1. ACT Conference Paying for college: from zero to hero Presented By Stephen Rogers

2. Who Am I? Steve Rogers manages outreach for the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA)

3. People with a bachelor’s degree account for less than 12% of unemployment claims filed. Utah Department of Workforce Services Profiling Job Loss Through Initial Unemployment Claims July/August 2009

6. CollegeGoalUtah Concept Identify Utah High Schools Demonstrating – Location (need) Size: High Volume of Seniors 25-50% FRLR, lower SES Under-represented, rural, high minority Navajo Reservation State wide effort

7. College Goal Utah Model High School Coordination Principal, Counselors, Financial Literacy Teachers Schedule Classroom Time Financial Literacy Courses General Financial Aid Overview & FAFSA Advertise College Goal Utah Nights with Postcard Computer Space & Ensuring Coverage (CGU Nights) Train counselors & financial literacy teachers, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Assist students with FAFSA completion, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. CGU Dates Early February - April

8. What to Bring on CGU Night? Don’t be afraid to bring your friends, a league of experts is there to help

9. We need to prepare and make Use of the strengths these new Faces will bring to our state. SOURCE: WICHE, Knocking on the College Door, 2008

10. Are Students Applying Under Current Model? Percentage of low-income students completing the FAFSA has increased In 1999-2000, 57% of low-income undergraduates applied In 2007-08, 68% of low-income undergraduates applied But because the overall numbers of students has also grown, we have lost ground In 1999-2000, 3.3 million low-income undergraduates did not apply In 2007-08, 3.6 million low-income undergraduates did not apply Source: OPE Analysis of National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS 2008, 2004, 1999, and 1995)

11. College Goal Utah’s Goals & Objectives 1) Compliancewith Federal Financial Aid Regulations 2) Increase early awareness & preparation of financial aid programs 3) Implementation of college and financial aid evenings, including regional FAFSA workshops. 4) Development of Utah high school and college partnerships. 5) Promote Utah Futures & FAFSA Completion. 6) Provide ongoing professional development for middle and high school counselors 7) Build & maintain business and education partnerships working towards increasing the college going rate.

12. Financial Aid 411

13. Types of Aid Work-study Grants Scholarships Student Loans Savings

14. Scholarships Institutional Merit Leadership Diversity Academic Department Private Community Service Heritage Interest/hobby based Employer

15. Deadline Application Essay Letters of recommendation Save outstanding writing assignments! Preparing for Scholarships

16. Follow the directions Tailor your essay to the scholarship Be yourself, and be memorable Write about something you care about Give examples Be honest Spelling & grammar check (have two readers) Scholarship Essays

17. ACT efforts Get to know your recruiter Get involved Search beyond institutions Deadlines! Convince the committee that you’re the perfect fit Show your plan for success Demonstrate your financial backup plan Eight Tips from the Experts

18. Institutional Ambassador Programs Resident Advisor AmeriCorps Fastweb.com UtahFutures.org College.ed.gov Other Scholarship Resources

19. April 21, 2010

20. New Century Scholarship- Overview March 2011 21 Purpose This scholarship encourages students to accelerate their education by earning an Associate’s degree while in high school Background Created in 1999 Initiated by former Governor Leavitt In the 12th year award cycle

21. New Century — Program Requirements March 2011 22 Application Deadline has Passed 2011 Applicants must: Earn Associate’s degree by the date of high school graduation Earn a minimum 3.0 college GPA Achieve a minimum high school GPA of a 3.5 Home School Student Must earn an ACT Score of 26 or higher, score submitted by June 15 Verify they have no criminal record Meet Citizenship requirement

22. New Century — Application Timeline March 2011 23 Application Timeline for 2011 High School Graduates

24. Based on nationally-recognized foundational core designed to help students prepare for college academically and financiallyFact: Students can qualify for 1, 2, or 3 of the awards. For example a student can qualify for the Base award only, Base and UESP, Base and Exemplary, or Base, Exemplary and UESP. Regents’ Scholarship

25. Regents’ — Application Timeline 25 A complete application file consists of: The application itself which is submitted online (2011 Deadline Passed) Supporting documents which must provide evidence of what the student reported on the online application is true and accurate--these documents are mailed Note: All deadlines are postmarked deadlines unless otherwise stated.

