College Goal Sunday Information
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What is College Goal Sunday? |
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College Goal Sunday is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Massachusetts families applying for financial assistance for higher education. College Goal Sunday mobilizes financial aid professionals from Massachusetts colleges and universities to help families of college-bound students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the federally required form for students seeking financial aid, including grants and loans, throughout the nation. |
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When is College Goal Sunday? |
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The state's sixth College Goal Sunday will take place on January 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm at many locations around Massachusetts. Some sites will hold their events on other dates and times. Please check back for site specific information. |
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Who should participate in College Goal Sunday? |
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Students and families in low-income and minority communities who need help applying for financial aid to attend college must not miss College Goal Sunday. Adult students entering college are also encouraged to attend. |
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Why is College Goal Sunday important? |
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This one-day event will help families of college-bound students take the first step in applying for college by going through a two-hour moderated session that will lead to a completed financial aid form for the student. |
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Who Supports College Goal Sunday? |
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College Goal Sunday is supported and administered by a volunteer committee comprised of members of the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA), as well as members of various community organizations that work with underserved populations. Funding for this program comes in part from Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis based, private, independent foundation that strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through research, grants for innovative programs and communication initiatives, Lumina Foundation addresses issues surrounding financial access and educational retention and degree of certificate attainment – particularly among underserved student groups, including adult learners. The foundation bases its mission on the belief that postsecondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make in themselves and that society can make in its people. Other partners for College Goal Sunday include, American Student Assistance (ASA), Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) and The Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. |
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Who can I contact with questions? |
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Anyone interested in learning more about College Goal Sunday may call 877/4-CGS-MAS or visit us online at www.masscollegegoalsunday.org. |
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What do I need to bring? |
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If available, students and their parents should bring your FAFSA PIN, completed 2010 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 statements and other 2010 income and benefits information. Current bank statements, untaxed income records for the previous year (Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records), driver's license (if any) and alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen). This information is helpful, but not required. |
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Do students need to register? |
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In order to provide the best possible service to students now and in the future, we ask that students register online at www.masscollegegoalsunday.org.
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What if I cannot attend College Goal Sunday or would like more assistance after January 30, 2011? |
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Students and families who need additional assistance in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or who are looking for more resources on financial aid should visit their local Educational Opportunity Center (EOC). The EOC is funded by the TRIO Office of the U.S. Department of Education and offers FREE career and educational counseling/advising services for eligible people over the age of 19 who are considering postsecondary educational options. Locations exist in Boston, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Greater Springfield and Worcester through a project of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc.; in Brockton through a project of The Education Resources Institute (TERI); and in Leominster through a project of Mount Wachusett Community College. |
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What if I am not sure whether or not I am going to college? |
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Many students are not sure if they will be attending right after high school or have been out of high school for some time. By filling out the FAFSA there is no obligation to attend, however, by completing the FAFSA form deadlines will not be missed if the student decides to apply to college later in the year. |
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| Program Background |
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In 1989, the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) and the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) started the program now known as “College Goal Sunday.” The financial aid community in Indiana recognized that information and direct assistance with completing the financial aid forms were key factors in helping children from minority, low income, and first generation families go to college.
Despite the fact that there were millions of dollars of financial aid available to many of these families, the stigma that higher education was too expensive was a huge barrier to large numbers of students who never even applied.
Funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. (and later the Lumina Foundation), made it possible to create this program that relied heavily on the expertise of financial aid administrators across the state. They chose a Sunday during February, Financial Aid Awareness Month, and named it “College Goal Sunday.” On this day, financial aid volunteers helped families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in various locations throughout the state.
The promotion of the College Goal Sunday event was instrumental in not only encouraging attendance at the multiple sites across the state, but also publicizing awareness. The information campaign is designed to reach low-income Indiana residents. The campaign uses news media, direct mail and celebrity appearances to inform the public about the importance of higher education, the availability of funds to assist in paying for this education and the existence of College Goal Sunday to help get the ball rolling by helping them complete the FAFSA.
Over the years, there has been continued financial support from the Lilly Endowment and beyond. USA Group Foundation has co-funded the program for several years and provided matching grants to replicate the College Goal Sunday program in Arizona (1997),
Kansas (1999), Kentucky (2001), Washington, D.C./Baltimore area, Hawaii and California (2002).
College Goal Sunday works! Over the past 14 years, 55,000 Indiana residents have been assisted. In the first year, there were 10 sites statewide and by 2003 there were 34 sites in 29 Indiana cities and towns. 450 individual volunteers offered their time and talent. Exit surveys prove: that it helps the targeted population complete a vital and often difficult task, that volunteer support continues to be vibrant and committed, and the more Indiana communities want to initiate their own sites. |
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