Citywide Financing College Professional Development

Posted by on January 27, 2014

2014 Citywide Financing College Campaign

Financing College Success
Mayor’s Office of Education

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (PST)

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 2014 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 complete their degree or certificate programs. Thus, the campaign continues to emphasize submitting accurate and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarship and other type of financial aid applications. We know, completing the entire financial aid process, including the FAFSA, leads to theincreased likelihood of college matriculation and completion. The Financing College Campaign begins with a professional development workshop series to ensure accurate information is provided to college-bound students and families.

Professional Development Workshop Series

During the month of January 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 this year’s professional development series.

Financing College Success

A full-day professional development seminar will provide updates on policy and legislative changes impacting students’ ability to matriculate, persist and complete college. Due to the necessity of student loan borrowing to pay for college and the potential for defaults, this year’s session will also focus on loans, debt management and consumer credit. We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker is Pauline Abernathy, Vice President of the Institute for College Access and Success, who produced the recently released report Student Debt and the Class of 2012. You will also hear from representatives of the banking community to equip professionals with information and tools to help students and families make informed decisions regarding loans and debt management. This event is hosted by Drexel University and co-sponsored by Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and Urban Affairs Coalition.

http://www.2014financingcollegesuccess.eventbrite.com/

USDOE (ED) FAFSA Online Training

US DOE Regional Office January 30, 2014
Wannamaker Building 9:00AM – 12:00 PM or
Juniper Street 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Representatives from the US Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency (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.

To register for one half-day session, click on the following link: http://www.2014USDOEfafsatraining.eventbrite.com

Financial Aid 101 – Beyond the FAFSA

Esperanza College
February 7, 2014
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

College and university financial aid administrators will explain the process of preparing financial awards, the types of financial aid available to students, changes in expected student and family contributions each year, and other important financial planning information intended to help college-bound students and families. This event is being hosted by Esperanza College and co-sponsored by the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable.

To register, please click on the following link: http://www.financialaid101andbeyond.eventbrite.com