The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which coordinates higher education within the commonwealth, announced Monday that it received a $1.1 million College Access Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
SCHEV’S goal for the grant is to create “better access to higher education [for] under-served populations” in Virginia by spreading awareness of financial aid, SCHEV spokesperson Kirsten Nelson said, adding that the grant was available to any state that prepared proposals to facilitate increased access to higher education.
SCHEV will work with “first-generation college students and low-income families” to provide information about college and financial aid to help to “de-mystify college” for them Nelson said, noting that the grant will not be used to provide financial aid.
She said she hopes that the work accomplished using the grant will encourage students to apply to college who would not otherwise do so.
University Financial Aid Advisor Yvonne Hubbard said that while the University already strives to “provide a lot of assistance to the students and their families about receiving financial aid,” the grant will still be beneficial.
“More knowledge earlier is a good thing,” she said.
The grant will support one of SCHEV’s efforts to promote access to college called Super Saturday, a program in which students can meet with a financial aid professional who will help them fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The University, along with Piedmont Virginia Community College, plans to help with the program, Hubbard said.
SCHEV also hopes to use the grant to continue researching what other outreach programs of this kind already exist, Nelson said. The University is taking part in this research, Hubbard said; the University is one of the founding members of the Virginia College Access Network, an agency that works with SCHEV to provide information about available outreach programs.
Monica Osei, SCHEV assistant director for academic affairs and student programs, said SCHEV will also partner with the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Community College System and Virginia College Savings Plan to create a Web site for college saving programs.
One of SCHEV’s major goals, Nelson said, is to take the perception that college is out of reach and change it for those “whom college education will be a wonderful match and whom may have the resources, but just do not understand them.”
Hubbard said that the outreach program led by this grant will hopefully result in more parents and students feeling confident about the process and completing the financial aid forms.
Read More
Graduating students share their future plans as they enter the job market
By Nina Broderick | 1 hours agoMany students find the Career Center to be a valuable tool during the job search and application process.
U.Va.’s Finals Weekend spotlights the achievement and service of the Class of 2025
By Leigh Bailey | YesterdayIn University President Jim Ryan’s welcome address, he acknowledged the support of family members and friends present in the audience and beyond that played supportive roles in these graduates’ lives.
Students reflect on the election of first American pope
By Bertie Azqueta | 2 days agoCatholic students on Grounds expressed surprise about Leo’s election.
