A Program of the Louisiana Board of Regents
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March 31, 2020
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance has launched a new video, MyLOSFA 101, to help Louisiana students and their parents understand what resources are available for college access.
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NSU hosts Louisiana GEAR UP ACT prep workshop
March 4, 2020
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Faculty from Northwestern State University (NSU) hosted an ACT Prep workshop for more than 200
Louisiana GEAR UP
students. In order to prepare juniors and seniors for the ACT, students were given test-taking tips and strategies from faculty in NSU's College of Education and Human Development.
“The NSU GEAR UP project is multidisciplinary in scope,” said the NSU GEAR UP Executive Director, Steve Gruesbeck. “Programming involves all four colleges of the university with the unified goal of increasing college access and success.”
Louisiana GEAR UP, a program under LOSFA, has a mission to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.
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Six accomplished alumni named to Hall of Distinction at Northwestern State University
March 2, 2020
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LOSFA's Executive Director,
Dr. Sujuan Boutte
, is among this year's group of six distinguished Northwestern State University alumni to be inducted into the university’s Alumni Hall of Distinction, called the Long Purple Line.
The Long Purple Line was created to recognize those NSU graduates whose career accomplishments have enhanced the reputation and prestige of Northwestern State University.
The honor, was created in 1990. Of the university's 75,000 alumni, only 136 have been inducted into the Hall of Distinction.
“We each possess a unique talent that allows us to do a particular thing better than anyone else we know. Our mission in life is to identify our unique talent, recognize it in order to expand upon it, and use it in service to others,” said Boutte. “If we do this, then we won’t have to seek success. It will find us.”
Among those who will be honored alongside Dr. Boutte, is Ed Orgeron, head football coach at Louisiana State University.
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Meet Reginald Brown!
Reginald (Reggie) Brown is a senior at Washington-Marion High School, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Teachers at the school say when they first met Reggie, as a freshman student, they noticed some struggles: with attendance, grades, and behavior. He was introduced to LOSFA's programs and has participated in ACT Workshops, college and career fairs, college visits, and more.
Reggie says being a part of LOSFA's programs helped him to focus on his future. He says he finally understands the importance of a post-secondary education.
Reggie moved from a struggling student, to a student who puts his best foot forward in securing a strong foundation for his future.
Reggie has been accepted into three colleges. He would like to be an esthetician and hopes to own his own spa.
The future is very bright for this young man who credits LOSFA initiatives for helping plant the seed to his success!!
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LOSFA has launched its
FAFSA Now
campaign,
urging the class of 2020 to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The campaign encourages seniors to finish their financial aid forms, to maximize gift aid (money that does not need to be repaid) and minimize loan debt. Click the button below to read more!
To receive virtual assistance from LOSFA staff to complete the FAFSA, register
here
. Students and parents can also text the word
‘LOSFA’ to 50065
for assistance, use
#GeauxFAFSA
on social media, and/or email
GeauxFAFSA@la.gov
.
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UL Education students offering interactive science lessons via Facebook
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March 26, 2020
When colleges and universities in Louisana began to shut down, some education majors at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette wondered how they would get the experience hours their program requires. Students need 10 education hours, per class.
Two professors came up with something called '
Outbreak Education
'.
Right now, for an hour each day, the college students conduct daily demonstrations for younger students to learn science concepts. The group has gained so many followers, they are thinking about adding other subjects as well.
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How to ask for more college financial aid due to the Coronavirus
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March 21, 2020
Financial aid advisors are anticipating with the COVID-19 outbreak, there may be some students who need to appeal for an increase to their financial aid packaging.
Financial aid administrators may use professional judgement to adjust a students cost of attendance or expected family contribution.
Click the link below to read a list of special circumstances that may justify an adjustment.
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Redesigning college admission: COVID-19, access and equity
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March 22, 2020
Some college access professionals believe the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
is a chance to re-evaluate the college process, in order to level the playing field among higher ed hopefuls.
College visits and affordability are two areas the article in Forbes suggests could be redesigned.
"The students who most need the inspiration and information provided by setting foot on campuses rarely have the chance for this experience
," the article says. Even though in person campus visits may still be best, COVID-19 is pushing higher ed staff to come up with new and innovative ways to bring their campus' to under-served and low-income students.
Some admissions directors say they would also not be surprised if there is a surge in online offerings, in order to reduce tuition rates for some students.
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How to do college planning in a pandemic
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March 20, 2020
As we navigate through uncharted territory, some high school juniors and seniors may find it harder to plan for college. Now is the time when many are making their final selections, or coming up with a list of prospective institutions.
This article, by Lisa Bain Carlton, Founder and CEO at College MatchPoint, includes steps for students to keep moving toward the goal of attending college. One of her suggestions is to network with family and friends, who may have gone to colleges and universities that interest the student.
Click the button below to read the rest of her tips.
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College placement tests SAT, ACT postponed due to coronavirus
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March 16, 2020
Amid concerns about COVID-19, the ACT website and the College Board, which oversees the SAT, announced both college placement tests will be rescheduled and future testing dates may also be cancelled.
"The safety of students and test center staff is ACT’s top priority...All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date," reads a statement on the ACT website.
On April 3rd, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed Proclamation 41, which ensured high school seniors and current post-secondary students would be able to meet requirements to be eligible for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) or continue eligibility.
Click
here
to read LOSFA's press release on how the proclamation impacts Louisiana students.
Click
here
to read the TOPS Coronavirus Q and A for additional information.
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UNO receives gift to help new students reduce debt
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March 5, 2020
The University of New Orleans announced a new program to help students complete a college degree with little to no debt.
The university received a donation from a New Orleans nonprofit foundation to create the New Orleans Scholars program. The program, which launches this summer, will cover all tuition, fees, room and board, and books for the first two years, for 15 Orleans Parish public high school graduates. For those students who are TOPS eligible, the program will cover the same costs for the students final two years.
To read more on the program requirements, click
here
.
Click the button below to read more on eligibility requirements.
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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.
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