Students, Parents, and Counselors

In December, a list of students with composite ACT scores of 23 or above without a matching Social Security Number (SSN) will be sent to high schools. In order for SSG to match student ACT scores to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data, we MUST have the SSN. The Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS) is based on both merit (ACT) and need (FAFSA). If SSG is unable to match ACT and FAFSA data, students will miss an opportunity to receive the scholarship. Students and parents may contact SSG at any time during the student's senior year of high school to check the status of their ACT data.  Please contact us at ssg@michigan.gov or toll-free at 888-4-GRANTS (888-447-2687).

Senior Students and Families:  Start FAFSA Planning Now

The 2015-16 FAFSA becomes available January 1, 2015; however, you may start preparing now. The FAFSA4caster helps students and families plan ahead for college. FAFSA4caster is for anyone who is not yet ready to file a FAFSA. This tool is recommended for juniors or any other student wanting to receive early financial aid estimates and create scenarios based on future earnings, which help in developing college funding strategies. By providing basic information, the FAFSA4caster will estimate eligibility for federal student aid. To read more about how it works, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/estimate.

National GEAR UP Week 2014

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federal program designed to improve college access, readiness, and retention for low-income youth. MI GEAR UP, Michigan’s largest college access program is administered by the King-Chavez-Parks Program (KCP) and operated in partnership with all of Michigan’s public universities to serve approximately 10,000 students across the state. Each University Partner (UP) identifies eligible MI GEAR UP schools (50% or more of the school's population must be eligible for free or reduced lunch) and provides services to a cohort of students. MI GEAR UP services include:

• Academic Advising
• Financial Literacy and College Financing Strategies
• Career Counseling
• College Admission Overview
• Mentoring
• Tutoring
• College Visits
• Summer Enrichment Programs

MI GEAR UP began serving its 7th grade students three years ago, and will follow them throughout their first year of college.

MI GEAR UP sites celebrated National GEAR UP Week from September 22-26.  Michigan’s approximately 10,000 GEAR UP youth celebrated GEAR UP goals as well as their own achievements in preparing for college. GEAR UP week events in Michigan included the following:

Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
"Community" was the National GEAR UP Week theme for GEAR UP EMU. The program celebrated by bringing together stakeholders and supporters from across the investment spectrum to honor the accomplishments of students and encourage them as they move forward to the work ahead.

GEAR UP EMU has taken great strides towards instilling the concepts of teamwork, shared goals, and support in this cohort of students. What better way to demonstrate this than to bring them all together for this annual national occasion. Enter "Destination Graduation!” - a completely interactive 5K race bringing to life the shared experiences of these students at each stage of their GEAR UP journey. Over 800 students participated in this true 5K which featured walk-thru stations; each telling their story of the important benchmarks along the way. GEAR UP EMU was privileged to have the endorsement of a myriad of partners for this fantastic event. KCP programs like 4-S and College Positive Volunteers (CPV), as well as EMU's departments of Academic Service Learning and Grant Accounting all pitched in for the cause. Renowned spoken word troupe, Kinetic Affect, captivated the students with an educational performance that left everyone snapping. Even municipal leaders and state officials offered congratulations to the young constituents with resolutions coming from Romulus' Mayor LeRoy Burcoff, longtime GEAR UP EMU supporter, Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood, Congressional Candidate, Deborah Dingell, and Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder.

Michigan State University (MSU)
GEAR UP MSU celebrated National GEAR UP Week on the steps of the State Capitol on September 24, 2014. GEAR UP MSU students, program staff, and families rallied in support of the GEAR UP program goal of making college accessible, achievable, and affordable. Speakers at the rally included current GEAR UP MSU students who spoke about how the program has impacted their lives and GEAR UP MSU alumni who spoke about GEAR UP’s contribution to college success. Additional speakers included Dr. Pam Bellamy, GEAR UP MSU Director, and Michigan State House Representative Sam Singh.

SSG e-newsletter:  Affording College in Michigan  |  October 2014

Financial Aid Professionals

MCS and MTG Reporting

On October 3, an e-mail message was sent regarding the Data Exchange Gateway (DEG). If you did not respond to that email and are still using an unsecured method to connect to the DEG, your access is being disabled. If you monitor your Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS) and Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG) students through the Monitoring and Adjusting form within the Michigan Scholarships Online (MISO) system, you are OK. If however, you try to access the DEG and cannot, please contact Marion Seelman at SeelmanM@michigan.gov or 517-241-3106.

New TIP and CVTG Billing Forms

There are new billing forms for the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) and Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG). These forms may be found on our Web site at www.michigan.gov/ssg under the "Forms and Publications" tab.  You will find them in the "Financial Aid Professionals" box at the top of the page. Institutions may submit the old forms for Fall 2014 semester only. Effective second semester, all institutions are required to use the new forms. If you have questions, please contact Kathy Welch at WelchK1@michigan.gov or 517-373-7120.

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)

NAEHCY is a national grassroots membership association that connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, and service providers to ensure school enrollment, attendance, and overall success for children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing. As an SSG partner we support their efforts and encourage you to check out their Web site at www.NAEHCY.org.

Michigan Postsecondary Handbook

It’s back; the printed version of the Michigan Postsecondary Handbook! We heard from counselors that this is a valuable resource to them and as college access partners we wanted to bring it back. Two copies are being mailed to each Michigan high school in early December. The handbook is a great resource for current information on admissions requirements, campus characteristics, program offerings, and tuition costs. The complete handbook is also available on our Web site at www.michigan.gov/ssg under "Featured Resources." 

Welcome Packet

Are you a new high school counselor or financial aid professional, or do you know someone who is? If so, we would like to mail them a "Welcome Packet" with information about SSG programs and services, including copies of our resource material. Please contact Patty Hill at HillP@michigan.gov.

High School Counselor Webcast

The 2014 High School Counselor Webcast was held on Friday, October 17, in partnership with the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association (MSFAA) and SSG with the theme of “Helping Students Prepare for College.” The Webcast included Federal and State financial aid programs update, information on college preparation, college admissions, and alternative forms of postsecondary education. There were 33 host sites and nearly 700 participants. Thank you to everyone who participated. If you missed the Webcast, you may view it now on our Web site under "News and Highlights" at www.michigan.gov/ssg.

Scholarship Opportunity

The Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT) Foundation is now accepting 2015 scholarship applications. The scholarship is open to women of all ages aimed at encouraging female students to pursue technology degrees and certifications. The deadline for applications is January 30, 2015. Information may be found at www.mcwt.org.

Calendar of Events

Outreach staff will be at the following upcoming events.  If you have questions about these events (including times, specific locations, topics covered, etc.), please contact Shannon Price at prices4@michigan.gov.

• Tuesday, October 28: Oakland Schools Technical Campus NW
• Tuesday, October 28: St. Clair County Community College
• Monday, November 3: Kellogg Community College
• Wednesday, November 5: Baldwin Community Schools
• Wednesday, November 5: Holt High School
• Thursday, November 6: Capac High School
• Thursday, November 6: Portage High School
• Wednesday, November 12: Reese High School
• Monday, November 17: Michigan Pre-College and Youth Conference, Kalamazoo
• Wednesday, November 18: Milan High School
• Saturday, November 22: Aquinas College/Jump Shot West