Access Through Statewide Collaborations

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Creating A Coordinated and Comprehensive Approach
To College Access Through Statewide Collaborations

• NCHELP Convention June 5-7, 2006
• Linda Shiller
• Director, Career and Education Outreach
• Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

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VSAC

• Is a bundled agency established in 1965 to
  ensure that all Vermonters have the necessary
  financial and information resources they need to
  pursue their education goals beyond high school
• Administers the state grant program, more than
  150 scholarships, and the Vermont Higher
  Education Investment Plan (Vermonts 529
  qualified plan)

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VSAC Continued

• Acts as guarantor, lender, and servicer of
  Stafford, parent PLUS, graduate PLUS, and
  consolidation loans, as well as providing private
  loans for undergraduate, graduate, and
  professional students
• Is Vermonts sole FFELP lender

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VSAC Continued

• Hosts two statewide TRiO Programs and the State
  GEAR UP Program providing many statewide college
  awareness and access services
• Maintains a Resource Center offering walk-in
  services, public access computers, and a lending
  library

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How We Got Here

• Did Our Homework
• Researched/surveyed existing resources
• Held focus groups
• Built Trust/Made Connections
• Joined everything available
• Attended meetings and events
• Hobnobbed and networked

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• Developed A Multi-faceted Marketing Plan
• Humanized the problems local and regional
  newspapers, public service announcements, radio
  talk shows, public television

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• COORDINATION OF SERVICES AND EVENTS WITH STATE
  (and local ) ENTITIES

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Who Are Potential Partners and Stakeholders?

• Financial Aid Organization (VASFAA)
• State TRiO Association (VEOP)
• School Counselor Association (VSCA)
• Vermont Department of Labor

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• Vermont Department of Education
• Vermont Principals Association (VPA)
• Department for Children and Families
• Workforce Investment Boards
• Consortium of Vermont Colleges

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• STRATEGIES

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• Developed and Disseminated Information To Assist
  With College Planning and Paying For College
• State GEAR UP Program - bringing together DOE,
  VPA, VSCA, VSC, UVM, IBM, and others to
  coordinate college access and school reform
  efforts

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• Resources for increased AP courses
• Professional Development for educators/
  counselors
• Career planning initiatives
• Statewide Dual Enrollment offered free to
  low-income students

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• College planning events for parents and students
• Tutoring and mentoring programs
• Research analysis for tracking trends
• Coordinated programming and services for all
  TRiO/GU programs in the state utilizing the
  leadership of the state TRiO association

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• Coordinated Statewide Career Planning Strategies
  by
• Establishing Vermont Career Development Task
  Force (VSAC, DOE, DOL, Vermont colleges)
• Providing career fairs throughout the state
• Training for teachers and guidance counselors
• Annual Career Planning Conference

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• Internet-based career tools offered to all
  schools free
• Career presentations provided by local high tech
  businesses
• Curriculum, publications, resources disseminated
  to parents, teachers, counselors

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Paying for College Nights

• For high school students and their parents to
  help them understand the financial aid process
• Presentations on-site at all public high schools
  across state (fall)
• Follow-up Forms Nights  to help parents complete
  applications ( winter)

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College Pathways

• Full-day program offered twice annually for high
  school juniors and their parents to help prepare
  them for post-secondary education
• Partners
• All Vermont post-secondary institutions
• VSCA
• VASFAA
• Consortium of Vermont Colleges

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• OUTCOMES

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What VSAC DoesPost-secondary Information and
Financing
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College Career Planning

• Individual counseling sessions and workshops for
  middle and high school students and adult
  learners
• 46,912 contacts (FY05)
• Web-based career and college planning tools on
  vsac.org
• VSAC Resource Center in Winooski
• 16,521 visitors received walk-in services (FY05)
• library materials available statewide
• Higher Education Info Center at Dept of Labor
  (DOL) in Rutland
• Two regional College Pathways conferences for
  high school juniors and parents
• 1,377 participants in FY05

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• 87.5 percent of TRiO and GEAR UP graduates were
  enrolled in post-secondary education
• 164 guidance counselors participated in four
  regional financial aid and Test GEAR trainings

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• 2,300 participants at 68 paying for college
  nights at high schools
• 2,700 entering and exiting students received debt
  management info in person one-on-one or in group
  sessions

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• Linda Shiller
• Director, Career Education Outreach
• Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
• P.O. Box 2000
• Winooski, VT 05404
• 800-660-3561, extension 234
• shiller_at_vsac.org
• www.vsac.org