the illinois student assistance corps an isac college access initiative
TRANSCRIPT
The Illinois Student Assistance Corps
An ISAC College Access Initiative
All Access Illinois
• Goal: Increase the number of students from the lowest income quintiles completing high school, enrolling in college, and COMPLETING a postsecondary program
• A Ground & Marketing Campaign to increase student awareness about college planning and options after high school
The Corps
• 39 Community College districts• 59 “Near Peer” Mentors• 1 or 2 in Each Community College District• Class of 2009 Graduates• From a wide variety of backgrounds and
experiences
The Corps
• Funded by US Department of Education• Challenge Grant• 2 year program
• Corps is especially relevant today
37 Community College Districts
6 District Regions:-Inner Suburbs-Outer Suburbs-Western Illinois-Central Illinois-Eastern Illinois-Southern Illinois
The Job
• Promote College Planning & Preparation• Focus on the lowest income and first
generation families• Focus on 9th – 12th Grade Students• Work with students, teachers, counselors,
CBOs• Organize outreach events• Offer career exploration, test prep, application
assistance, FAFSA workshops, college-matching guidance
The Training
• June – August 2009• Full-Time Residential Training– Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights
• Extensive Guest Faculty– University of California, Berkeley– Women Employed– Oakton Community College– University of Illinois, Chicago– IACAC
The Training
• Topics Include:– College Access Marketing; – Career Counseling; – FAFSA Line-by-Line Completion; – Financial Aid 101; – Community Organizing; – Project Management; – Event Planning; – College Access Barriers
Services Offered
• Financial Aid process presentations• FAFSA line-by-line completion workshops• One-on-one student counseling• Career exploration counseling• Finding the right fit for college• Whatsnextillinois.org system exploration• Anything else that is needed!
The Corps So Far
• Fieldwork since August 2009• Reaching our target audience• College Goal Sunday• College fairs• One-on-one counseling with students• Whatsnextillinois.org
Case Study: Waubonsee CC District
• Priority high school: East Aurora High• Breakdown: 2,717 students; 998 freshman,
431 seniors• 82% FARM eligible• Efforts at East– Working with students one on one– Early awareness
Case Study: Waubonsee CC District
• Over 15 FAFSA completion events at virtually every high school in district
• Assisted over 300 families in the Aurora area complete the FAFSA who may not have otherwise
• Early awareness campaigns with high schools, community organizations
• Priority on one on one relationship building with target students
• Relationship building with teachers, counselors, community activists
About Us
• We are here to help students• How can we target first generation and low-
income students?• Think: if the sky was the limit, what other
programs would be offered?• We can help!
