What is CFWV? CFWV stands for the College Foundation of West Virginia. CFWV is a partnership among: The Governor’s 21st Century Jobs Cabinet The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission The West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education The West Virginia Department of Education West Virginia GEAR UP West Virginia Department of Education and The Arts many other college access organizations

What is CFWV.com? A one-stop shop to help students plan, apply, and pay for education or training beyond high school.

Who can use CFWV.com? Middle School Students * Parents High School Students * Educators College Students Adult Learners

What assistance is available on CFWV.com? Planning for: High School College A Career Financial Aid All information is saved in the student’s portfolio.

Exploring The Tools Most Used ACT Prep Learning Styles Inventory Plan of Study Applications Scholarship Finder Financial Aid Information Exploring Careers Learning About Yourself Surveys

ACT Preparation Free Tutorial Free Vocabulary Builder Free Practice Tests Free Online Test Coaches Available No Textbooks Needed

Learning Styles Inventory Determine the types of learners in your classrooms. Differentiate your instruction, teaching, and assessment strategies and methods. Help teach better study habits.

Plan of Study Alternate option to a paper based 4 year plan. Printable with guardian signature space. Can be locked and unlocked. Added accountability for students. Educator, student, and parent viewable.

Applications Apply to almost any college or university in the state of West Virginia. Track your application once you have completed and sent it.

Search regional, state, and national scholarships. Scholarship Finder Search regional, state, and national scholarships.

Financial Aid Information

Exploring Career

Learning About Yourself 7 surveys help students learn more about their interests, study habits, skills, and potential program and career interests.

Financial Fitness

Aligned Curricula

Best Practices Four Year Plans Course Integration Independent Living Projects Money Management Career Projects Resume Development Portfolios

CFWV.com View the tools on the website.

Any questions?

College Application Week November 14-18, 2011

About College Application Week Part of a national initiative orchestrated by the U.S. Department of Education West Virginia will coordinated its first statewide initiative in conjunction with the national week Primary Goal: Encourage students — particularly low-income and minority students (under-served) to explore their college options and to encourage all high school seniors to apply to college.

Why This Matters Every year in the U.S. more than 600,000 qualified students graduate from high school but fail to go on to college to earn a two-year or four-year degree within 8 years after graduation. Most are from low- and middle-income families. In general, students from low-income families attend and graduate from four-year colleges at half the rate of those from affluent families, even when they are equally qualified. Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University

Why This Matters “I didn’t think I could go to college... I never thought I’d even get accepted. But I applied during College Application Week, because we were trying to get the whole senior class to apply. A few weeks later, I got a letter from Glenville saying I was accepted — and I talked to a counselor there. Now I’ve even got financial aid, and I’m going!” - Sherman High School student who applied during the 2010 College Application Week pilot program coordinated in GEAR UP counties

About the Statewide Initiative Any school that wants to participate in College Application Week can sign up on cfwv.com. Only those schools that register will receive the official College Application Week kit. Schools must designate a coordinator and sign up by October 15th. Official participants will receive free CAW kits, including materials, prizes, giveaways, activity outlines and instructions.

What Does Participation Include? Participating schools must: Provide computer lab time for students to explore colleges on cfwv.com and to apply; Distribute college application week materials, including Admissions 101 guides Complete the school evaluation to provide feedback regarding College Application Week activities.

What Does Participation Include? Participating schools are encouraged to: Coordinate college-awareness and college-exploration events that involve all students and build excitement about college Coordinate events to engage parents in the college application and exploration process Coordinate events to engage the community in supporting the CAW initiative

The Role of GEAR UP in College Application Week All GEAR UP schools are required to participate, as part of the 2011-12 work plan Site coordinators will serve as their school’s CAW coordinator; however, SCs are encouraged to enlist the assistance of a co-coordinator! The coordinator must register their school by October 15th (earlier is better, though) GEAR UP schools are expected to set the bar for College Application Week

February 12, 2012 College Goal Sunday is a one day financial aid event designed to provide students and families with FREE assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Contact Information Heather E. McChesney Coordinator of Curriculum and Professional Development The Office of P-20 Initiatives and Student Success West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission 1018 Kanawha Boulevard East Suite 700 Charleston, West Virginia (304) 558-0655 HMcChesney@hepc.wvnet.edu