New York Gets $7.6M to Increase College Access

ALBANY, NY (10/28/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is pleased to announce a $7.6 million federal College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) awarded to New York from the U.S. Department of Education for 2010-2011.

New York's CACG Program aims to improve college awareness, readiness, attendance and degree attainment through early outreach to families, particularly those with incomes below the poverty level, and through professional development of middle and high school counselors. Funds also support programs that provide services to high school and college students with an overall objective of increasing college degree attainment for underrepresented populations.

HESC has been serving as the designated administering agency for the CACG program in New York State since 2008. The 2008-2010 award provided New York State approximately $8 million in federal funds over a two-year period.

The new grant funds will largely be distributed through a competitive process as sub grants to schools, agencies and community-based organizations across New York through education and support programming.

HESC is partnering with the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY), and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu) to deliver much needed services to CACG-qualified students and adults across the State of New York.

"These funds will help regional and statewide organizations reach thousands of students and adult learners with services that build a solid foundation for achieving a college education," said Elsa Magee, Acting President of The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). "HESC is proud to play such a meaningful role in carrying out higher education initiatives that help underrepresented students living in New York," she continued.

The final round of $50,000 sub grants for the 2008-10 program were awarded in September to organizations to support specific services for high need students, their families and other adult learners in their region:

1. On Point for College, Inc., Syracuse

2. Learning Leaders, Inc. New York City

3. St. Johns-St. Ann's Center, Albany

4. Cypress Hills Local Development Corp., Brooklyn

5. Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu), Albany

6. The Young Women's Leadership Network, Metropolitan New York City

7. The Research Foundation of SUNY College at Fredonia: Western New York

8. Goddard Riverside Community Center, Manhattan

9. The Research Foundation of CUNY-Brooklyn College Community Partnership, Brooklyn

10. New Settlement Apartments Inc., Bronx

11. The College Initiative, Manhattan

12. College and Community Fellowship, Manhattan

Services and activities provided through the grants will include:

• College readiness, academic skill building and tutoring programs

• Stay-in-school support programs for community college students at risk for dropping out

• College admission application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion assistance

• Training for college advisors and counselors serving some of the highest need, low-income and educationally at risk students in the State

• Family workshops on college financing, completing FAFSA and applications.

• Debt management and financial literacy workshops

• Outreach and counseling services, including academic and financial aid counseling, peer mentoring, college preparation, tutoring & retention services, for formerly incarcerated men and women

HESC is reviewing proposals for this year's Program. More information about the College Access Challenge Grant Program, including an abstract for the 2010-11 award, can be found on the HESC Web site, http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/College_Access_Challenge_Grant.

About HESC: HESC is the State's student financial aid agency, helping people pay for college by providing more grant and scholarship awards than any other state in the nation. In addition to programs that include the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), federal college access grants, numerous scholarships and awards and a highly successful College Savings program, HESC provides guidance to students, families and counselors and puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year. In 2008-09, HESC helped nearly 600,000 students achieve their dream of attending college by providing $4.6 billion in grants, scholarships and loan guarantees, including $813 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to more than 375,000 students.

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