Wisconsin Students Go 2 College Site Coordinator Training

Agenda Preparing for a College Application event During College Application event After the College Application event Questions

THE BASICS Focuses on first-generation students Promotes College-Going Culture Occurs in the fall (October – November) Takes place during the school day Requires collaboration (K-12/HE) Uses school personnel and volunteers – low cost

“Sometimes a student going to college is as simple as someone helping them to apply.” (J. Watts, 2010)

Our students say… “This program is very helpful! Without you I could not of applied correctly, thank you.” “Love having the extra help from the counselors.. just makes me feel so much better about everything I am doing.” “I was really thankful for having the counselors help me in my application process. I had a lot of questions answered.”

Share information and build awareness Provide individualized advising Assist with application completion Engage parents and community GOALS

PREPARING YOUR SCHOOL, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION CAMPAIGN EVENT

Site Coordinator Manual

Site Coordinator Manual Spring or Start of School Year  During spring course enrollment meetings with juniors, make each student aware of the College Application program and encourage them to begin thinking about and researching the colleges and universities to which they want to apply  Review the current Site Coordinator Manual as provided by your State Coordinator  Establish a school team to assist with your school’s preparations; host first meeting  Add the College Application event to your school’s master calendar  Reserve the computer facilities for your school’s College Application event  Ensure you have adequate counts of fee waivers for those students who are unable to afford the application fees. Contact the College Board, ACT, or NACAC if additional waivers are needed. Links to these resources are included in this manual. 8 weeks prior to event, Week of:_____________  Confirm that your school’s information is listed correctly on the state’s College Application event website. Contact your State Coordinator if there are issues.  Communicate the opportunity to students, families, and the community using the information letters available in this manual. This is a great way to recruit volunteers!  Communicate with volunteers for your event using the letters in this manual, or by making announcements at school meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, and/or parent nights. If your school has a criminal background check requirement, be sure to follow those guidelines.

7 weeks prior to your event, Week of:_____________  Arrange a schedule for your event, including which groups or classes of students will participate at what time.  Encourage students to begin college research. Use College Board’s Big Future Education Trust’s and other appropriate resources.  Review supplemental activities provided in this manual and determine which activities you want to use to make your school’s event fun and exciting.  Encourage teachers to begin connecting classroom lessons to your College Application program. Suggestions are included in this manual. 6 weeks prior to your event, Week of:_____________  Provide eligible students with application fee waiver information. Discuss or create worksheet with payment options for students who do not qualify for fee waivers.  Begin implementing College Application event supplemental activities. Recommendations are included in this manual.  Contact the Mayor’s office to have your College Application Day(s) proclaimed. If other schools in your district are hosting events, coordinate with them on the request. 5 weeks prior to your event, Week of: _____________  Reconfirm that computer facilities are reserved for the event and that your school’s technology coordinator is ready and willing to serve should any technology issues arise. Timeline and Checklist Page 1. 4 weeks prior to your event, Week of: _____________  Create a schedule for volunteers, taking into account the availability of your volunteers, as well as breaks and lunch. 3 weeks prior to your event, Week of: _____________  Remind parents of your school’s College Application event using the phone tree, and let them know that their students may need their help to prepare. Suggested information to share is included in this manual.  Send a message to your volunteers to give them the details of your event, including when/where to meet. 2 weeks prior to your event, Week of: _____________  Remind teachers, counselors and administrators of the event schedule and ensure all seniors will have the opportunity to participate.  Be sure that you have and use event materials provided by the State Coordinator.

Scheduling Ideas Multiple days give students the most options Having students schedule a time for their participation helps you plan – Volunteers – Amount of time each student will need Send reminders/passes so students make their appointment

Don’t forget parents Send information about your event to parents Invite them to attend Tell them how their child can participate

__ Pre-event preparation: first steps  Print and Review Wisconsin Students Go 2 College Site Coordinator manual  Identify and reserve site for the College Application event  Add College Application event to school calendar  Identify a School Team to build support and assist with tasks; use Resources Audit available in this manual to identify members of team  Host school team meeting to discuss implementation of program at your school  Ensure you have adequate counts of ACT, SAT, and/or NACAC fee waivers __ Communicate opportunity to students, their families, and the local community  By information letters  By phone blasts  By posting information on school website, school newsletter, school marquee  Pre-event press release __ Prepare students for the event  Focus on activities that encourage students to research and identify schools that are the best fit for them. Use College Board’s Big Future website and the College Research Worksheet available in this manual.  Sponsor and/or support participation in college fairs or college visits  Distribute College Application Worksheet for students to complete before event  Implement college exploration and preparation assignments in classrooms  Identify and meet with students eligible for application fee waivers __ Implement school-wide activities to build awareness and enthusiasm  College t-shirt/sweatshirt days  College wall bulletin boards  “Ask Me!” signs on offices and classroom doors  Door decorating contests  Morning announcements  Guest speakers  Parent/Student Nights  Engage underclassmen in school’s College Application Campaign event __ Get volunteers involved to assist with the event  Communicate with volunteers (letter and/or )  Assign tasks  Ensure volunteers have “Ask Me!” stickers __ HOLD COLLEGE APPLICATION EVENT!  Ensure students receive a 10 Steps document before they begin applying  Ensure students register for the FAFSA PIN  Ensure students sign-out  Ensure students receive Next Steps, and FAFSA Completion flyers Site Coordinator Checklist from Manual

