News & Updates for Education Professionals

VSAC News You Can Use: 

  • Introducing 802 Opportunity: VSAC is proud to announce our newest grant program, which offers free tuition at CCV for students of any age with a family income of $50,000 or less, starting this fall 2021 and continuing for two academic years.
  • Green Mountain Grad: The state of Vermont, the Vermont State Colleges System and VSAC are teaming up to provide one tuition-free college class to the graduates of the high school classes of 2020 and 2021. Spread the word with resources in the toolkit. 
  • ORDER NOW! Order your bulk publications and planning checklists for the 2021–2022 school year. [Note: All bulk orders placed now will be fulfilled in late August.]
  • Spread the word about these resources for students and parents planning for life after high school
  • Financial aid is still available! 

High schools: Did you know that you can use VSAC's FAFSA Completion Tool to identify students who haven't completed their financial aid applications? Contact our grants department (800-882-4166) to ask us how. 

ORDER OUR 2021–2022 PUBLICATIONS

Vermont grants

Don't let your Vermont students leave money on the table! Eligible students have received from $1,000 to $12,800 in Vermont grants for the 2021–2022 academic year. Encourage your students to:

VSAC-assisted scholarships update

The VSAC scholarships booklet for students planning to attend college in 2021–2022 is available in print. To receive copies for your students, schools must order bulk quantities at https://publications.vsac.org/free-vsac-publications.

Please note: Although the deadline has passed for all VSAC-assisted scholarships, students can still apply for other scholarships. Check pages 37–49 of the booklet for scholarships with deadlines open through July 30.

How VSAC can help with the FAFSA

Your students and parents can:

  • complete the FAFSA using our “VSAC Shows You How” recording as guidance. VSAC FAFSA expert Carrie Harlow walks families through the FAFSA application question by question.
  • call our toll-free FAFSA helpline at 833-802-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm).
  • check out VSAC's FAFSA Completion Guide or order a printed copy.

Looking for financial aid resources?

We have what you need for your students & parents.

Get Resources

Green Mountain Grad:

View the toolkit with materials to help you get the word out to your graduating seniors and their families, including a key visual (in different sizes for use in emails, e-newsletters, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), a blurb describing the program which can inform emails or social media posts, two print-ready flyers (use one or use both to promote the program over time), and an extensive FAQ document.

High school seniors and families: Need help with the FAFSA & other financial aid? Start with VSAC's FAFSA First. 

VSAC Shows You How

Join VSAC to learn how to plan and pay for college and training.

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.

Encourage your students or clients to make an appointment today >

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

VSAC releases survey results on COVID-19’s impact on VT students' plans to attend college in the fall.

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

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!

Zoom Rooms 

Spread the word about VSAC's Zoom video conferences geared toward adults interested in returning to school or training. Watch recordings of past topics, including:

  • Short-Term Training Options
  • Education Resources for Military Connected Students
  • Resources for Foster Youth
  • Educational Resources for Former Refugees, Immigrants, & Asylees

College & Career Pathways

VSAC’s annual College & Career Pathways virtual event this year took place throughout the month of March, but whether your students are college-bound, training-bound or not sure, CCP resources are for them. They include: 

  • Videos and reflection activities for you to use with students in planning for life after high school.
  • Live virtual workshops for students and parents/guardians covering a range of college and career planning topics.
  • Virtual tours and info sessions of Vermont colleges, universities, and short-term training programs.
  • Weekly contests with the opportunity to win prizes for watching videos and attending workshops or tours.

Find details of the month-long program and have your students & parents take advantage of the recorded workshops, tours, and info sessions.

College & Career Pathways is primarily intended for 10th and 11th grade students and parents, but may also be helpful for older or younger students, depending on where they are in the planning process.

Vermont Career Connect

Our career exploration resources were designed with Vermont's high-growth, high-wage jobs in mind and are appropriate for Vermont middle school and high school students. Resources include recorded presentations from the fall virtual event, a career interest survey, 40+ video interviews with industry representatives across all 16 career clusters, career training requirements, and activities that can be used for PLPs. View the resources >

 

    Here are some links that your families may find helpful:

    NEBHE Admissions & Enrollment Information — Resources for school counselors, students and institutions

    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.