News & Updates for Education Professionals

Serving our community is at the heart of all we do. We remain available and committed to our families and our mission.

We've curated videos and resources for your families and students during this time of changing information, decision making, and uncertainty. If you have questions, we want to help you find the answers!

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Vermont grants

Don't let your Vermont students leave money on the table! Grant awarding for 2020-2021 is starting soon.

Eligible students received from $1,000 to $12,300 in Vermont grants for the 2019–2020 academic year. Encourage your students to:

  • apply for the Vermont grant. Those who have applied should check their MyVSAC account to be sure they've completed all steps.
  • complete the FAFSA.

A note about COVID-19: Please encourage high school senior families to contact VSAC if their financial circumstances have been affected by COVID-19 through a loss of income, reduced hours, illness, changes in child care, etc. VSAC will take these circumstances into consideration when reviewing grant eligibility. 

VSAC-assisted scholarships update

Although the deadline has passed for all VSAC-assisted scholarships, students can still apply for other scholarships. Check pp 35-46 of the booklet for scholarships with deadlines open through July 30.

VSAC's scholarships booklet and Unified Scholarship Application (USA) are available online. 

How VSAC can help with the FAFSA

  • VSAC'S FACEBOOK LIVE: Share the recorded VSAC Facebook Live event held in October. Carrie Harlow, VSAC's FAFSA expert, provides question-by-question guidance on how to fill out the FAFSA.  

  • VSAC'S FAFSA HELP LINE: Call our toll-free FAFSA helpline at (1-833) 802VSAC, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm.

Looking for financial aid resources?

We have what you need for your students & parents.

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For Seniors:

  • Has your family's financial situation changed since you filed the FAFSA or VSAC grant? There's money available for individuals whose circumstances have changed!
    • Call or email the financial aid office at each college to update them on your circumstances.
    • Call VSAC at 800-882-4166 or email grants@vsac.org to inform VSAC of your change in circumstances.
  • Haven’t filled out your FAFSA or Vermont grant applications? There’s still time! For pointers, watch our Facebook Live events, which provide question-by-question walk-throughs of FAFSA and Grant applications. 
  • When considering loans, start with with VSAC. Know More. Borrow Less.

For Sophomores & Juniors:

  • Keep your college/technical training planning going: You should be researching colleges or technical training programs. Many colleges/technical training programs are offering virtual tours right now, and those can be found on each college/technical program website. Watch our online presentation, The College Search: Finding the Right Fit, with VSAC outreach counselor Soren Dews. And check out our complete YouTube playlist for videos on planning and paying for college.
  • SAT & ACT updates: Though recent and upcoming test dates have been cancelled, you can make it work to your advantage! The College Board has lots of free SAT prep materials, and ACT has free ACT prep materials. Khan Academy also offers free test prep and online learning opportunities for AP courses and beyond.  
  • You may be starting to think about college costs. Our Managing College Costs statewide workshop is now online! Watch the video to help you think through all the ways you can manage college costs. 

For Parents:

  • Helping your student plan: Check out the resources we've created, including video recordings.
  • Maybe you'd like to take an online class? With all this time at home, now's the right time to explore going to college or finishing a degree or a certificate that you've been thinking about! We can help you develop a plan and explain the financial aid that's available to pay for it. Call 877-961-4369 to set up a phone appointment with a VSAC EOC counselor in your community. 

Advance Vermont to Create Hub for Career and Education Resources

Advance Vermont is developing an online "one-stop shop" to bring career and education resources to Vermonters in a user friendly and accessible way. This website will provide Vermonters of all ages and backgrounds with career exploration information and the resources they need to identify and access education and training opportunities across the state that will advance their careers, employable skills, income stability, and job readiness. Visit Advance Vermont to learn more. 

The Advance Vermont team is looking to gain your insights along the way. Please fill out their 3-minute survey to lend your expertise on what content should be included and how it should be presented. It includes a sneak peek at early site design!

 

VSAC's Educational Opportunity Center—easy as a phone call! 

Do you know any adults who would like to take a step toward new career possibilities and aren’t sure where to begin? VSAC’s EOC services can help. Our counselors understand the needs of adult students and are ready to help individuals take steps in a new direction. All services are free.

Call us toll-free today! 

In the Rutland or Bennington areas: 786-8840
In the Burlington area: 654-3793
In all other areas: toll-free 877-961-4369

VSAC’s research continues to shape higher education policy in Vermont

View the latest reports, county fact sheets, and past survey results >

#VSACDelivers Social Media Drawing

As we all search for opportunities to celebrate the Class of 2020, VSAC wants to pay for takeout for 5 seniors every week, now through June 26.

VSAC’s “Have Takeout on Us” lets seniors share a photo using #VSACDelivers and tag @802VSAC via their social media platform of choice, or they can comment to one of our posts (using the #VSACDelivers). Each week, VSAC will hold a random drawing and select 5 seniors to receive takeout (up to $50 value) from a local restaurant/food business of their choice. Each randomly selected winner also will receive a $50 Gift of College card, and all entrants during the 6-week campaign (launching May 18) will be part of a $529 VHEIP drawing on June 30.

Check out the full details here. Want more information? Email haskell@vsac.org. 

 

Do you have an idea for a workshop?

We welcome input and feedback from schools and stakeholders.Contact Anna Telensky, VSAC GEAR UP Special Events Coordinator, with questions or comments: telensky@vsac.org, 802-542-2229.

Here are some links that your families may find helpful:

NEBHE Admissions & Enrollment Information - Resources for school counselors, students and institutions for Fall 2020 and beyond

Virtual Admissions Events — alphabetical list of American colleges & universities; describes each school's virtual admissions events and provides web registration links

Strive Virtual College Exploration – Hundreds of free virtual workshops for students and parents including individual college info sessions and a wide range of college planning topics

Keys to Your Future Career & College Readiness Program – Free program for educators with virtual lessons for students on identifying life goals, preparing in high school, choosing a path, balancing daily life, starting a career, and success in a career 

College Admission Status Updates — information about changes in college admission events, deposit dates, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak

SAT Coronavirus Updates 

ACT testing FAQ  

Khan Academy — SAT practice as well as other online learning  

SAT On Demand—One Month Free from Kaplan —  a free month of SAT On Demand to support all students with their distance learning 

Free AP Programming from Kaplan — free AP prep sessions on YouTube live for AP US History, AP World History, and AP Biology. These sessions will focus on question review and include time to ask a teacher questions.