Marketing and Outreach Efforts to Promote FAFSA Completion and Financial Aid Awareness!

Transcription

1 Marketing and Outreach Efforts to Promote FAFSA Completion and Financial Aid Awareness! West Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Annual Conference October 31, 2014

2 Overview! Statewide Initiatives! Financial Aid Awareness Campaign Data Feedback Loop College Goal Sunday Tools You Can Use! Federal State

3 FAFSA Awareness and Completion is a Top Priority! The #1 predictor of whether a student will enroll in postsecondary education is completion of the FAFSA. In 2012, 49% of West Virginia s High School Seniors successfully completed a FAFSA. Progress: In 2013, more than 56% of seniors have completed a FAFSA.

4 Statewide Campaign! FINANCIAL AID 101 WEST VIRGINIA STATE-LEVEL FINANCIAL AID INFO REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES FILE FAFSA FIND CASH YOUR forcollege

5 Pilot Campaign! FAFSA Completion Among Participating Schools FAFSA FILL IT OUT >>> GET MONEY FOR COLLEGE FAFSA.gov April 15, 2012: 32.5% completed a FAFSA April 15, 2013: 47.3% completed a FAFSA

6 Stakeholder Feedback Loop! FAFSA completion by High School is updated every two weeks on the U.S. Department of Education's website at this link:

7 College Goal Sunday! College Goal Sunday is a one day financial aid event offering free workshops to help students and families complete the FAFSA.! Details:! February 9, locations Info at

8 College Goal Sunday! Ways to help...! Volunteer at a site. Visit cfwv.com to register. Spread the word. Visit cfwvconnect.com/cgs_promo for resources. Flyers, posters, scripts, social media scripts Churches, community groups, public spaces Provide donations. Prizes Food and Refreshments

9 Federal Student Aid: PSAs! Components! Television Radio Print Web Potential Uses! Download: StudentAid.gov/psa Campus media and web High school media and web Student unions, waiting areas, media labs 9

10 Federal Student Aid: Web Banners! Download: StudentAid.gov/link2us 10

11 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! 11

12 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! Download: 12

13 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! 13

14 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! Download: 14

15 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! To add stream to your website, go to! 15

16 Federal Student Aid: Social Media! #AskFAFSA Office Hours on Twitter! Integrates social media and customer service Different topic each month Tweet ques9ons using #AskFAFSA FSA reps answer ques9ons live Summarize for those not able to abend 16

17 Federal Student Aid: Info Videos! Dozens of short informational videos! Potential Uses! blasts Websites Workshops School media Waiting areas Social media YouTube: youtube.com/federalstudentaid Download: StudentAid.gov/resources

18 Federal Student Aid: Infographics! Potential Uses! blasts Websites Handouts Digital Displays Social media Download: visual.ly/users/federalstudentaid

19 Federal Student Aid: Blog Posts! Potential Uses! blasts Websites Social media Download: ed.gov/blog/ topic/federal-student-aid

20 Federal Student Aid: Messaging! FAFSA Completion! December 28 March 31 Note: West Virginia promotes FAFSA completion November 1 through April 30. Loan Repayment! May 10 June 30 20

21 CFWV: State-Level Coordination! FAFSA Expert List! Institutional Scholarships! Shared workshop calendar?!

22 CFWV: FAFSA Expert List! To view: cfwvconnect.com/ financialaidworkshops To update:

23 CFWV: Institutional Aid List! To view: cfwvconnect.com/scholarships To update:

24 CFWV: Shared Statewide Calendar! To view: cfwv.com > click calendar (toward the bottom of the page) To add events:

25 CFWV: Financial Aid Workshops! Types of Financial Aid Workshops! Financial Aid 101 State and Federal Programs FAFSA Completion Coordinating Financial Aid Workshops! Planning Timeline List of Experts Marketing Resources

26 CFWV: Financial Aid Workshops! Financial Aid Workshop Promotional Kit Planning Timeline Write in your own due dates and use the blank spaces for additional tasks necessary for planning your event. Remember, you don t have to do all this work alone! Recruit volunteers and co-workers to assist you! 1 Month Before... Status Due Date Task 1 Week Before... Status Due Date Task Schedule a telephone call announcement for senior students. them home with students. Consider handing these items out during school activities, such as sporting events. with students. Ask your school s IT staff to include the web ads on your school s website or EdLine page. Send a copy of the news release to local media outlets. Place copies of the community announcement in teachers mailboxes or the announcement to them. Ask them Make announcements to remind students on the school intercom system. about the workshop. Work with your student media classes/clubs to place articles in the school newspaper or to create broadcast stories about the event and speaker is not bringing copies. 1 Day Before... Schedule a reminder telephone call to senior students homes. Financial Aid Workshop Promotional Kit p. 4 Financial Aid Workshop Promotional Kit p. 5

