Citywide Financing College Campaign

Posted by on November 26, 2012

Citywide Financing College Campaign
2012-2013

As part of our continuing effort to increase the number of students from Philadelphia, applying to, enrolling in and completing college, the Mayor’s Office of Education is pleased to announce the 2012-2013 Financing College Campaign. A schedule of citywide events has been designed to help families learn how to finance a college education.

Planning for this year’s campaign has involved, elected officials, such as Congressman Chaka Fattah and State Senator Vincent Hughes, federal, state and local agencies, including the US Department of Education, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the School District of Philadelphia, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, and local colleges and universities.  The campaign goal is to increase the number of Philadelphia students matriculating to postsecondary institutions with funding to persist through graduation. Thus, the campaign continues to emphasize submitting accurate and complete applications for the FAFSA, a wide-range of scholarships and other types of financial aid.  Research and experience show that completing the entire financial aid process, in addition to the FAFSA, leads to the increased likelihood of college matriculation and completion.  The Financing College Campaign will begin with a professional development workshop series to ensure accuracy and consistency of information provided to students and families.

Professional Development Workshop Series
During the month of December, our efforts will be focused on equipping high school counselors, college access professionals and financial aid administrators with tools to appropriately advise families and students as they navigate the financial aid and admissions processes.  In collaboration with the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, a series of capacity-building events will be held to enable these professionals to better support students and families through the financial aid and college application processes.  Listed below are the workshops planned for the week.

v     Financing College Success                 Community College of Philadelphia          December 3, 2012
Center for Business and Industry             9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

A full-day professional development seminar, hosted by the Community College of Philadelphia and featuring representatives from the US Department of Education Eastern Regional Office and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA,) will provide updates on policy and legislative changes impacting students’ ability to matriculate, persist and complete college. This year’s session will also focus on undocumented and special needs students.  Participants will also receive information on free resources available to help families and students navigate the financial aid and matriculation process.

Register for this session http://financingcollegesuccess.eventbrite.com.

v      USDOE FAFSA Training                             US DOE Regional Office            December 4, 2012
Wannamaker Building               December 5, 2012

Representatives from the US Department of Education Office of Student Financial Aid and PHEAA will provide hands on training in completing the most recent version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the PA State Grant application, as well as, present updates on federal and state grant and scholarship opportunities.  Four sessions will be offered from 9:00AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM each day.

Register for one of these sessions at http://fafsatraining.eventbrite.com.

v      Financial Aid 101                                  Arcadia University                       December 6, 2012

This will be a full day training hosted by the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable and the Black Male Development Symposium. Financial Aid Administrators will explain what happens after submitting the FAFSA, how student aid is “packaged”, changes in expected student and family contributions from year-to-year, four-year budget planning, and other important information to help advise families.

Register for this training at http://financialaidtraining101.eventbrite.com.

Official Campaign Launch Press Conference
City Hall
January 15, 2013
10:30 AM

Citywide FAFSA Completion/Financial Aid Workshops will be held from January through May.  The complete calendar of events will be presented at the Campaign Launch.

For additional information, contact Terri White, Higher Education Advisor at terri.white@phila.gov.