Learn More Indiana’s Partner Updates Susan Tharp Elizabeth Crouch

Topics of Discussion Reminder of Learn More Indiana’s services An Update on Indiana’s College Success Coalitions Learn More Indiana Campaigns Priorities Moving Forward We want to hear from you!

Learn More Indiana Strategic outreach effort focused on raising Indiana’s educational attainment Partnership of state agencies responsible for education, financial aid, workforce development – Indiana Commission for Higher Education – Indiana Department of Education – Indiana Department of Workforce Development – State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana

Learn More Indiana Additional support: – Indiana’s Colleges and Universities – USA Funds – Lumina Foundation for Education – Federal College Access Challenge Grant

Learn More Indiana Core services help Hoosiers plan, prepare and pay for postsecondary education: – In print, – In person, – On the phone and – On the Web

Meeting the Challenge A growing statewide alliance of local individuals and organizations helping more Hoosiers know how to go to college and succeed.

Indiana’s College Success Coalition Created in 2007 with grant funding from the Lumina Foundation for Education Leverages core services with local grassroots and coalition-building efforts Provides coordinated network for community leaders to identify needs, share ideas, and craft solutions

Organized into 14 regions: – Based on Twenty-first Century Scholars program’s regional support sites to support collaboration – Led locally by regional chairperson, community coordinator and coalition members – Coalitions members include representatives from K-12, higher education, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and businesses among others Indiana’s College Success Coalition

Initial success: – Recruited over 700 coalition members to date – Doubled attendance at 2009 College Goal Sunday – FAFSA submissions increased significantly in 2009 Lessons learned: – Like students, communities want to help but often don’t know how to help – Need simple, practical steps to engage students and community members Indiana’s College Success Coalition

Learn More Indiana’s Marketing/Media Campaigns College GO Week Cash for College KnowHow2GO

College GO! Week (Fall) Overall Goal: Students take specific steps to prepare for education after high school. – Seniors: complete a college application – Juniors: register for Indiana’s e-transcript – Sophomores: complete the PSAT – Freshmen: complete a career/college assessment Provide schools with toolkits to host event. Combine with local support to motivate students.

Cash for College (Spring) Overall Goal: Help Hoosier students and families prepare to pay for college Provided Indiana’s high schools with promotional items (handouts, banner, posters) to raise in-school awareness of money available to help pay Online toolkits available for community partners and K- 12 leaders: LearnMoreIndiana.org/CashforCollege

Cash for College (Spring) Grade-specific steps for all K-12 students: – Seniors: file the FAFSA – Juniors: scout for scholarships – Sophomores: calculate the cost – Freshmen: learn the lingo

Cash for College (Spring) Grade-specific steps for all K-12 students: – Every middle student will plan to pay by: Developing or updating their Graduation Plan Applying for Indiana’s Twenty-first Century Scholars GEAR UP program

Cash for College (Spring) Grade-specific steps for all K-12 students: – Every elementary student will start to save by: Asking their parents to open a savings account Reading Little by Little with a teacher or parent

Events: Indiana’s FAFSA Fridays Free, instructional webinars for college-bound students and families: – Describes financial aid process – Provides FAFSA-filing information – Participants may chat online with financial aid experts—public or private chat available

Events: Indiana’s FAFSA Fridays FAFSA Friday February 12 and p.m. and 6 p.m. EST

Events: College Goal Sunday Date: February 21, 2010 Time: 2 p.m. (local) Where: 37 sites across IN Why: Students and families receive free help filing the FAFSA online CollegeGoalSunday.org

(Summer) Activities focused on transitions implemented by Coalition at a local level Provide families an opportunity to: – visit a college campus – participate in their choice of workshops – take advantage of other opportunities

Priorities Moving Forward Improving core Learn More services: – Helpline transition – New Web site under development Strengthening relationships: – Partner agencies – Colleges and universities – Community groups Building coalitions’ capacity and sustainability

Questions/Feedback College GO! Week Cash for College KnowHow2GOIndiana Other Questions?

How You Can Help Get connected: – Visit – Call Get involved: – Provide feedback on previous events – Respond to ideas for future initiatives

Contact Us Susan Tharp – – ext. 42 Elizabeth Crouch – – ext. 40