A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents |
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Many states are implementing challenges to boost FAFSA completion rates |
Several states, including Louisiana, have implemented statewide FAFSA completion challenges to increase the number of high school seniors completing their financial aid forms.
LOSFA uses its Compete to Complete FAFSA Challenge portal to track FAFSA completion at high schools around the state. A monthly challenge winner (the parish which made the most progress) is highlighted on the site, with other parishes' progress levels.
High school seniors who complete their FAFSA are more likely to enroll at a postsecondary institution, making FAFSA completion a critical step in closing attainment gaps.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected college access for many students so, it is more important than ever to communicate the FAFSA's importance, particularly to students from low-income backgrounds.
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Student finds career option through Louisiana GEAR UP opportunity |
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Kayla Fox, a 10th grader at Converse High School, was recognized in January for being a member of the Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline (NESSP) Top Team! Last summer, Kayla signed up for the NASA Roads on Mars Freestyle Challenge with Louisiana GEAR UP and Southeastern Louisiana University. She was part of a virtual team tasked with creating a navigation map for the Mars Rover.
Kayla completed most of the work independently and designed how the Rover would collect rock samples from Mars.
“I always thought space exploration was out of the question for a small-town girl,” Kayla said. “The camp showed me that I could do real scientific work. I am looking at possible careers at NASA or even the [United States] Space Force. I appreciate Louisiana GEAR UP providing me opportunities to advance my future.”
Kayla also received a certificate for Successful Mission Performance, Best of Mission Objective 05-Map Navigation, and Special Commendation for Excellence in Sample Collection.
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Louisiana offers student loan forgiveness to public defenders and prosecutors |
The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program in Louisiana provides for the payment of eligible educational loans (both Federal Family Education Loan Program [FFELP] and Federal Direct Loans) for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors employed in Louisiana who agree to remain employed as public defenders and prosecutors for at least three years.
With the Baton Rouge Public Defenders Office, Lindsay Blouin said the amount of debt some attorneys have makes it difficult to keep them on staff. Blouin noted any form of student loan repayment is important for her office.
"We see high turnover in our office. Attorney's will work here for several years, then they want to be able to start a family. They want to be able to buy a house. To work at the salary they work at as a public defender while also being required to pay back that hefty student loan debt sometimes becomes crushing to a point."
Click here to read LOSFA's press release on the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program.
Click the button below to see WAFB's coverage.
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High school juniors and seniors can take the ACT exam for free with waiver |
High school juniors and seniors in Louisiana who meet certain requirements (such as free or reduced lunch, participates in Upward Bound or GEAR UP, etc.) may be eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver.
The waiver covers the testing registration and late fees for a full ACT with writing or no writing or section retesting. Students are eligible to receive four fee waivers to use in their junior and senior year.
Due to a lack of awareness, the ACT Fee Waivers have been underutilized.
According to ACT data, 22,041 fee waivers were issued to qualified Louisiana students in the 2017-2018 academic year. Of that number, 5,638 students (25.6 percent) did not take advantage of the opportunity to take the ACT for free.
Click here to learn more about the ACT Fee Waiver Program.
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LOSFA continues to urge high school senior students to complete their financial aid forms as soon as possible to make sure they receive all the gift-aid they may be eligible to receive.
The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) currently shows Louisiana is in 8th place. Currently, 46.5 percent (21,716) of graduating high school seniors have completed the FAFSA. That is a -14.9 percent change (down 3,792) in FAFSA Completion at this same time last year.
Last month Louisiana was ranked 16th.
LOSFA's FAFSA Now Pilot program set a deadline of February 1 for students to complete the FAFSA.
Of the 21 schools that participated in LOSFA's FAFSA Now Pilot, 12 schools reached 50 percent FAFSA completion or above. According to data from NCAN's FAFSA Tracker, West St. John High School and Sicily Island High School reached 100 percent completion, and Jewel M. Sumner High School had 80 percent completion.
