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The Council for Opportunity in Education Receives $300,000 Award from ECMC to Support FAFSA Student Support Strategy Project

July 12, 2024 — by Terrance L. Hamm

This award will significantly benefit TRIO students by providing them with the necessary resources and support to complete the FAFSA, ensuring they can access the financial aid needed to pursue their higher education goals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) announces today that it has been provided a $300,000 award from Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to support the FAFSA Student Support Strategy project. This generous funding will bolster efforts to increase the 2024-25 FAFSA completion rates and combat “summer melt,” thereby ensuring higher actual enrollment rates among students who intend to enroll in college for the upcoming academic year.

The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are the largest federal infrastructure that provides academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other support necessary to enable low-income, first-generation students to prepare for and succeed in college. Through its numerous membership services, COE works with colleges, universities, and community-based agencies that host TRIO programs to provide professional development for TRIO educators, research around access and completion, and many student opportunities, including study abroad and internship programs.

COE President Kimberly Jones stated, “This award from ECMC is a significant boost to our ongoing efforts to support students in their journey to higher education. By increasing FAFSA completion rates, we help ensure that more students who aspire to enroll in and pay for college can achieve their goals. We deeply thank ECMC for its partnership and commitment to educational opportunity.”

The 2024-25 FAFSA application cycle introduced significant changes to the student financial aid process, including a new application form, updated eligibility criteria, revised terminology, new requirements for parents and other contributors, and a shorter submission timeline. In response, the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with ECMC, recognized the increased need for students and families to receive additional support, advice, and encouragement to complete the FAFSA form and enroll in college successfully.

In a U.S. Department of Education press release published in May, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said, “We are determined to close the FAFSA completion gap. The funding we announce today will support states, districts, and community-based groups to build capacity and leverage their power to ensure that every student who needs help paying for college turns in their FAFSA form.”

The award period extends through August 31, 2024. During this time, COE will implement various strategies to meet the project’s objectives, including enhanced training and support for TRIO pre-college advisers, counselors, and coaches who will hold FAFSA submission clinics and conduct extensive outreach to students and families.

Currently, TRIO serves approximately 875,000 students through nearly 3,500 individual programs in each U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Islands.

About the Council for Opportunity in Education

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) is a nonprofit organization, established in 1981, dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., the Pacific Islands, and Puerto Rico. Its membership includes more than 1,000 colleges and agencies. Through its numerous membership services, the Council works in conjunction with colleges, universities, and agencies to help low-income students enter college and graduate. Nearly a million low-income students and students with disabilities each year receive college access and retention services through our member colleges and agencies.

About ECMC

ECMC is a nonprofit corporation providing services in support of higher education finance, assisting students and families in their efforts to plan and pay for college.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Terrance L. Hamm, associate vice-president for communications and marketing at COE via email at [email protected] or call (202) 347-7430.

The Council for Opportunity in Education Receives $300,000 Award from ECMC to Support FAFSA Student Support Strategy Project

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