GSFC 411 e-newsletter [Dec. 2010]

Message from GSFC President, Tim Connell
Our K-12 School Representatives have been busy visiting high schools and middle schools throughout the state. To date, they have visited more than 300 schools and seen more than 53,000 students, parents and counselors. Over the last three months, GAcollege411 has seen unprecedented growth with the creation of over 250,000 new accounts.
In August, we presented an update on the financial status of the HOPE Program to a Joint House and Senate Committee (Presentation). We will keep you updated as the work on the Program continues. We have set-up an FAQ page on GAcollege411 to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions. Unfortunately, we still do not know what changes there will be to the Program or when they will take effect.
In October, GSFC was notified that we received a 2010 Georgia Oglethorpe Progress Award. I am very proud of the positive feedback we received from the Georgia Oglethorpe examiners about our efforts. We will incorporate all feedback received from the examiners and continue to work and improve our operations.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday season. The year 2010 is quickly coming to an end and we greatly appreciate the support you have given to us throughout the past year.
Tim

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

Compliance Update
As the 2010 State Scholarship and Grant Compliance Review year draws to a close, we'd like to take this opportunity to update our Georgia schools on the Compliance Review process. In general, we are seeing continued decreases in the number of findings as compared to previous years. We wish to thank all of the schools for their hard work, dedication and partnership with us in the administration of State Scholarship and Grant Programs.
Next year, we are scheduling 32 Compliance Reviews. You should have been notified by November 30th if your school was selected for a Compliance Review in the 2011 review cycle. Please be on the lookout for that notification e-mail, as well as a scheduling notification if you are among the schools selected for a Compliance Review. The scheduling e-mail should reach you during the first week of December.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Robin Saye at (770) 724-9238 or robins@gsfc.org. We look forward to serving you in the upcoming year as we continue our partnership in administering the State Scholarship and Grant Programs that are so vital to the citizens of the State of Georgia.

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

College, Yes You Can Day
The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) will hold its second annual "College, Yes You Can Day" at the State Capitol, South Wing, on Monday, January 24, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The purpose of "College, Yes You Can Day" is to help familiarize students from ninth through twelfth grade with the services and products offered by GSFC that will help them expand their opportunities beyond high school. The event will also give students a chance to receive one-on-one assistance with using GAcollege411.org to explore career and post secondary opportunities.
While at the Capitol, attendees will have the opportunity to create accounts, complete online applications to colleges and universities throughout the state, and speak with financial aid and college admissions experts.
Last year over 400 people attended the "College, Yes You Can Day" event and we are expecting that many and more. For more information about the event or the services and products offered by GSFC please contact Sarah Baumhoff at sarahb@gsfc.org or by calling (770) 724-9021.

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

Apply to College Week
The third annual Georgia Apply to College Week was held November 8-12, 2010.
This event, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia, and endorsed by the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (GACRAO), has the goal of providing all Georgia high school seniors with the opportunity to apply to college using GAcollege411.org, with a focus on providing assistance to first generation and economically disadvantaged students as they navigate the college application process.
This year Georgia Apply to College Week takes another step towards becoming a statewide event. This November, with the number of participating high schools increasing to over 115, even more high school seniors will have the opportunity to receive hands-on assistance as they submit at least one application for college admission.
During this week, 13,466 admissions applications were submitted through GAcollege411.org. Of those, 5,803 or 43% of the applications were submitted by high schools participating in Georgia Apply to College Week.
For additional information about Georgia Apply to College Week, please visit www.usg.edu/apply -to -college .

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

HOPE Progress Reports
For the past two years, GSFC has offered an optional service to calculate HOPE Progress Reports for 9th - 11th grade students. During this time, GSFC has calculated HOPE Progress Reports for 45% of the 9th -11th graders in Georgia. Senate Bill 340 (codified at O.C.G.A. 20-3-157) became law on July 1, 2010. It requires school systems to send transcripts for 9th -11th graders to Georgia Student Finance Commission ("GSFC") to determine potential HOPE Scholarship eligibility after May 1, 2011.
Before July 1, 2010, the law only required school systems to submit transcripts for 12th grade students at the end of their first semester for GSFC to calculate a preliminary HOPE GPA and then again after the final term to have a final HOPE GPA calculated. Under the new law, this information will be available for 9th 12th graders.
After the transcript information is submitted, students will be able to check their progress towards HOPE eligibility by visiting www.GAcollege411.org and selecting "My HOPE GPA" from the home page of the website. This will enable students to know what their HOPE GPA is since it often differs from their high school GPA.
It is GSFC's goal to prevent parents and students from having to wait until the second semester of their senior year to know for sure if a student is eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. The earlier students have access to this information, the better they and their parents can plan for their postsecondary options and financial needs.
We will be sending out additional communication about this process in the coming weeks and instructions on how your school can begin participating, if you have not participated in the past.

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

College Goal Georgia
February 20th - 26th, 2011 will be College Goal Georgia Week. During this week locations across the state will be offering assistance to students and parents to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. We currently have 14 sites that will be offering assistance during the week. Please look for additional information to be sent out about the events in December.
If you would like additional information about College Goal Georgia, please contact Sarah Baumhoff at sarahb@gsfc.org or by calling (770) 724-9021.

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org

Holiday Closings
Georgia Student Finance Commission will be closed on Thursday, December 23rd and Friday, December 24th for the Christmas Holidays and will be closed on Monday, January 3rd in observance of the New Year Holiday.

DECEMBER 2010 ARTICLES
Message From GSFC President, Tim Connell Compliance Update College, Yes You Can Day Apply to College Week HOPE Progress Reports College Goal Georgia Holiday Closings
GSFC411 ARCHIVE
August 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 More
RELATED LINKS
GAcollege411 Partner Update Compliance Corner Archive Board of Regents Technical College System of Georgia Mapping Your Future Department of Education Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges

Georgia Student Finance Commission 2082 East Exchange Place Tucker, Georgia 30084 (770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-GSFC (4732) FAX (770) 724-9089
GAcollege411.org - www.gsfc.org