College Access Initiative

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College Access Initiative
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Mike Hawkes
• Director, Policy Communications
• ECMC

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Guarantor Awareness Activities
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• In 2005, guaranty agencies
• Provided over 6 million print pieces on financial
  aid, financial literacy and college awareness
• Participated in over 8,400 financial aid
  workshops and events

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Guarantor Awareness Activities
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Other guaranty agency activities
• 17actively participate in College Goal Sunday
• 12 operate or support college resource centers
• 7 are involved in TRIO programs
• 14 are directly involved in GEAR UP

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Guarantor Awareness Activities
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• EVERY guarantor has been involved in college
  access and awareness activities
• NCHELP web site contains master list of these
  activities

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College Access Initiative
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• New requirement contained in HERA
• Initiative was recommended by guaranty agencies
• Formalizes role guarantors have been playing

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CAI Requirements
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• CAI found in Section 485D of HEA
• Two main requirements
• Collecting information
• Promoting access

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CAI Collecting Information
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• States designated GA required to make a
  comprehensive list of postsecondary education
  opportunities, programs, publications, Internet
  web sites, and other services available in the
  State
• List to be provided to ED

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CAI Promoting Access
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Guarantors required to promote access through
  providing information
• College planning
• Career preparation
• Paying for college
• Special emphasis on traditionally
  underrepresented populations

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CAI Work Group
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• NCHELP formed work group of GA representatives
• Meeting since February
• Chaired by Steve Brooks, Executive Director,
  NCSEAA
• Karen Lanning NCHELP staff representative

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CAI Mission
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Link students and families, especially those from
  groups underrepresented in higher education, to
  information and resources that enhance access to
  college and other higher education programs
• So they can learn about
• the help available to succeed
• the college planning process, and
• Promote the economic health and well-being of
  states residents and communities

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CAI Work Group
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Early decision create web site to meet both CAI
  requirements
• Mapping Your Future instrumental in providing web
  development resources
• Each GA responsible for creating state-specific
  pages

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CAI Web Site
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• One web site with two URLs
• www.going2college.org
• www.prep4highered.org

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www.going2college.org
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Not intended to replace any existing sites
• Single place to get to existing resources on
  state-by-state basis
• Contains 53 state sites (DC, USVI, Puerto Rico)

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www.going2college.org
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Each state site contains four sections
• Career planning
• Planning for college
• Finding a college
• Paying for college

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CAI Work Group
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Work group continues to meet monthly via
  conference call
• Activities extend far beyond the web site

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CAI Work Group
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Meetings with ED to share ideas and receive
  feedback
• Coordinating efforts
• Other groups working to promote access and
  awareness
• Among guaranty agencies

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CAI Work Group
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Opportunity to share information and best
  practices
• Example College Access Forum conference calls
• Expanding existing access programs
• Overcoming barriers to access

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College Access Initiative
2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE

• CAI has created a great resource for
  students/families
• Represents a force multiplier
• Informed the community of the important role
  guaranty agencies play in college access and
  awareness

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2006 NCHELP FALL TRAINING CONFERENCE
THANK YOU!Please be sure to complete your
conference evaluation forms after the conference!
Mike Hawkes ECMC