Leaders make call for affordability, access at College Goal RI kickoff

Initiative designed to assist students in completing financial aid application

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 1/15/15

Education is already a top priority for Gov. Gina Raimondo.

On Monday, she, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and General Treasurer Seth Magaziner made a visit to the College Planning Center in Warwick in …

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Leaders make call for affordability, access at College Goal RI kickoff

Initiative designed to assist students in completing financial aid application

Posted

Education is already a top priority for Gov. Gina Raimondo.

On Monday, she, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and General Treasurer Seth Magaziner made a visit to the College Planning Center in Warwick in support of a new educational initiative, College Goal Rhode Island.

“One of my top priorities is to help make college affordable and accessible,” Raimondo said. “A higher education is necessary for our young people to be successful. We want to ensure Rhode Islanders have access to all the resources available to them. Together, we can put students on a direct pathway to employment and make our state more competitive.”

College Goal RI is a free program that provides financial information to college-bound students and their families.

One of the main objectives of College Goal RI is to help future students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This application determines the eligibility of prospective as well as current students for financial aid from institutions across the nation.

From Jan. 14 until Feb. 12, College Goal RI will hold nine separate events at high schools and educational complexes around the state, where financial aid professionals will be available for information. The professionals will also be available to help with filing out forms.

The College Planning Center of Rhode Island – which is a free service of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, and helps more than 14,800 Rhode Islanders annually – will be also be extending hours at all three of its locations. The centers in Warwick, Cumberland and Bristol help students along the entire college admission process, from the search for a school to filling out applications and understanding financial aid packages.

The Warwick center, located in the Warwick Mall, is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Filing out the FAFSA correctly is crucial because receiving federal financial aid can be essential to a student’s ability of attending an institution of higher education.

Similarly, when high school students are confused about financial applications, the work can be daunting and deter them from applying in the first place.

“It is all about giving the young people of Rhode Island the opportunity to go to school with the proper resources to do so,” Reed said. “The engine of opportunity is education, and the more people who get an education, the better it is for the state, for the economy and the country as a whole.”

Magaziner discussed his time as a teacher, and seeing students miss out on educational opportunities because they were unaware of certain processes or admission deadlines.

He stressed the importance of financial literacy – especially as high school students get ready to pursue a college education, because it may be one of the biggest financial decisions someone can make.

“The rising cost of higher education is unsustainable and there aren’t enough people doing something about it today,” Magaziner said. “I have to thank Gov. Raimondo and Sen. Reed for their efforts in helping our students have a chance.”

Reed, who has been at the forefront of working to simplify the FAFSA for incoming students, noted that student loan debt has recently surpassed credit card debt as the second most burdensome source of personal debt for Americans, behind only mortgages.

Reed also brought up President Barack Obama’s new proposal to make the first two years of community college free for eligible students.

“At a time when the gap in economic well-being of college graduates and those with only a high school diploma grows ever wider, figuring out innovative ways to help more Rhode Island students get some college or technical training beyond high school is essential to our economic future,” Reed said.

If the president’s proposal were to come to fruition, students would have to maintain a 2.5 grade point average to be eligible. The federal government would be responsible for the majority of the costs, but individual states would cover the remaining tab.

“The economy has become too competitive to rely on only a high school diploma,” Reed said.

“It is a worthy goal,” Raimondo said of the president’s proposal. “I would want to participate if it is affordable. Investing in education and our young people will make us more competitive.”

Obama’s proposal also called for community colleges to step up their programming, increase graduate rates and strengthen curriculums.

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin also applauded the president’s plan.

“College debt has become a crippling burden on too many young people in this country, making higher education unattainable for some and limiting options for the next generation of our workforce. Students are being priced out of an education they crave, hindering their ability to pursue their dreams,” he said. “This proposal reaffirms the promise of the American Dream –that through hard work and perseverance, anyone can succeed.”

Whether or not the proposal moves forward, Raimondo believes the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is a workforce development hub where people can leave with the skills they need to find a job. She looked forward to continuing working with CCRI and local business to make sure students are being trained for the available jobs across the state.

To make an appointment with at the College Planning Center for help with college admissions and financial information, visit www.risla.com or call 401-736-3170.

For more information on College Goal RI and its events throughout the state, visit www.collegegoalri.org.

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