Contact: Irene Racz, VSAC director of public affairs, 802-542-2240

WINOOSKI — The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) has gone four for four on the federal grants it uses to help pay for career, college, and financial aid counseling services for low-income and other Vermonters.

Following a highly competitive application process that stretched for months, VSAC learned that all four of its federal outreach grants were renewed. Combined, the grants total $38 million:

·       Talent Search, part of the federal TRiO programs, was renewed for five years at $2.2 million. Talent Search serves middle school and high school students, their families, and their schools. VSAC has administered this program since its creation in 1969.

·       Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), also a TRiO program, was renewed for five years at $2.3 million. EOC, which VSAC has offered since its creation in 1991, serves adults seeking to further their education, change careers, and transition from public assistance.

·       GEAR UP, established in 1994 through legislation sponsored by former U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont, was renewed for seven years at $32 million. Like Talent Search, GEAR UP serves a middle school and high school population, but through a different delivery model and with the promise of college scholarships for students meeting eligibility criteria.

·       The College Access Challenge Grant, VSAC’s newest federal funding stream, was renewed for two years at $1.5 million. This grant supports VSAC’s broad-based efforts to increase college aspiration, such as the award-winning Start Where You Are program for teens and the career planning professionals who guide them.

“We know these programs work, because students who participate in them pursue education at higher rates than their peer groups do,” said Don Vickers, VSAC president and CEO. “Unfortunately, there’s a tremendous need for these services in every part of the country, and only so much federal money to go around. Thanks to the support of Vermont’s congressional delegation, we did well in the application process and will be able to continue our important counseling work.”

By Don Vickers

The school year has begun, and Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is once again available to provide statewide services to families, new or continuing college students, and adult learners.

Saving for College

September is College Savings Month — an ideal time for parents, grandparents, or others to open an account in the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan (VHEIP). VSAC administers this “529” college savings plan on behalf of the state of Vermont.

VHEIP offers six investment options, affordable minimum contributions, and state and federal tax benefits. Vermont taxpayers contributing to VHEIP by the end of December can apply for a state income tax credit when filing their 2011 returns.

Already a low-fee plan compared with other 529s throughout the country, VHEIP reduced fees on most options two years ago. Fees on the most popular investment option dropped further when overall VHEIP assets hit $150 million earlier this year.

Career and College Planning

VSAC offers college planning and career exploration information through online resources, a lending library, print publications, and personal assistance.

Families can consult our newly updated planning guide for grades 7–12, attend free workshops at schools throughout the state, and visit www.vsacroadmaps.org to access timely tips and sign up for e-mail reminders. A separate handbook is available for adults interested in exploring careers and seeking education or training.

Our popular College Pathways program, designed for high school sophomores, juniors, and parents but open to any prospective student, will be held at three locations in 2012: March 17 at Saint Michael’s College, March 24 at Castleton State College, and March 31 at Lyndon State College.

Our roving Start Where You Are “opportunisto” will continue to visit schools and teen centers throughout the state to encourage all Vermonters — not just those who consider themselves “college material” — to consider education or training beyond high school. Our award-winning companion Web site (www.startwhereyouarevt.org) has interactive features for teens and resources for professionals who assist students with career planning.

In addition, we invite schools, libraries, and other organizations to embed our “widget” on their Web sites, providing a direct link to frequently updated information from our site.

Funding for Education or Training

Although VSAC no longer offers new federal education loans, we continue to administer the state grant program for eligible students pursuing full-time, part-time, or non-degree study; about 150 scholarships available to Vermonters; and non-federal student loans. We also service an existing loan portfolio worth $1.9 billion.

VSAC has awarded all scholarships for the 2011–12 college year. However, students still in need of grant or loan assistance — or contemplating spring enrollment, rolling admissions schools, or training programs — can visit our Web site to complete necessary applications.

Students and families seeking funding for the 2012–13 college year can consult our newly updated paying for college guide and attend one of our presentations, held from late September through early January at high schools throughout Vermont. For dates and times, check our online calendar at www.vsac.org/events. A condensed version of our paying for college presentation will also be available at www.vsacworkshopsonline.org.

Our revised scholarships booklet for Vermonters will be available online in October, and we encourage students to begin researching scholarships at that time. Families who want a print version can contact VSAC in early November.

After January 1, families of students attending college in 2012–13 should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — required for anyone who wants to be considered for federal grants, loans, and work-study — and the Vermont grant application. VSAC helps families complete these applications at “forms nights” at many high schools.

