College Access Services for North Carolinians

March 6, 2009

College Foundation of North Carolina is a joint effort of Pathways of North Carolina*, College Foundation, Inc. and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.

Pathways* is a partnership requested by the UNC Board of Governors and funded by the 1999 General Assembly that includes the following:

• Department of Public Instruction (K-12)• NC Community College System (58)• NC Independent Colleges and Universities (36)• UNC System (16)

State agency

responsible for statewide college aid programs – grants scholarships, loans, 529 savings

501(c)(3) nonprofit -administers grants, loans and savings program on behalf of the state

State-funded K-16 partnership administered by UNC General Administration

CFNC Partner Matrix

To increase the college-going rate in North Carolina with particular attention toward “first-generation” college students.

Two obstacles facing first-generation college students:

(1) Can I really go to college?

(2) Can I afford to go to college?

GOAL

Primary Goal of CFNC = Access

Technology and Internet Services

Career Center

Student Planner

College Fair

Online Applications and HS Transcripts

Paying for College

Saving for College

www.CFNC.org

Resource Center and Regional

Representatives

Toll-free Number for Career, College, &

Financial Aid Planning

Personal Responses to Email

Publications

Training. Presentations and Workshops

Hispanic Services

1.866.866.CFNC

GEAR UP North Carolina

Low-income (FRL) school students

$37 million

Two grants from Dept of Education

(2000-2011)

35 NC counties

14,000+ students

CFNC Access Services

CFNC.org

Website

My CFNC

• Create an account• Keep track of your college applications• Keep track of your student

financial aid information

• CFNC Career Center– Career goals

• CFNC Bridges Planning Tools– Find out about careers, salaries, job prospects, majors,

and universities

• Information for middle school and high school students

• Student – Career Matching Assistant• Career Information

– Fastest growing careers, educational requirements

• Careers in Nursing and Education

Career Center

Career Center

• CFNC Bridges Tools - available FREEKindergarten

to Adults

Elementary Students - Paws in Jobland

• Engaging and interactive• Text and spoken word• Focus is on learning about the world of

work

Middle School Students – Choices Explorer

• Built with middle school students in mind• Perfect place to begin exploring college

and career options

Career Center – Choices Explorer

High School Students – Choices Planner

• Built with high school students in mind• Continue exploring college and career

options

Career Center – Choices Planner

College and Older – Choices Planner Career Transitions

• Built for college students and adults

Career Center – Nursing and Education

• North Carolina needs nurses and teachers!

Student Planner

• Plan your education to meet college and university entrance requirements

• Information for– High School Students– Transfer Students

• College Test Preparation• College Preparation Opportunities• Online Learning Opportunities• Financial Literacy

Student Planner – College Test Prep

• View Transfer Student Guarantees offered by the CAA

• Transferable Course Equivalencies for all CAA General Education courses between NCCCS and any UNC institution.

• A list of Transfer Students most frequently asked questions

• Majority of courses taken by students participating in a dual enrollment program covered

Transfer Student Planner & Articulation

College Fair

• Information on North Carolina colleges and universities

• Compare campuses• Take virtual tours• Find campuses that match your specific

requirements

College Fair – Campus Tours

College Fair – Matching Assistant

College Fair – Admissions Requirements

College Fair – Cost Information

Online Applications

• College Admission• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• High School Transcripts• Loan Applications• College Funds Installment Payment Plan

Online Applications – College Application Week

• CFNC and CACRAO sponsor College Application Week at high schools throughout the state in the fall

• 265 NCWise high schools currently participating

• 96 additional NCWise schools added in October 2008 for the following counties:

•Alamance-Burlington•Beaufort•Bladen•Carteret•Chatham•Cleveland•Currituck

•Dare•Durham•Greene•Harnett•Henderson•Hickory City•Hyde

• All public high schools should be live with e-transcripts late summer 2009. (exceptions: Wake and Charlotte-Mecklenburg)

CFNC Transcript System

•Jones•Lee•Lenoir•Martin•Newton-Conover•Pender•Rutherford•Vance

• Currently Targeting Q2 2009 to have 5 pilot High Schools live in Wake County

CFNC Participating NCWise Schools

• Information can be updated throughout the year in the Control Center.

• Peterson’s automatic update occurs in March

• All campuses encouraged to review CFNC Campus Tour data twice a year and to confirm that “Date last updated” is current

• College Fair was visited 189,000 times and viewed 405,000 times in 2007-2008 year

CFNC College Fair Information

College Redirection

• Help is on its way!• Open from April 1 to August 31

• Purpose: To assist students who have been denied admission from the institution of their choice and are seeking opportunities to pursue Higher Education in the fall.

• Goal: For every student in the College Redirection Pool to be contacted by at least one college or university.

• Participation History: In five years, over 3,000 students have participated in the College Redirection Pool.

• Dates Available: April 1 – August 31

CFNC College Redirection Pool

Paying for College

• Financial Aid Primer• Grants and Scholarships• Loan Programs• Debt Management• Tools and Calculators

– NC Financial Aid Estimator– Smart Borrower Calculator– Education Loan Repayment– Savings– Budget

Paying For College

Paying for College – Scholarships and Grants

Student Portal provides dynamic application processing

Student applies for one of the SEAA administered programs

On-line data entry increases accuracy and timeliness

Paperless on-line application is completed

Paying for College – Loan Programs

CFNC Resources

• Student Loan Repayment Calculator

Financial Aid Programs

• College Payment Plan• Private Student Loans• Other Loans• Don’t Get Hooked

Paying for College – NC Financial Aid Estimator

Paying for College – Smart Borrower Calculator

• Considers your career choice in determining what is a manageable student loan debt

Paying for College -- Financial Literacy 101

Paying For College – Good Financial Habits

• Tools and Calculators

NC 529 Plan: College Savings

• North Carolina’s 529 College Savings Plan• Program Description• Investment Options• Tax Advantages• Savings Calculators

Additional CFNC Services

• Spanish-Language Services• Servicios en español disponibles

– CFNC en Espanol at CFNC.org– College Planning Publications available

in Spanish

9,686 visits per day/average length

per visit 13 minutes

2,461,441 user accounts

1,270,332 online

admission applications

98,710High school transcripts

CFNC.org Site Usage

Source: Tom Mortenson, Postsecondary Education Opportunity Newsletter Feb. 2008