Increasing College Access GREAT LAKES FIELD REPORT 2012-2013
Everybody can benefit from college, but it’s the students who are least likely to consider it who have the most to gain. So how do you reach those students and their families to let them know that college is closer than they may think? The Great Lakes way is to put a team of College Access Advisors out in the field. Our team works across Wisconsin to show the way to college, to help clear hurdles, and to collaborate with others to encourage more students and families to consider higher education and their future in it. Spending every day in the field, we meet a lot of people. We are pleased to share a few of our favorite stories.
Wisconsin’s College Access Challenge Grant Since 2008, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation has worked with the State of Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of Education under the College Access Challenge Grant (CACG). Our charge: to provide free services to students and families to help them prepare and pay for college. Leveraging our history of increasing college access for millions of students nationwide, we’ve assembled a team of College Access Advisors. Our goal is to provide students and families across Wisconsin with expert advice on why college matters, how they can make it happen, and what they need to do next. In 2012-2013, the grant’s fifth year, we continued our focus on face-to-face meetings where and when it’s convenient for those seeking help. From supporting high school counselors with our Next Stop College resources and helping students and parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we’re committed to ensuring that sound college access guidance is shared with those in need.
NEXTSTOPCOLLEGEWI.ORG Find out more about the free college access advising services and resources we offer.
GREAT LAKES HAS PROVIDED
100%
OF THE REQUIRED MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE CACG PROGRAM—TOTALING MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION TO DATE
DURING THE 2012-2013 YEAR, WE PROVIDED WORKSHOPS AND ADVISING TO OVER
27,000
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND SERVED OVER 700 COUNSELORS AND MENTORS
TIFFANY: Proud to be college bound Making the decision to go to college doesn’t always happen overnight. For Tiffany, a bright senior at Tomah High School, a rocky start in high school and an unstable family life added to her uncertainty. Tiffany found support from teachers and counselors at school, but it was an assembly during her senior year hosted by Ellen, a Great Lakes College Access Advisor, that really inspired Tiffany to take action. Over the course of several meetings, Ellen was able to help Tiffany on her path to college. “Working with Ellen one-on-one showed me that the FAFSA isn’t scary. She made it simple to understand and complete,” said Tiffany. “Between helping to guide me through the college process and applying for a Talent Incentive Program grant, Ellen was someone I really came to rely on.” Moving another student one step closer to college and helping her reach her full potential is what the Great Lakes approach to college access advising is all about. Each year we work with thousands of students like Tiffany to help make a difference in their lives. ▲
I see college as a fresh opportunity and a chance for me to rise above my troubled past.
TERRY: A partnership that works High school counselors are often stretched for time. For many, this is due to the fact that, in Wisconsin, the school counselorto-student ratio is 1 to 464*—200 more than recommended.** For Terry at Wautoma High School, time is even more scarce because she is the only full-time counselor. Like many counselors with a full plate, Terry was a bit skeptical when approached by Great Lakes with the offer of college access assistance for her students. Her first thought was, “I’m already overwhelmed, and I don’t have time to oversee another project.” But after meeting with Lori, a Great Lakes College Access Advisor, she agreed to schedule some trial workshops. That was five years ago, and each year since Terry and Lori have met to develop and implement customized programs for Wautoma’s students, including this year’s focus on understanding financial aid and increasing FAFSA completions. “We view Lori as part of our staff since she’s really integrated herself in our school,” said Terry. We work with hundreds of counselors like Terry to offer workshops and advising sessions to help put more students on the path to college. Becoming part of each school’s team is what we strive for. ▲ ▲ *U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, January 2011 **
American School Counselor Association
Bringing in an outside expert has proven to be a great way to help empower our students and families to prepare for college.
MARIA: An opportunity for her son that she never had Maria was determined that her son go to college— an opportunity not afforded to her growing up with limited resources in Mexico. What she found difficult, due in part to a language barrier, was learning the steps he would need to take. “I didn’t want my son to waste his opportunity to get a college education,” Maria reflected. Through her community contacts, Maria was introduced to Lauren, a Spanish-speaking Great Lakes College Access Advisor. Lauren met with mother and son, guided David as he completed his college application and essay, and helped him complete the FAFSA. Today, David is studying Accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Maria says she is forever grateful for the help her family received: “I regularly recommend Lauren’s services to families in similar situations, so they too can get the help they need.” Helping parents overcome hurdles—it’s one more way we work with families to achieve college success. ▲
I finally received the information I needed in a way I could understand to help my son go to college.
LAURIE: Supporting her community As the Young Adult Librarian at Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, Laurie is often called upon to answer questions and solve problems for students. Working with the library’s Teen Advisory Board was no exception. The board, comprised of traditional and non-traditional students, approached Laurie looking for more help with preparing for and getting into college—both for themselves and other area students. Laurie connected with Great Lakes and accepted our offer to bring in-person presentations and workshops to the students and families the library serves. “Planning and preparing for college is a big process. I thought I would be on my own when it came to developing a plan to bring college access resources to the library,” Laurie remembers. However, working with Great Lakes College Access Advisor Tou Ya, Laurie has put together a program that offers hands-on help with college applications and essays, standardized test preparation, and one-on-one FAFSA completion assistance. By developing partnerships with community advocates like Laurie across the state, we are able to reach more students and families who most need our help. ▲
Having Great Lakes’ support has really benefitted the community.
mygreatlakes.org/community Knowing that education has the power to change lives for the better, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates helps millions of students pay for college and repay their student loans. Great Lakes leads initiatives and funds programs that help students from traditionally underserved backgrounds continue and complete their education beyond high school. Since 2006, Great Lakes has committed more than $84 million in funding to programs that share these goals.
Cover Photo: Great Lakes College Access Advisor Tou Ya helps Aaron from Milwaukee’s Urban Underground with his FAFSA during a visit to Edgewood College. Š2013 Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. All rights reserved. 4272 (05/13) Produced by Great Lakes as part of the College Access Challenge Grant Program and made possible by the Wisconsin Department of Administration. The contents of this report were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.