A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
FAFSA for All
February 24, 2020

In an opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed , Catharine B. Hill highlights reasons she believes all students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Hill says if the FAFSA is mandated, it would mean more states would surely follow the lead of Louisiana .
The John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program is now taking applications
February 24, 2020

LOSFA is accepting applications for the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program through April 30, 2020.

The program is for eligible state public defenders and prosecutors who may qualify to have their educational loans repaid.

Funds will be awarded to 10 eligible prosecutors in the amount of $1,950 each, two from each circuit, and five public defenders will be awarded $3,900 each, one from each circuit.

Click the button below to read about the program's qualifications.
LOSFA's Financial Literacy for You Tour travels the state
February 18, 2020

LOSFA's Financial Literacy for You (FLY) Tour traveled around the state for two weeks in February, teaching hundreds of students about college and career readiness.

FLY Tour is a fun and interactive approach to expose students to their post-secondary options, while helping them understand how to take their skills and interests and turn them in to a career.

This year, the theme was Meet Your Match , a game show production with information about what it takes to get to college and how to be successful while there.

The Meet Your Match Gameshow traveled to eight locations:

Tuesday, February 11: Southern University at Shreveport
Wednesday, February 12: Louisiana Tech University
Thursday, February 13: Northwestern State University
Friday, February 14: Grambling State University
 
Monday, February 17: SOWELA Technical Community College
Tuesday, February 18: Southern University and A&M College
Wednesday, February 19: Dillard University
Thursday, February 20: Louisiana State University
The Human Jukebox performed for hundreds of middle and high school students who attended the FLY Tour at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

Students also heard from the university's admissions staff and student leaders, who encouraged them to apply at institutions that will help them be successful in the goals they have set for themselves.


At SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles, students from Molo and Oak Park Middle Schools, and LaGrange and Washington-Marion High Schools, took part in the FLY Tour.

The game show included trivia questions about grade point averages, ACT scores, the FAFSA, college majors, and the costs of basic college needs.

Click below to see coverage of the FLY Tour at Southern University and SOWELA Technical Community College.
Students from Washington-Marion High School celebrate after answering a question about retention correctly, at SOWELA's FLY Tour.
Students participate in the FLY Tour at Northwestern State University.
FLY Tour Feedback

"I wanted to let you know that this particular FLY TOUR Presentation was great!!!
 
The others were also good, but this particular format kept all the students engaged in the program and information that was being presented.

 I even heard them talking about it on the bus as we were headed to lunch. Tell everyone GREAT JOB!!!!"

College Access Coordinator
Broadmoor High School
Student Showcase


Mareo Riley, Jr.


“I would like to thank LOSFA for their commitment to Lincoln Preparatory School’s students. Thank you for all you do to raise awareness of post-secondary options, the financial side of college, and degree paths we can pursue."


Mareo Riley, Jr. is a senior at Lincoln Preparatory School. He says he has always had dreams of becoming a pharmacist, but wasn't sure which college was the best fit for him. Through LOSFA's Field Outreach services, Mareo was able to visit college campuses outside of his community in north Louisiana. LOSFA also provided him the opportunity to participate in the President's Academy Program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Through this program, Mareo says he learned more about the field of medicine and determined ULM, though not one of the schools he had looked at attending, was the best match for him to pursue his studies after high school.

Staff at Mareo's school say after attending the program at ULM, his ACT score and his grades increased even more.
Shared on Social Media
LOSFA continues its mission to promote, prepare for, and provide equity of access to students across the state. This ACT graphic was shared through o ur social media platforms to encourage students, particularly seniors, to take the ACT often and early, in order to achieve a qualifying score to be eligible for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
Louisiana State University hosted the final FLY Tour of the Spring 2020 semester. Approximately, 600 middle and high school students attended, and learned about LOSFA's 5-Point Match.
Other Related News
Ignore the hype. College is worth it
February 13, 2020

Recently the question, Is college worth it? , has come up over and over again. There have been several articles, blogs, and studies on the issue - as college costs continue to rise.

While the answer is most often a resounding yes, this Inside Higher Ed article addresses concerns about college versus wealth.
Tech earns Military Friendly status for seventh year
February 12, 2020

Louisiana Tech University has been named as a Military Friendly School, for the seventh consecutive year.

The designation, from Victory Media, is given to institutions that invest in creating programs to improve the lives of those who serve. The list of almost 700 colleges and universities, include institutions that offer certificate programs through doctoral degrees. Victory Media uses three data points, which includes personal input from veterans, before it awards institutions as Military Friendly.

Louisiana Tech, in partnership with Bossier Parish Community College, developed a Veterans Resource Center - to increase veterans' ability to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree.

“Our faculty and staff take great pride in easing veterans’ and active-duty military members’ transition into the classroom and assisting with the educational process to graduation,” said Dr. Donna Johnson, who leads initiatives in Shreveport and Bossier City.

Other Louisiana schools named Military Friendly include:

  • Louisiana State University
  • Northwestern State University
  • Southeastern Louisiana University
  • Xavier University

Bossier Parish Community College was awarded Silver.
The University of Louisiana-Lafayette was awarded Gold.

To see the complete list of Military Friendly Schools, click here .
LSUA Foundation receives $460,000 from local companies to combat nursing shortage
February 4, 2020

Donations from six central Louisiana businesses will help to combat a nursing shortage in the region. A total of $460,000 will be donated to Louisiana State University at Alexandria (LSUA), over the next four years.

The funding will be used to hire new faculty for LSUA's Nursing Program, which will allow 40 additional students to enroll, graduate, and work in the community.
About LOSFA
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), a program of the Louisiana Board of Regents, strives to be Louisiana's first choice for college access by promoting, preparing for and providing equity of college access.