Many people realize that pursuing higher education can enhance their personal and professional lives in important ways. A college education can:

• Develop thinking skills

• Increase specific knowledge in a field

• Increase related professional skills

• Increase employability and earnings

Let's examine these benefits one at a time…

Develop Thinking Skills

The function of the

university is not simply to

teach bread-winning, or to

furnish teachers for the

public schools or to be a

centre of polite society; it

is, above all, to be the

organ of that fine

adjustment between real

life and the growing

knowledge of life, an

adjustment which forms

the secret of civilization.

– W.E.B. DuBois

The Souls of Black Folk

Increase Specific

Knowledge in a Field

One thing is for certain,

the more profoundly

baffled you have been

in your life, the more

open your mind

becomes to new ideas.

– Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Death by Black Hole

Increase Related Professional Skills

If a man empties his

purse into his head, no

one can take it from

him. An investment in

knowledge always pays

the highest return.

– Benjamin Franklin

Communication Skills (both writing and speaking)

There are no great

limits to growth

because there are no

limits of human

intelligence,

imagination, and

wonder.

– Ronald Reagan

Education: Earnings and Employability

Education costs

money, but then so

does ignorance.

– Sir Claus Moser

Consumer Protection: Education about

Higher Education

Accreditation

Regional

National

Specialized Employment

Accreditation

Regional Accrediting Bodies (6) 1. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - The Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HCL) 2. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges 3. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools - Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) 4. Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC) 5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU) 6. New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)

Regional Accreditation is the Gold Standard in Education…. Why?

• Rigorous Review • Transferability • Institutional Standards

Accreditation

National Accrediting Bodies (52) 1. Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) 2. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) 3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) 4. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) 5. Council on Occupational Education (COE)

National Accreditation is a Viable Vocational option…. Why?

• Rigorous Review • Vocational Certification (Little or No Transferability) • Industry Focus

Accreditation

Specialized Accrediting Bodies American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation—for schools of dentistry American Bar Association -- whose accreditation is a prerequisite to sitting for the bar exam in most states, a notable exception being California National Architectural Accrediting Board -- whose accreditation is a prerequisite to sitting for the architectural licensing exams in most states Association of American Medical Colleges -- for medical schools The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business -- for business schools American Veterinary Medical Association -- for schools of veterinary medicine Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology -- for applied science, computing, engineering, and technology programs National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation -- for automotive repair programs

Specialized Accreditation is an Adjunct to Institutional Accreditation…. Why?

• Examines Single Program • Rigorous Process • Professional Focus

Finding Money for College

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• Federal student aid

• State student aid

• Student aid from colleges

• Scholarships from other sources

Funding Sources

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• What is financial aid?

• Who can get it?

• How much can I get?

• How do I apply?

• What happens next?

• Where can I get more info?

Key Questions

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What is financial aid?

• Money to pay for college or career

school

– Grants

– Loans

– Work-study

– Scholarships

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Who can get federal student aid?

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• High school graduate/GED holder

• Eligible degree/certificate program

• Valid Social Security number

• Males registered for Selective Service

• Satisfactory academic progress

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Who can get other kinds of financial aid?

• States, colleges, and private

scholarships have their own eligibility

criteria.

• Be sure you know what you need to do

to qualify.

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How much federal student aid can I get?

In general, depends on your financial need.

• Financial need determined by Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and cost of attendance (COA)

• EFC comes from what you report on FAFSA

• COA is tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, etc.

COA – EFC = financial need

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How much federal student aid can I get?

Example: first-year student in 2012-13 Maximum amounts allowed: • Federal Pell Grant: TBD [$5,550 in 2012-13] • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans: $5,500 total • Federal Perkins Loan: $5,500 • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: $4,000 • Federal Work-Study: depends on funds available at school • Direct PLUS Loan (for parents): COA minus other aid received

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How much federal student aid can I get?

For early estimate, use FAFSA4caster:

• Go to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

• Enter some financial information

• Get an estimate

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How much state, school, and scholarship

money can I get?

• Depends on the program: do your

research!

– Our state aid: Depends on the State

– Ask college financial aid offices for

info about aid available at their

schools

– Free scholarship search:

www.studentaid.ed.gov/scholarship

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How do I apply for aid?

• Federal student aid: fill out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov

• State aid: contact your state department of education

• School aid: contact financial aid office at schools you are considering

• Scholarships: visit scholarship website or call contact number for information

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How do I apply for federal student aid?

1. Get a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov

• Your parent might need a PIN too

• Choose your own PIN or let the site

choose one for you

• Don’t tell anyone your PIN!

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How do I apply for federal student aid?

2. (Optional) Use FAFSA on the

Web Worksheet to get ready.

• Get worksheet at www.studentaid.ed.gov/worksheet

• Find a checklist of documents you

need at

www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs (“What

Information Do I Need When I Fill Out

the FAFSA?”).

• Fill out worksheet to prepare your

answers.

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How do I apply for federal student aid?

3. Fill out your FAFSA online at

www.fafsa.gov

• Apply on or after Jan.1 but as early as

possible to meet all deadlines.

• Need help? Use “Live Help” icon or call

1-800-4-FED-AID.

• Don’t forget to save or print

confirmation page.

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How do I apply for federal student aid?

4. Watch for response by e-mail, from FederalStudentAidFAFSA@cpsemail.ed.gov, or by mail

• Double-check your information online at www.fafsa.gov (use your PIN to log on) or on the paper Student Aid Report mailed to you

• Correct any mistakes and update any information as necessary

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How do I apply for federal student aid?

5. Watch for e-mails or letters from

the schools you are considering

• Give the schools any additional

paperwork they ask for

• Meet all deadlines or you could miss

out on aid!

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What happens next?

• Each school will tell you how much aid

you can get at that school.

• Once you decide which school to attend,

keep in touch with the financial aid

office to find out when and how you will

get your aid.

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Where can I get more info?

• www.studentaid.ed.gov – Information about aid programs

– Free scholarship search

– Free college search

• 1-800-4-FED-AID – Information about aid programs

– Help with the FAFSA

Education: Game Changer

Education is...the

quickest way I know,

or the best way I

know, to do what we

talk a lot about in

politics -- and that’s

"level the playing

field."

– J. C. Watts

Lifelong Learning…

How do I deflect the obstacles that impede lifelong learning?

• Remain Positive • Have Faith That All Learning Has Value • Inspire Others To Learn; Battle Dissonance

• Ask The Question; If Not Learning, Then What? • Understand That Self-Investment Benefits All

Okinawan

Shisa Dogs