To remain globally competitive through the 21st century and beyond, the United States must increase its skilled workforce. To do so, the President has called for the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. He also has challenged all Americans to prepare for at least one year of postsecondary education or training.
The U.S. Department of Education is addressing this issue by simplifying the federal student aid application process; increasing funds for Pell Grants; and providing funds to states, postsecondary institutions, and organizations serving disadvantaged populations. Other support includes a variety of programs and initiatives supported by the Department’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) to help adult education state administrators and local practitioners better prepare their students for postsecondary education and training.
The Adult College Completion Toolkit is designed to connect state administrators and local practitioners to the strategies, resources, and technical assistance tools resulting from the Department’s work. The Toolkit is available in the LINCS Resource Collection here.
Join Lisa Rhodes from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid in a discussion of the Department of Education's Adult College Completion Toolkit. Lisa has over twenty years experience working in higher education, primarily as a financial aid administrator and outreach.
As you explore the Toolkit, please feel free to begin posting your questions to this thread. The discussion itself will occur February 4-8, 2013.
Comments
I've had some time to review the toolkit and it is truly a comprehensive, detailed document. I work with Career Pathways programs and this toolkit could really apply to a lot of what I do. However, given the extent of the document, I would be curious to learn what are the recommended big key points that I should be bringing with me to my work.
Since the launch of the new Federal Student Aid website (http://studentaid.ed.gov/) in July, the site has received over 14 million viewers with an average of 70,000 visitors a day. Participate in next week's discussion to learn more about some of the resources this website has to offer instructors working with adult learners!
The Federal Student Aid website is very informative, but it still doesn't seem to answer the question I'm getting the most which is: Will refugee students no longer be eligible for Pell Grants since they don't have US high school degrees? Will a high school degree from another country be considered equivalent and what will students have to show to prove they have a high school degree from their country?
Hello Terry,
You pose a very important question. This issue is esp. of a significant consequence for our refugee status or other ESL students. I am looking to this discussion next week.
Best,
Priyanka Sharma
Can you discuss planning in Federal Financial Aid policy to support:
Hello Terry, Priyanka Sharma, and Robin.
Thank you for your questions. I am here this week to discuss the Adult College Completion Tool Kit and tools that Federal Student Aid offers to support your work with adult students. I will be happy to research your questions and respond to your request at another time.
Also, if you haven't looked at it yet, the high school diploma information in the Federal Student Handbook is in Volume 1, pages 6 and 7. http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1213FSAHbkVol1Ch1.pdf
Thank you.
Lisa Rhodes
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICE
StudentAid.gov
thanks! will be finished with a review of the tool kit shortly and will be happy to discuss it.
Hi Lisa,
I followed the link, but it requires a login name and password.
Terry
Hello Terry.
Please try the link below and contact me if you have any problems with it.
http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1213FSAHbkVol1Ch1.pdf
Sincerely,
Lisa Rhodes
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
StudentAid.gov
Thanks. This was helpful.
Hi everyone,
Just a note that Lisa's discussion will be happening here: https://community.lincs.ed.gov/discussion/resources-adult-students
Please join us!
Thanks,
Jessie
Hi Jessie,
Thanks for posting the new discussion thread link: https://community.lincs.ed.gov/discussion/resources-adult-students. Everyone, if you have additional questions for Lisa, please post them in the new thread! Lisa is available today and tomorrow to answer your questions. Thank you for the questions you posted here in the pre-activity thread.
Best,
Sarah Binder