Collaborations

KnowHow2GO
KnowHow2GO is a national college access campaign – sponsored by the American Council on Education (ACE), Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council – that encourages and prepares low-income 8th through 10th graders to actively pursue higher education. This multiyear, multimedia effort includes television, radio and outdoor public service advertisements (PSAs), and is supported by a grassroots network of partners. In addition, the KnowHow2GO state partners work to coordinate efforts statewide, many through the development of college access networks. NCAN serves as a technical advisor for some of the statewide campaigns.

The KnowHow2GO Web site guides students through the four steps to actively prepare for college. In addition to the information on the Web site, KnowHow2GO recently launched an Ambassadors Program. KnowHow2GO's Ambassadors are recent college graduates and experts on preparing for college. They're currently working as advisers to middle and high schoolers across the country. And now they're available to help students by sharing tips through the Ambassadors blog and through their dedicated Twitter and Facebook pages. College access and success programs can connect their students to the Ambassadors by first directing them to the blog and then encouraging further interaction through social networks.

Pathways to College Network
The Pathways to College Network is an alliance of major foundations, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and the U.S. Department of Education, which are working together to improve college access and success for large numbers of under-served youth, including low-income, underrepresented minority, and first-generation students.

Funds support collaborative activities of leading organizations and educational institutions that have been working independently to develop polices and practices to improve college opportunities for students. Fourteen organizations, including the National College Access Network (NCAN), have come together with the funders to establish the Network.

College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday is a statewide volunteer program that provides free information and assistance to students and families who are applying for financial aid for post secondary education. College Goal Sunday brings together financial aid professionals from colleges and universities along with other volunteers to help college-bound students and their families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form is required for any student seeking federal and state financial aid, including grants and loans at all colleges in the country.

The College Goal Sunday program was created by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc., and with supplemental support from Lumina Foundation for Education. Since 2001, Lumina Foundation has provided funds and the model to help establish College Goal Sunday in other states. We lead this effort with the encouragement of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association because College Goal Sunday works. In the past 14 years, the program has assisted more than 60,000 Indiana residents. The event has more than tripled its reach from 10 sites statewide the first year to 34 sites in 29 Indiana cities and towns in 2003.

College Goal Sunday and Lumina Foundation are working to bring the program to many more states, with the ultimate goal of each state offering a College Goal Sunday program to its residents.

National Coalition of Higher Education Lending Programs (NCHELP) College Access Forum
Based in Washington, DC, the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs, Inc. (NCHELP) represents a nationwide network of guaranty agencies, secondary markets, lenders, loan servicers, collectors, schools and other organizations involved in the administration of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Since its founding, NCHELP has represented its members on public policy and regulatory issues with the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

The College Access Forum page has information about tools and resources for college access practitioners and information about the College Access Initiative, NCHELP's External Advisory Committee, and the college access listserv.



National College Access Network | 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 632 | Washington, DC 20036 | phone: (202) 347-4848 | fax: (202) 530-4292