Although VSAC has become a leaner organization in the wake of changes in the federal education loan programs, we remain Vermonters’ comprehensive source of education and career planning assistance. We are pleased to continue serving the mission the state established for us in 1965: to help Vermonters access the information and financing they need to pursue education or training beyond high school.

Don Vickers, a resident of Georgia, VT, is the president and CEO of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation.

VSAC — the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation — received word late last week that its federal Talent Search grant, set to expire in 2012, will be renewed for five more years. VSAC receives $443,887 a year for the program, and matches the federal dollars with its own resources.

Talent Search is part of a group of federal programs known as TRiO that help low-income students prepare for and succeed in college. VSAC has administered Talent Search in Vermont since 1969. The program identifies students in grades 6 through 12 who are motivated to continue their education but need help reaching their goals.

VSAC offers a second TRiO program, known as Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), for low-income adult learners. VSAC also applied for a new EOC grant, but hasn’t received a response yet.

Two other programs VSAC offers that assist middle and high school students — GEAR UP and the College Access Challenge Grant — are also up for renewal.

WINOOSKI — The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is again offering a fixed-rate private education loan for students who need to supplement their federal borrowing.

The Vermont Advantage loan for 2011–12 offers three repayment options, each with a different interest rate: 7.5 percent for immediate repayment, 7.9 percent for interest-only payments; and 8.5 percent for deferred repayment. Origination fees range from zero to 5 percent, depending on the credit rating of the borrower’s cosigner.

Students eligible to borrow from VSAC are Vermont residents attending college in or out of state and nonresidents borrowing for attendance at a Vermont school.

More details and an online application are available at vsac.org/vermontadvantageloan.

(Contact: Irene Racz, VSAC director of public affairs, 802-542-2240)

Dr. Joyce Epstein, director of the Center on School, Family and Community Partnerships at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, urged Vermonters in an address March 30 to enhance collaborations that foster student success.

Epstein spoke to more than 160 parents, teachers, counselors, school administrators, and community members attending the second annual Parents, Educators, and Principals Conference, held this year at Vermont Technical College in Randolph.

An award-winning researcher, Epstein has identified six types of involvement that contribute to student success: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaborating. She says it’s important to incorporate one or more of these types of involvement in every goal for student learning or behavior change.

Epstein’s work has led to proven results for students: higher grades and test scores, better attendance, improved home and school behavior, better social skills and adjustment to school, more classes passed and credits earned, increased enrollment in more challenging academic programs, and greater chance of graduating on time.

The conference was sponsored by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, the Vermont Principals’ Association, the Vermont Family Network, and the Vermont NEA. Organizers are hoping to bring Dr. Epstein back for next year’s conference.

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Joyce Epstein (third from left) poses with (left to right) Ken Page of the Vermont Principals’ Association, Sherry Gile of the Vermont NEA, Lindsay DesLauriers of the Vermont Family Network, Cathy Printon of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, and Dave Cobb of the VPA.

delegation-letter-12-2010 (PDF)

The honors consist of an Education Standard of Excellence award from the Web Marketing Association and two silver W³ awards from the International Academy of the Visual Arts in the categories of Education and Structure/Navigation.

VSAC launched the Start Where You Are college access program in 2007 with seed money from the Vermont Legislature and has developed it with funding from a federal College Access Challenge Grant. The program uses a variety of tactics to motivate Vermont students to explore careers and continue their education beyond high school.

KSV helped VSAC design the original project, including the fun and interactive Start Where You Are Web site for Vermont teens and parents, winner of three awards in 2008. The recent Web awards honor a new component of the site devoted to resources for educators and other professionals who work with Vermont youth on career planning.

Kelliher Samets Volk is a marketing group with offices in Burlington, New York City, and Boston. VSAC is a public nonprofit that helps Vermonters plan and pay for education beyond high school.

WINOOSKI — Registration is under way for the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation’s 10^th annual College Pathways program, a free day of college planning workshops for high school sophomores and juniors and their parents.

In order to accommodate as many families as possible, VSAC hosts College Pathways in three locations on the following Saturdays:

·       March 19 at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester

·       April 2 at Castleton State College in Castleton

·       April 9 at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville

The program enables each student and parent to choose up to four workshop topics from a dozen available, and includes a free bag lunch. Among topics offered are applying to college, college application essay writing, paying for college, scholarship search, two-year college options, resources for students with learning disabilities, playing intercollegiate sports, and admission to highly selective schools.

The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. Families are encouraged to register early, because workshops fill fast. For more information or to register, visit www.vsac.org/CollegePathways.