|
Volume 8, Issue 3 – June 2024
|
 |
|
Director’s Note
Dear friends,
Over the past couple of months, we’ve had much to celebrate and even more to look forward to in the future.
In April, ACT announced its partnership with Nexus Capital Management. ACT and Encoura have unified and will operate as a public benefit corporation under the ACT name and brand. Learn more about the partnership in these FAQs and this video message from ACT CEO Janet Godwin.
College Signing Day on May 1 was a great success! We enjoyed seeing students, teachers, counselors, and families show their support to those who have made the commitment to continuing their education journeys. Search the hashtag #CollegeSigningDay on your favorite social media platforms and see how students celebrated. Congratulations to the class of 2024!
The Better FAFSA launch has had some challenges, resulting in low completion numbers. It’s essential to continue to support FAFSA completion efforts through the summer and inform families of new opportunities. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a new program, the FAFSA Student Support Strategy, which includes a funding opportunity for organizations currently working with schools and districts. The Department of Education hasn’t set a deadline for participation in the new program, but given the urgent nature of this work, we encourage you to submit the application form as soon as possible. The National College Attainment Network launched the #DoTheFAFSA social media campaign to further encourage students and provide them with FAFSA resources.
Lastly, thank you to all the ACAC state coordinators who attended this year’s Annual Convening in Washington, D.C. Each year, ACAC brings together state campaign leaders to share and learn effective practices and strategies for implementing college application campaigns. Your support is invaluable, and we appreciate all that you do.
With gratitude,
Lisa King, director
|
 |
|
State coordinators come together May 15-16 for the ACAC annual convening in Washington D.C.
|
 |
|
Transforming College Application Success in Texas: Harnessing Technology and Educator Engagement
By: Lara Gueguen, director of professional learning and engagement, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Jaslyn Rose, senior director of learning operations and delivery
In the journey toward higher education, Texas is paving the way for students, families, and educators through innovative resources and dedicated statewide support systems. The Texas OnCourse Academy and the Professional Learning Series are two flagship programs leading this charge. These resources combine online learning with live, collaborative webinars on essential college and career advising topics. Integrated with innovative technology tools such as My Texas Future, these programs drive educator engagement and adoption. Texas strives to equip the entire stakeholder ecosystem to increase college application rates by providing high-quality learning through these initiatives.
For educators, the Texas OnCourse Academy is a cornerstone of professional development, providing online competency-based learning in financial aid, postsecondary planning, and career exploration. By equipping educators with current, vital knowledge, the academy empowers them to serve as well-informed advisors and counselors.
The Professional Learning Series completements this by offering monthly webinars featuring expert guest speakers who provide essential information on college and career topics. Additionally, through workshops, question and answer sessions, and networking opportunities, participants engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies to support student success. By fostering a community of continuous learning and growth, the Professional Learning Series ensures that educators are equipped to provide high-quality advising to Texas students.
For students and families, My Texas Future, in conjunction with Texas OnCourse Academy, serves as a comprehensive resource hub for navigating the college application process. From career exploration tools to financial aid resources, the platform provides invaluable support to individuals seeking to chart their academic and career pathways. By offering personalized guidance and access to critical information, My Texas Future empowers students to make informed decisions about their future.
By investing in educators’ professional development, nurturing collaboration, and providing comprehensive support, these programs equip advising professionals with the resources and community they need to deliver exceptional college and career advising to every student. As Texas continues to prioritize college readiness and access, initiatives like the Texas OnCourse Academy, the Professional Learning Series, and My Texas Future catalyze change, fostering a culture of empowerment and opportunity for all.
|
 |
|
Setting the Bar: California High School Creates College Application Success
By: Lisa King, director, American College Application Campaign
“Many students don’t have a clear-cut vision for their future, so by applying to college, and creating an education plan, it can help focus their goals for the future.”
- Robert Rasmussen, principal, Ocean View High School
New on ACT’s Thought Leadership Blog, Ocean View High School shares insights into student engagement in college application events after being recognized by ACT’s American College Application Campaign as one of 27 School of Excellence awardees. Ocean View has demonstrated continued College Application Campaign success for the last eight years, with seven in 10 seniors submitting at least one application in 2023.
To learn more about Ocean View’s success, read the full blog post here.
|
|
New! Encourage App Innovations
Students and families will no longer experience the hassle of switching between devices to access different features and resources from Encourage. College and career support, once only available through a laptop or desktop computer, is now available in the mobile Encourage app. From their cell phones and tablets, students can now:
- Discover their future with the Majors and Careers Quiz.
- Sort and filter colleges with My Colleges.
- Stay organized, manage deadlines, and check off tasks from anywhere with My Journey.
- Locate everything they need to know about financial aid in My Scholarships.
These innovations will help make future planning much easier for students. To learn more, visit encourageme.com and request a demo today.
|
 |
|
Annual Convening Keynote Presentation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives. However, despite its growing prevalence, many questions still need to be answered about this advanced technology and its implications for individuals and businesses.
At this year’s Annual Convening, Joanna Gorin, Ph.D., MBA, vice president of design and digital science at ACT, addressed these questions in her keynote address. Dr. Gorin provided valuable insights into AI that were both enlightening and educational.
For those looking to embark on their AI journey within their school or organization, TeachAI’s Foundational Policy Ideas for AI in Education offers the following recommendations:
- Foster leadership: establish an AI task force.
- Build capacity: provide funding for professional development.
- Support innovation: promote research and development.
- Promote AI literacy: integrate AI skills and concepts.
- Provide guidance: equip schools with guidance on the responsible use of AI.
These steps can help schools and organizations navigate the complexities of AI and harness its potential responsibly and effectively. For additional resources provided in Dr. Gorin’s keynote presentation, please visit the links below:
|
|
2024 American College Application Campaign (ACAC) Resources
At the Annual Convening in D.C., attendees highlighted the benefits of using the ACAC campaign resources to save time and money when planning campaign events.
Now is the perfect time to begin preparation for your 2024 campaign events. These tools and resources can ensure a successful campaign and are a great starting point:
Register to be a host site for the 2024-2025 campaign season here.
|
 |
|
New ACT Student Blog
The ACT student blog is now live! ACT designed the student blog to guide high school students in making significant decisions, from ACT test prep to navigating financial aid, exploring extracurricular activities, and beyond.
The goal is to help students discover a path that works for them. This resource provides students with tips for navigating their postsecondary pathways, including preparing for college and career, health and wellness, and ideas to make the most of their free time.
Check out the first four articles available on the student blog now:
|
 |
|
School of Excellence Awards in the News
The 2023 School of Excellence award winners are making headlines for their outstanding achievements. Their accomplishments have garnered significant media attention, with 51 media placements across various platforms, including print, television, radio, and online news, resulting in nearly 362 million media impressions. Join us in recognizing some of the honorees who have been featured in the media:
|
|
©2024 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved.
|
|
