FAFSA – LAUNCH Flagstaff

Webinar: Your FAFSA Data

October 10, 2018September 18, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Come together to participate in this live webinar as a collaborative group.

• What percentage of your senior class completed a FAFSA this year?

• Do you know which students did not?

• Did you know this data can be used for your school’s CCRI report?

Join the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education for a timely, relevant webinar on student-level FAFSA data. This webinar will:

– provide an overview of the Commission’s FAFSA data sharing program
– share e tips for creating accurate data files
– review how to transfer data files using the secure portal, and
– identify best practices for reviewing student level FAFSA data and actionable next steps

It will also address how to identify and report on the FAFSA component of your College and Career Readiness Indicators.

Financial Literacy FAFSA Team Meeting

October 10, 2018September 18, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Financial Literacy / FAFSA Team Meeting Agenda:

* Review Financial Literacy Program Scores and identify the gaps
* Review top 5 issues that prevent a student from completing a FAFSA
* Review and edit the FAFSA One-Sheet for students

Immediately following this meeting will be a webinar from the Arizona Commission on Post Secondary Education:

Your FAFSA Completion Data

Webinar: No Dollar Left Behind

September 18, 2018September 10, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Webinar – No Dollar Left Behind: Organizing a Community-Based Approach to FAFSA Completion

Last year, Florida students left behind over $100 million in Pell Grants because they did not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To put it in perspective that would have been enough money to cover a year’s worth of tuition and fees for 30,000 students at a Florida College System institution.

Even though Florida is 3rd highest for Pell eligibility in the nation, less than half of high school seniors in public schools had completed a FAFSA by June of the past school year. Still, Florida has seen a rise in FAFSA completion in recent years. Since the Florida FAFSA Challenge launched four years ago, Florida has risen from 41st in the nation for FAFSA completion to 31st. Last year, Florida saw an increase in FAFSA completion, even though the nation as a whole saw a decrease, and ranked 12th highest for year-over-year improvement.

A key to driving FAFSA completion in Florida has been collective, community-supported efforts to reach more students and families. Join Amy Bolick, FCAN’s Community Engagement and Programs Manager, on Tuesday, September 18 to learn how you can help your community implement similar strategies. Amy will be joined by Doug Griesenauer, Senior Manager of Data and Outcomes at United Way Suncoast, and Jessica Manchette, Senior Director of Program Initiatives at Champions for Learning.

Doug will discuss the leadership role United Way has taken in recruiting, training, and deploying FAFSA volunteers for the Suncoast region of Florida, in partnership with LEAP Tampa Bay. He will also discuss United Way’s strategy of cross-training Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers on FAFSA completion.

Jessica brings over a decade of financial aid experience and will discuss her work with Champions for Learning, Future Ready Collier, and FutureMakers Coalition to align community partners — including nonprofits, foundations, high schools, and postsecondary institutions — to promote FAFSA completion. Jessica will also discuss upcoming changes to FAFSA, including a new mobile app, and strategies for taking advantage of these resources.

In this session, you will learn:

How community organizations can boost FAFSA completion by training and recruiting volunteers
How communities can build coalitions to drive FAFSA completion
What new tools and resources will be available this FAFSA cycle to drive completion strategies

Join us in person: RSVP to Paul Kulpinski – 928.773.9813

Register to attend the webinar by yourself: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3037860860695840001?source=FCAN+Email

LAUNCH Flagstaff News

Financial Literacy Team Formed

August 14, 2018August 15, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Financial Literacy Team Formed

FLAGSTAFF (AUGUST 14, 2018)

One of the greatest obstacles that hinder the transition from high school to post secondary training and education is a lack of financial literacy amongst students and their parents. There is a lack of quality financial literacy programs and awareness of the few programs that do exist is scant.

This was one of the conclusions realized by members of the LAUNCH Flagstaff Post Secondary CAN in their effort to increase the number of high school students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during last school year. Read more “Financial Literacy Team Formed” →

Post-Secondary CAN

January 10, 2018January 5, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Please note: New Day, Time and Location:

Day: Wednesday January 10, 2018
Time: 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Location: NACET – Accelerator Building Conference Room – 2225 N Gemini Drive, Flagstaff

Agenda:

Review of the Post-Secondary CAN Theory of Action
1. What about internships?
Breakout into working groups around our two contributing indicators:
1. FAFSA Completion
2. Dual Enrollment
Reconvene for report-outs to larger group

LAUNCH Flagstaff News

Flagstaff FAFSA Completion Rises

November 18, 2017August 13, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

Flagstaff FAFSA Completion Rises

FLAGSTAFF (November 18, 2017)

Flagstaff area high schools saw a combined 21 percent increase in completed applications for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) this year over last. According to data from the Federal Student Aid office, by November 17, 2017 the seven public high schools in Flagstaff submitted 651 FAFSA applications compared to 549 by the same date in 2016, a 19% increase. 607 of those 2017 applications were completed by the November date compared to only 549 in 2016. This tallies to a 21% increase in FAFSA completions year over year. Read more “Flagstaff FAFSA Completion Rises” →

Post-Secondary CAN Meeting

November 9, 2017October 26, 2017
by Paul Kulpinski

Agenda:

FAFSA Events update and progress
Dual Enrollment subcommittee formation and direction

Location: CCC Lone Tree Campus, Room 537

LAUNCH Flagstaff News

FAFSA Workshop Helps Students and Parents

November 5, 2017August 13, 2018
by Paul Kulpinski

FAFSA Workshop Helps Students and Parents

FLAGSTAFF (November 5, 2017)

A total of over 21 students and parent were served at the Flagstaff FAFSA Completion Workshop on November 4, 2017. The event was held at the Coconino Community College Fourth Street Campus and coordinated by the Northern Arizona College Resource Center with financial support from College Knowing and Going.

Students and their parents received free individualized assistance from volunteers trained in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Read more “FAFSA Workshop Helps Students and Parents” →