27 blank CFWV: Financial Aid Workshops! Announcement <Date> Save the date FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP Contact: <Name>, <Title> <Organization> (304) <###-####> <insert > STATE & FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID INFO Date: Click here to highlight text & insert date. Time: Click here to highlight text & insert time. Location: Insert building, room number, etc. Details: Provide a brief description of the event, including its purpose, the target audience, or other activities that will occur. Questions? Contact: Provide contact details for the event coordinator. Unable to attend? Visit the College Foundation of West Virginia s website at to learn about West Virginia s financial aid programs, including the PROMISE Scholarship and WV Higher Education Grant. Save the date FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP Need money for college? We can help with that! Our school is hosting a financial aid workshop on <insert date> at <insert time>. The workshop will be held <insert building/room>. Financial aid experts will be on hand to answer questions about state Financial Aid Workshop Promotional Kit p. 6 and federal financial aid, including West Virginia s PROMISE Scholarship and the West Virginia Higher Education Grant. They ll also cover how to fill out the FAFSA and other financial aid forms. Any student planning to pursue a certificate program, a two-year college degree, or a four-year college Date: Click degree here to should highlight text attend. & insert date. But if you can t make it, you can always learn more about financial aid on the state s free college-planning website, Time: Click here to highlight text & insert time. Location: Insert building, room number, etc. ### Details: STATE & FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID INFO Provide a brief description of the event, including its purpose, the target audience, or other activities that will occur. Save the date FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE? We can help! Many West Virginia students qualify for financial aid. If you re planning to pursue a certificate program, a two-year college degree program, or a four-year college degree program, you should attend our upcoming financial aid workshop! We ll have experts on hand to talk about state and federal financial aid programs, including the PROMISE Scholarship and the West Virginia Higher Education Grant. Plus, we ll tell you what you need to know to complete the FAFSA and other financial aid forms. Date: Click here to highlight text & insert date. Time: Click here to highlight text & insert time. Location: Insert building, room number, etc. Details: Provide a brief description of the event, including its purpose, the target audience, or other activities that will occur. Questions? Contact: Provide contact details for the event coordinator. Unable to attend? Visit the College Foundation of West Virginia s website at to learn about West Virginia s financial aid programs, including the PROMISE Scholarship and WV Higher Education Grant. Questions? Contact: Provide contact details for the event coordinator. Unable to attend? Visit the College Foundation of West Virginia s website at to learn about West Virginia s financial aid programs, including the PROMISE Scholarship Financial and Aid WV Workshop Higher Education Promotional Grant. Kit p. 7

28 CFWV: Financial Aid Workshops! News Release <Date> Contact: <Name>, <Title> <Organization> <Address> <City, State Zip> (304) <###-####> <insert > <School Name> to Host Financial Aid Workshop <School Name> will offer a free financial aid workshop to help students and parents learn more about aid to pay for college. The workshop will be held <insert date> from <insert time> to <insert time> at <insert place>. Experts will be available to discuss state and federal financial aid options, including West Virginia s PROMISE Scholarship Program and the West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program. Workshop presenters will also discuss the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and assist families in preparing to complete financial aid applications. Any student planning to earn a trade certificate, a two-year college degree, or a four-year college degree should attend the free workshop. Students planning to attend college in the fall of <insert year> should try to complete the FAFSA before April 15 to be considered for the West Virginia Higher Education Grant. To be considered for the PROMISE Scholarship, students must submit the FAFSA and the PROMISE application before March 1. Students and parents can learn more about financial aid by visiting the state s free college and career-planning website at ###

29 CFWV: Creative Ideas! FAFSA T-Shirts and Badges! About this effort Shepherd University s idea! CFWV expanded the effort in 2013 You can participate too! Creative applications Get everyone involved (faculty, food workers, administrative assistants, janitorial staff, security) Stickers (Concession stands, standard letters)

30 CFWV: Creative Ideas! FAFSA/Financial Aid Facts! Sporting or Community Events Announcements Programs/Guides Social Media and/or Blasts Rotating on Homepages What else?!

31 Contact Information Jessica Kennedy, Assistant Director of Communications Division of Student Success and P-20 Initiatives West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission 1018 Kanawha Boulevard East, Suite 700, Charleston, WV (304)