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For colleges, $7B in federal broadband aid highlights extent of digital divide |
New America, a think tank, recently conducted a survey that found one in five students stopped taking classes or chose not to enroll at a community college for the fall 2020 semester due to lack of technology or internet access. Students found bandwidth issues in certain areas to support streaming between family members working virtually or siblings attending school online.
The federal coronavirus relief package, passed in December, includes $7 billion to expand broadband to underserved communities. College students who are Pell Grant recipients will be eligible to receive a subsidized discount of up to $50 per month in broadband services. Low-income households, families with children who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and those who have been laid off or furloughed will also benefit.
Experts say this one-time funding will temporarily help. Still, a more permanent funding source is needed to closing the digital divide, to give students reliable internet, and allow institutions to expand their technology capabilities.
Click the button below to continue reading.
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Declines in community college enrollment among blacks will have long-term consequences |
According to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community colleges reported a 19 percent decrease in enrollment among black men and a 16 percent decrease among Latino men. A 2019 report from Chaffey College in California found 63 percent of black community college students did not earn a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year institution within six years.
Dr. Henry Shannon, president of Chaffey College, says COVID-19 has worsened this data.
While there is a desire among the black community to pursue higher education, Dr. Shannon says these students need support and resources.
Without listening to students, it could mean larger achievement gaps and less representation in healthcare, computer science, and teachers; a problem that could affect multiple generations. Dr. Shannon references a 2018 Johns Hopkins University study that showed black students who had one black teacher by third grade were 13 percent more likely to enroll in college and 32 percent more likely with two or more black teachers.
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To protect taxpayer dollars, the Education Department is disproportionately auditing Black and Latino college students |
According to an analysis by The Washington Post, the Department of Education has disproportionately selected students from majority Black and Latino neighborhoods for verification for the last decade.
Of the 18 million students who file a FAFSA, nearly a quarter are selected for verification - compared to less than a half percent of audits done by the Internal Revenue Service last year.
Experts in financial aid say students who come from households with an income low enough to qualify for Pell Grants are audited six times more than those deemed ineligible. Students with an Expected Family Contribution of $0 are most often selected.
The Washington Post says according to data they compiled, because of racial income and wealth disparities, those students are most often Black and Latino.
"If we get students to continue down the path to keep their options open for college, hurdles and barriers like verification can so easily knock them off that path," said Kim Cook, Executive Director of the National College Attainment Network.
Click the button below to read how verification caused one student to wonder if college was right for her.
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NSU puts focus on adults looking to return to the classroom |
For those questioning their career path due to the pandemic, Northwestern State University (NSU) has Continuing Education options for adults looking to return to the classroom.
Currently, Northwestern has 40 online programs.
Courses can be completed at night and on weekends to accommodate student's responsibilities outside of school.
NSU's Vice President of Technology, Research, and Economic Development, Dr. Darlene Williams, says it's a good time for people to decide if returning to school is the best fit as many look to what the future may look like for them and their families.
To learn more about Continuing Education at NSU, click here.
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'You're never alone': UL Lafayette online programs meet students' need, rank high nationally |
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL) has been recognized for having the best online bachelor's program, in the state, by U.S. News & World Report. This is the institution's fifth consecutive year to receive the honor.
Kennette Toussaint, a single mom, paused earning her degree for a few years and concentrated on work and her son (who was in pre-K). In 2017, she found UL's online bachelor's program, where she completed her degree on her time. In August 2019, Toussaint's 10-year-old son watched his mom graduate with a degree in general studies with a concentration in behavioral studies.
UL offers five undergraduate, seven graduate, and three graduate certificate online programs.
Five other Louisiana institutions were ranked among the best online programs:
- #132 - Loyola University
- #246 - University of Louisiana at Monroe
- #256-#337 - Louisiana Tech University
- #256-#337 - Northwestern State University
- #256-#337 - Southeastern Louisiana University
Click the button below to read more.
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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.
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