Ask Me About My SchoolBanners Building a College-Going Culture

Window Displays Bulletin Boards

School TeamClass Assignments Building a College-Going Culture

Students: Research Options College Board’s Big Future

Students: Research Options NCES – College Navigator

Students: Research Options College Results Online

Students: Research Options Center for Student Opportunity

Students: Research Options

Application Tip: You and your students can practice filling out applications at apply.wisconsin.edu

Students Complete College Application Worksheet Essay or Personal Statement

UW System Personal Statements Work with teachers to offer extra credit to students who complete and submit drafts of personal statements prior to your event

Students Complete College Application Worksheet

Recruiting and Preparing Volunteers Who? College admissions reps, financial aid officers, college access professionals, retired teachers, local business leaders, parents

Ashland WEOP Office Eau Claire WEOP Office Green Bay WEOP Office Milwaukee WEOP Office Madison WEOP Office Racine WEOP Office Wausau WEOP Office

Recruiting and Preparing Volunteers What? Greet students, answer questions, review applications, manage sign-in sheets, fill printer with paper, hand out “Next Steps” sheet, serve as motivational role models

Recruiting and Preparing Volunteers Why? Engages community in the schools for a positive reason, highlights adult mentors, reinforces the importance of continuing education, brings additional resources to the task – not only for the College Application Campaign but for other school efforts as well

Recruiting and Preparing Volunteers Volunteer Orientation Meeting Inform volunteers of tasks, gather contact information, review background check requirements, remind them to check school loyalties at the door, answer questions, and thank them!

Application Tip UWhelp.wisconsin.edu Has videos that are designed to help students complete their applications

THE DAY OF THE EVENT

College Application Day Use s tudent sign-in sheet Administer student survey imILP imILP Keep a record of volunteers and hours Hand out the “What’s Next” sheet Hand out the College Goal WI flier

Wednesday, Feb. 10 th 6:00 P.M. Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Centers-North & South New Richmond WITC New Richmond Campus 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, Feb. 17th 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, Feb. 24 th 6:00 P.M. Beloit Beloit Public Library Green Bay Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Lac du Flambeau Lac du Flambeau Education Center Manitowoc UW-Manitowoc Marinette UW-Marinette Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Centers- North & South Racine Gateway Technical College Wisconsin Rapids Mid-State Technical College Saturday, Feb. 13 th 10:00 A.M. Holmen Holmen High School Milwaukee Alverno College Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Center-North Madison Edgewood College Oak Creek MATC Saturday, Feb. 28th 10:00 A.M. Appleton Fox Valley Technical College DeForest (Madison Area) DeForest Area High School Eau Claire Chippewa Valley Technical College Fond du Lac Marian University Janesville Hedberg Public Library Kenosha UW-Parkside Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Centers- North & South Platteville Platteville High School Superior Superior High School Waukesha UW-Waukesha Wausau Northcentral Technical College Baraboo UW-Baraboo/Sauk County Kenosha Gateway Technical College Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Centers- North & South Rice Lake UW-Barron County West Bend West Bend High Schools Elkhorn Gateway Technical College Milwaukee Mount Mary University Milwaukee MPS TEAM UP College Access Centers- South Rhinelander Nicolet College Shawano NWTC Shawano Saturday, Feb. 27th 10:00 A.M. Oshkosh UW-Oshkosh **Special time for Oshkosh location only Saturday, Feb. 20th 2:00 P.M. TBD Madison Edgewood College

After College Application Day ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

AFTER THE COLLEGE APPLICATION CAMPAIGN EVENT

Application Tip: If a students’ Senior schedule changes, the campus must be notified. This can affect the application.

After College Application Day Hold a debriefing session with volunteers and school personnel Prepare a newspaper article about the success of the event Collect data requested at state level Stay in touch with students to fully complete their applications

State Data Request Complete Coordinator survey 1H7dX Mail or Scan in : – In-kind Match form – Student sign in sheets – Student surveys Mary Kleusch 402 Graham Ave Eau Claire, WI 54701

QUESTIONS? Mary Kleusch Becky Dressel