Some Questions Answered

FAFSA Changes document

ASPIRE News

Thanks so much for coming to the meeting yesterday with so many ideas and good questions. I’ve found a few answers today.

o   If you sign up for a FAFSA webinar, yes, you will be able to watch it later.

o   June 30 will remain as the deadline for getting a FAFSA completed

o   I’ve attached a chart with the FAFSA changes all lined out.

o   I’ve also attached a copy of all the updates, etc. I’m putting in Tiger Times this coming Monday. Be sure to check out the two articles from Money magazine about the FAFSA changes.

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o    Here’s where students can find test questions for the new placement test, Accuplacer; https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/accuplacer/accuplacer-sample-questions-for-students.pdf

o    We have all the students’ new schedules. They’ll get filed next week. If you should need any before then, they are on the work table by the sink.

o    There’s also some info on the bulletin boards in the hall now. (Lots more to add.)

o   OSAC Scholarship Personal Statements have changed to:

1.       What are your specific educational plans and career goals and why? What inspires you to achieve them?

2.       What have you done for your family or community that you care about the most and why?

3.       Describe a personal accomplishment and the strengths and skills you used to achieve it.

4.       Describe a significant change or experience that has occurred in your life. How did you respond and what did you learn about yourself?

link to a to-the-point primer about FAFSA

https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/resources/fafsa-changes-17-18-faq.pdf

New ASPIRE Volunteer Training Process, Toolkit and Calendar

We’re excited to now offer the Volunteer Training in three video segments so you can either conduct volunteer trainings at your site or simply have new volunteers view the training videos at home. Each of these short videos has a very basic quiz following the presentation that volunteers will need to complete, and the Coordinator Toolkit now contains a spreadsheet that will automatically update with the name of your volunteers after they have completed the videos and quizzes.  Please see more below and don’t hesitate tocontact me with any questions that you may have J

Volunteer Training Updates:

We have replaced our onboarding process for training new high school ASPIRE volunteers! Our hope is that this will make the process easier and faster for both you and your volunteers.

Here is the new process:

1.       Ensure that your volunteers have completed their volunteer applications and background checks (same as before): https://sites.google.com/a/aspireoregon.org/aspire-coordinator-toolkit/volunteer-management/application-process

2.       Ensure your volunteers watch the three mandatory training videos and take the quizzes for each video (which are links at the end of each video). The videos are available in both the Coordinator and Volunteer Toolkits, or you can email the link directly to your volunteers if they would like to do the trainings at home.  You can find the Volunteer Training videos here in the Volunteer Toolkit:  https://sites.google.com/a/aspireoregon.org/aspire-volunteer-toolkit/home/mentor-handbook/required-trainings .

3.       You will now be able to confirm that your volunteers have completed their training by viewing the “Volunteer Trainings – Record of Participants” spreadsheet found in the Coordinator Toolkit under “Training New Volunteers”.  There is a tab at the bottom of the spreadsheet for each of the three video trainings.:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-iz_XQzFoPTiBqachSSAFMWCZ9U4wK7mVsrdumcUOY8/edit#gid=0

4.       Suggested activity for coordinators and veteran volunteers – watch the new videos and take the quizzes to become familiar with them! J

Volunteer Toolkit:

The ASPIRE Volunteer Toolkit has been updated to make it easier for our volunteers to find what they are looking for when working with students. Please share the link to the toolkit with your volunteers, encourage them to use it, and contact us with suggested improvements: https://sites.google.com/a/aspireoregon.org/aspire-volunteer-toolkit/

Volunteer Calendar:

The hard copy of the old ASPIRE Volunteer Handbooks have been reduced to just the calendar section (the Volunteer Calendar – which was sent to you). All the web resources and information that were listed in the old Volunteer Handbook is now in our newly remodeled Volunteer Toolkit: https://sites.google.com/a/aspireoregon.org/aspire-volunteer-toolkit/  Here is a link directly to the Calendar: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7FsJTYXZw0JV0h2OERObkxUcjQ/view

Chemeketa Fall Tour

Dear Janet,
Save the date for Chemeketa's annual fall tour, which will focus on our emergency services programs, including fire protection, EMT/paramedic, law enforcement and criminal justice. As always, high school counselors, career advisors and other student advocates are invited to attend.

Friday, October 28, 2016
8 am - 12 pm
Chemeketa Brooks Training Center

This is a great opportunity to see first-hand some of our regionally and nationally recognized emergency services programs. A continental breakfast and lunch will be included. Details and registration information will be e-mailed to you in September.
Enjoy your summer!
James
James McNicholas
Marketing & Recruitment
503.589.7644

Chemeketa Oregon Promise Updates

Dear Janet, More than 1,500 Oregon Promise recipients indicated interest in attending Chemeketa this fall. I want to let you know how we plan to support and communicate with these students.  Support Chemeketa is committed to the following: Oregon Promise orientations at several locations next month for recipients and their families Recipients are required to take one of our First Year Experience classes during the first term Dedicated advising and counseling services for recipients  Communication Chemeketa will mail a personal invitation from our college president to Oregon Promise recipients and their families encouraging them to attend one of our orientation events. We are also contacting recipients directly by email and phone.   Questions Please contact me if you have any questions about how we plan to serve these students. James McNicholas Marketing & Recruitment 503.589.7644

Common App 2016 - 2017 Essay Prompts and More...

An e-newsletter for counselors New Members 48 institutions have recently joined The Common Application membership. New members represent 22 U.S. states and 5 countries and include 11 U.S. public, 26 U.S. private, and 11 international institutions. Essay Prompts The 2016-2017 essay prompts are unchanged from 2015-2016. 47% of applicants during 2015-2016 chose to write about their background, identity, interest, or talent. Gender Identity Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, students applying to college through The Common Application will be able to express their gender identity in several ways including within the Profile page, optional free response field, and in member colleges’ specific sections. New Tools and Resources Common App Ready Facilitate a workshop for your students and parents to educate them about using the Common Application and taking full advantage of Account Rollover. The presentations can be shared at once or in multiple workshops. Get Common App Ready! Virtual Counselor We’ve launched Virtual Counselor, a content library filled with encouraging college-related advice for students and parents. We're always looking for articles and videos from counselors like you. If you would like to contribute to The Virtual Counselor, please contact Jen Davis. Contribute to Virtual Counselor Let’s Connect in a City Near You The Common Application 3003 Washington Blvd Ste 1000 Arlington, VA 22201 commonapp.org You are receiving this e-mail from The Common Application because you are a valued partner in advancing college access. Unsubscribe

Help in Understanding FAFSA Changes

Here’s a link to some helpful in form the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators about the new FAFSA.

http://www.nasfaa.org/early_fafsa?bcpid=4850784794001&bckey=AQ~~,AAACQMsqGAE~,RbpeeK5Ur7SvdW75m-_V855pU0lbaPrF&bctid=4848903765001