1 / 25

The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce The University of T exas at El Paso El Paso Community College Area school distr

The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce The University of T exas at El Paso El Paso Community College Area school districts. Background. UTEP and EPCC host FAFSA Nights annually at each high school campus in El Paso County. 41 area High School workshops

stevie
Download Presentation

The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce The University of T exas at El Paso El Paso Community College Area school distr

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Community College Area school districts

  2. Background • UTEP and EPCC host FAFSA Nights annually at each high school campus in El Paso County. • 41 area High School workshops • No other external entities participate. • Increase more area college financial aid divisions to participate • Chamber involvement across the nation. • L.A. Cash for College • Financial Aid Saturdays in Austin • Student Aid Saturdays in San Antonio

  3. Student Impact • Research carried out by the University of Texas Ray Marshall Center Central Texas Student Futures Project found that submission of the FAFSA increased a student’s chances of enrolling in a post-secondary institution by 350%.

  4. Metrics • As of August 2, 2013, *65% of El Paso County high school seniors successfully submitted the FAFSA. • U.S. Department of Education. • ApplyTexas Counselor Reporting Suite. *** 65% of Eligible students who can apply.

  5. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) • NCES Releases New Data and Report from the 2011-12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study • Students who received any aid, the total average amount was $10,800. • Formula ($10,800 X students = potential impact to local economy)

  6. FAFSA Nights 2014 • Chamber members are being asked to endorse FAFSA Nights as a “difference maker” for students. • Solicitation for Sponsorships through membership • Personal letters to banking institutions • Constant contact • Newsletters • Phone calls and emails • The Chamber will enhance and assistexisting efforts. • Develop a marketing platform. • Channel business volunteers to FAFSA Nights.

  7. 2014 Goal Increase El Paso County high school senior FAFSA submissions by 10%!

  8. Other High Schools in Region 19 YISD High Schools & FAFSA % 2013 goal 58% 2012 Avg. 53%

  9. What does a FAFSA Night workshop look like? • Hosted in High School computer labs • Week nights from 4-7 PM • Volunteers arrive 1 hr early to help set up • Sign in sheets will be listed (important that they are returned or copies sent to the Chamber for countingpurposes) • 2-3 Volunteers per work shop. Financial aid coordinators will be present, no. varies.

  10. FAFSA NIGHTS SITE COORDINATOR TOOK KIT 2014 • Table of Contents • Introduction Letter • El Paso County data 2013 • 2014 Calendar of Workshops • Tax service Calendar • Tools for Counselors for tracking FAFSA Submissions data for your High Schools (Apply Texas Software)

  11. https://admin.applytexas.org Counselor Authorization granted by Region 19: Rebecca Ontiveros rontiveros@esc19.net

  12. FAFSA NIGHTS SITE COORDINATOR TOOK KIT 2014 CONT. • Student Handouts (required documentation) • Marketing timeline • Event Flow (logistics) • Volunteer Overview (Hospitality) • College Connection Mentors (Hospitality) • Promotional Items (Banners) • Radio Public Service Announcements • Press Release • Talking points • Contact Information • Suggestions/Improvements

  13. What is being done?

  14. Promotional Partnerships • College Readiness Facebook Townhall –Oct. 02 • El Paso Times; El Diario; El Paso Inc. • ClearChannel Outdoor • Univision/Entravision – Branded PSA’s and 26 A Su Lado • Telemundo/YISD – Student designed PSA’s and Financial Aid News Segment • Radio – Power 102 and EXA 98.3 • Scholarship raffled at FAFSA Nights (currently seeking sponsorship for this initiative)

  15. FAFSA Nights Logo Contest

  16. Tax Saturdays

  17. 2013-2014 Tax Saturdays FAFSA Committee Recommendations • Suitable Venue • Saturdays • Operation • Increase number of certified volunteers

  18. TAX SATURDAYS PARTNERS GECU WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS VITA IRS

  19. Workforce Solutions • 5 Fully equipped centers • Internet access, up to 200 computers, printers and supplies • 20 Volunteers for tax certification • 15 volunteers found already • Mobile Unit with 12 computers to help at GECU-Resler • GECU • 2 Fully equipped centers: Airways and Resler • Internet access, computer lab, printer and supplies • Volunteers for tax certification • VITA • Consolidate satellite offices with to maximize volunteer resources • IRS • Provide certification training, certification test and materials free of charge for VITA volunteers • Certification requires 24 hours of Tax Class: Classes will be during December and January at UTEP and GECU

  20. Certification • Provided by Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) • Certification by IRS Tax Specialist • 24 hours of classroom instruction required yearly for EVERYONE • Classes to be held at UTEP and GECU • Three Saturdays in December and three in January including onsite certification. • Classes, materials and certification tests are FREE for volunteers • Volunteers are protected by Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 • Volunteers must stay within the scope of certification and adhere to the Code of Ethics

  21. Saturdays 9am-5pm • January 25th, 2014 • February 2014: 1st, 8th, 15thand 22nd • March 2014: 1st • Coordinate Tax Saturdays at least one and a half weeks prior to FAFSA Nights to use IRS retrieval tool. • Focus: Seniors and their parents • Tax toolkit within the FAFSA toolkit with PDF files of: • Intake Questionnaire • VITA Survey • Flyer with documents required • Flyer with Sites, dates and times of VITA operation

  22. Additional Outreach for volunteers • UTEP College of Business student associations • UTEP College Connection Mentors • UTEP Center for Civic Engagement • UTEP Career Center • ISD’s • Region XIX Parental Involvement • Business Community

  23. What We Need From You • District wide support and buy-in • Consistent marketing campus to campus • Uniformity and standardization • Venues to educate and inform students and parents • Contact person per High School easy communication • Participation in post surveys to improve communication between all stakeholders • District initiatives in spreading the word on FAFSA Nights and Tax Saturdays • Provide additional incentives for students to participate

  24. Questions? Cassandra Brown cbrown@elpaso.org Linda Gonzalez-Hensgen lgonz265@epcc.edu Carmen Gonzalez cegonzalez3@utep.edu Raul Lerma rlerma23@epcc.edu Ron Williams rwilliams@utep.edu

More Related