A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
LOSFA participates in Baby Grand at Woman's Hospital
May 4, 2019

On May 4, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) joined local baby and mom-to-be based vendors at the Spring Baby Grand event, hosted by Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge.
 
LOSFA has participated in this community event for more than five years. LOSFA staff provided information on the benefits of opening a START (Louisiana's Student Tuition Assistance & Revenue Trust) 529 College Savings account to hundreds of families. 

"As Louisiana's State Treasurer, a father of two, and the husband of a former teacher and school administrator, I understand the financial burden families may face when planning for their children's futures," said State Treasurer John M. Schroder. "I encourage the citizens of Louisiana to take advantage of the START program in an effort to ensure that our state's children receive the best education."
LOSFA Mentees of the Year presented with big checks to help their educational futures
May 1, 2019

Students in the Baton Rouge area got a big surprise Wednesday thanks to their own investment in themselves.

They were honored as part of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance’s (LOSFA) Aspire to Inspire Comprehensive Mentoring Program.

“Before I was in the program, I always knew what I wanted to be, but I never actually thought about the steps and the things I have to do to get there, so being in the program, like, activated how I wanted to live my future life,” said Anaisha Knighten, a student at Park Ridge Academic Magnet.

Photo Credit: WAFB
Louisiana GEAR UP students to promote the value of academic success at state capitol
April 25, 2019

On May 2, 2019, students in Louisiana GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) were at the Louisiana State Capitol, to enlighten the public and legislators about the importance of preparing students for life beyond high school.

There are currently more than 11,000 middle and high school students around Louisiana who participate in college and career readiness interventions offered through Louisiana GEAR UP , one of the outreach efforts of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) .
Representative Jack McFarland took a moment to take a picture with some of the Louisiana GEAR UP students who attended Louisiana GEAR UP Day at the Capitol. Governor John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation naming May 2, 2019 as Louisiana GEAR UP Day.
NSU hosts S.T.E.A.M. tour
April 10, 2019

Northwestern State University, in partnership with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA) , hosted the inaugural S.T.E.A.M. tour for about 150 ninth graders from four high schools in the region. Students visited several departments on campus to learn academic and career opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

“They are hearing from two representatives from each discipline to show how these areas intersect,” Gruesbeck said. “For instance, we’ve paired Computer Information Systems with biology where students can see how virtual technology is applicable to health science.”
LOSFA ’s partnership in the S.T.E.A.M. tour was orchestrated through Louisiana GEAR UP (Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) .

Photo Credit: Leah Jackson
Photos Shared on Social Media
LOSFA Field Outreach Coordinator Mary Cobb-Marshall assists a Sicily Island High School student during a college access workshop. Students were mentored, had a TOPS check up and assistance completing the FAFSA.
LA Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed poses with some of the students being honored at a luncheon for LOSFA's Aspire to Inspire Comprehensive Mentoring Program. Part of her message to the students was, "Graduating from high school is the floor, not the ceiling. You have to reach higher and go beyond where you are now."
Be Preppy, a college planning/counseling service, asked LOSFA staff to speak with and assist 11th graders from Tangipahoa Parish find their college and career matches during the organization's College Commitment Signing Day at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Other Related News
Choosing Between Colleges? Try a Cost-Benefit Analysis
May 1, 2019

From dorm rooms to cafeterias, student clubs to study-abroad programs, you’ve probably considered a ton of factors while trying to pick a college. But have you thought about the financial costs and benefits of college?

If you’re trying to choose a school for next year , conducting a cost-benefit analysis of your options could help. After all, tuition is more expensive than ever, so you’ll want to make sure you get a solid return on your investment.

This article supports the Cost of Choice: Can I afford it? match point on LOSFA's 5 Point-Match tool, Unlock My Future.
Mayor and college administrators hear from LC seniors about how to keep students in town for college
April 16, 2019

The mayor of Lake Charles is interested in finding out how high school seniors are determining their next steps, following graduation.
Mayor Nic Hunter and college administrators from the Lake Charles area met with about a dozen students to hear their thoughts about college and careers.

Hunter said he was curious about what would keep students in the the area, for the next phase of their lives.

“What’s driving you? What’s on your minds? What do you like about this community? What don’t you like about this community?" Hunter asked.
College classes in every public high school in Louisiana? 'It is worth the effort'
April 15, 2019

Gov. John Bel Edwards is asking that every junior and senior in a public high school be allowed to take two college courses, free of charge starting next year.

The governor wants dual enrollment classes to be offered to about 90,000 students. Dual enrollment classes allow students to earn both high school and college credit.

Currently, dual enrollment courses are viewed by some as reserved for well-to-do students headed for college anyway.

"It is not a level playing field," Senate Education Committee Chairman Blade Morrish said. "There are those that don't know about all the opportunities."

Photo Credit: Advocate file photo by Leslie Westbrook
Admissions scandal shows we're in dire need of a higher- ed rethink
April 12, 2019

The recently revealed college admissions scam is a new low in a long-running saga of the mess we’re creating for our college-bound children. Hopefully this shock will trigger some necessary rethinking of our goals, behavior and higher-education policies. 

Let’s start by agreeing to stop perpetuating the myth that the only path to a successful career is through the gates of an expensive four-year college. College is not for everyone. Forty percent of first-year college students do not graduate within six years. Two-thirds of student loan defaults are for loan balances less than $10,000  and 35 percent are for loans less than $5,000.  

With caps on federal student loans at $12,000 for the first two years of college, it’s clear that many of the defaulters are dropouts.
About LOSFA
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, strives to be Louisiana's first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access.