27. The New Century Scholarship award and Regents’ Scholarship Exemplary Academic Achievement award will be aflat dollar amount of $1250 per semester and issubject to the student renewing it each semester and the flat rate will be applied to all scholarship participants; and

28. The Regents’ Scholarship Utah Educational Savings Plan award is subject to contributions to your UESP trust account and is a one-time payment. The Award amounts are determined on an annual basis and are subject to legislative funding and number of qualified participants. Therefore, award amounts may be reduced, may vary from year to year, and are dependent on when the recipient is enrolled in college. Funding levels beyond Spring of 2012 are unknown and the award amounts will be determined in April of each year. However, the maximum New Century award and the Regents’ Scholarship Exemplary Academic Achievement award amount that a student may receive is $1250 per semester.

29. Things to Consider… March 2011 27 Student should look to ALL financial aid opportunities If possible diversify, rather than relying on one Other Financial Aid Options Saving for College through the Utah Educational Savings Plan program Work while attending school Private Scholarships/grants --visit UtahFutures.org Federal Financial Aid Loans, Grants and Work Study

30. Where to Find Scholarships Information To access the scholarship information Higheredutah.org Click on “Scholarships” Click on the specific program that you want to access 28

31. Scholarship Contact Information March 2011 29 New Century newcentury@utahsbr.edu 801-321-7221 Regents’ Scholarship regentsscholarship@utahsbr.edu 801-321-7294 (students and parents) 801-321-7159 (school personnel)

32. In the Face of Overwhelming Odds…

34. Populate with data directly from the IRS

35. Increased use of ‘skip-logic’

36. Provide applicant with types and amounts of aid likely to receive

38. Technology 2010-11 design facilitated by technology upgrade Updated navigation reduces the number of pages and length of the application Display of help text and instructions will be enhanced by: use of field instructions flyover text modal boxes

39. Technology

40. Technology

42. No taxpayer consent needed because data is not released to a third party.

43. While in FAFSA on the Web, applicant (tax filer) submits a real-time request to IRS.

44. IRS sends real-time results to applicant (taxpayer) in new window.

46. An indication of student loan eligibility

47. Links to College Navigator for detailed information about the institutions selected:Programs offered, Tuition and fees, Graduation rates, etc. 37

48. Notable News Easy to remember web address: www.fafsa.gov (never access fafsa.com) PIN web address is still: www.pin.ed.gov (real time PIN for applicants)

49. WHAT IS NEW FOR 2011 FAFSA APPLICANTS – RECAP New, streamlined application facilitated by technology upgrade Reduced screens for applicants to fill out 22 questions are eliminated (improved skip logic) 17 web screens are eliminated Access to information about schools and states where they apply

50. RECAP – Continued… Improved Student Aid Report (SAR) will contain: Will receive more detailed information on SAR Estimate Pell grant Indicate loan eligibility Links to colleges to see: Programs offered Tuition and fees Graduation rates, etc.

52. FSEOG

53. LEAP

54. TEACH

55. UCOPEGrants (2011-2012 School Year)

56. Possible reduction in maximum award amount $5,550 - $845 = $4705 Possible changes to year-round grant Pell Uncertainty

57. Work-Study Work on or off of campus Flexible work schedule What you earn won’t count against you for next year’s financial aid Have to apply Competitive

58. Student Loans Federal Loan Programs Stafford Loan PLUS Loan Perkins Private/Alternative Loans

59. Other Federal Aid Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program Corporation for National and Community Service U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Grants Vocational rehabilitation benefits U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

60. Savings Summer jobs Bank savings accounts CD savings accounts 529 Savings Plans

61. Utah’s official and only 529 college savings plan A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged program to save for higher education expenses. 47 What Is UESP? Administered by the Utah State Board of Regents and the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority Direct-sold programA nonprofit agency

63. Use at any educational institution (including college, technical school, or graduate school in the United States or abroad) that participates in federal financial aid programs for students, not just in Utah (for a list of qualified schools, see fafsa.ed.gov)48

66. What if your situation has changed from last year? If you have experienced… Parent lost a job Medical expenses that weren’t covered by insurance Parents divorced You cannot get your parents’ info Any other unusual changes

67. Contact the school’s financial aid office! What if your situation has changed from last year?

70. Room and Board

71. Transportation

72. Books and Supplies

73. Miscellaneous Living Expenses

75. Contact the school’s financial aid office! What should you do if you have any questions or problems?

76. Questions

77. Find more information at www.HigherEdUtah.org www.facebook.com/uheaa www.youtube.com/uheaa www.twitter.com/uheaa

78. Michelle Riddle mriddle@utahsbr.edu (801) 321-7145 Sumiko Martinez smartinez@utahsbr.edu (801) 366-8477 Brian Hosie bhosie@utahsbr.edu (801) 321-7245 Steve Rogers srogers@utahsbr.edu (801) 366-8460 UHEAA Outreach