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Western PA College Success Roundtable

A consortium of secondary and post-secondary schools, community and government organizations, focused on networking, collaborating, inspiring and creating opportunities for students to achieve college success.

WPACSR Executive Council Members 2022-2023

President – Amy Sawdey, PHEAA
Past-President – Wendy Dunlap – PHEAA
Speakers/Training Coordinator – Open Position
Treasurer – Melony Ohalek, Sallie Mae
Conference (CSF) Coordinator – Stephanie Hendershot, Robert Morris University
Ad Hoc Executive Council Member – Ian Harkness, Malvern Preparatory School
Constitution and By-Laws – Michael White, Slippery Rock University

Meeting Schedule

  • September 12, Virtual
  • November 14, Location TBA
  • College Success Forum – Tentative January 30
  • March 12, Virtual
  • May 14, Location TBA

*Meetings are held at various locations in Western PA, usually in and around the Pittsburgh area, or held virtually. 

How to Join Us

If you would like to be added to the email distribution list (which includes invitations to meetings, agendas, conversations and general information regarding college access and success) please contact Amy Sawdey, WPACSR President, at amy.sawdey@pheaa.org.

Documents

Please click here for the Documents Archive (2020 and earlier)

Constitution and By-Laws

WPACSR Constitution and Bylaws (May 2018) (pdf)

Executive Council Meeting Minutes

WPACSR Council Meeting Minutes – 10-19-17 (pdf)
WPACSR Council Meeting Minutes – 8-29-17 (pdf)

Noteworthy

Roundtable Roundup – 11-2022
Roundtable Roundup – 09-2022
Roundtable Roundup – 03-2022
Roundtable Roundup – 11-2021
Roundtable Roundup – 09-2021
Roundtable Roundup – 09-2021
PHEAA Financial Aid Updates – 09-2021
Pittsburgh Admissions Collaboration – 09-2021
Niche.com Presentation – 09-2021
“Reviewing Your Year” Presentation – 03-09-2021
Roundtable Roundup – 03-09-2021
Presentations from the 01-12-2021 meeting
Roundtable Roundup – 01-12-2021

Counselor Resources

Financial Aid Resource Manual (pdf)
Free streaming of the First Generation film available here www.gocollegenow.org
Foster Care Presentation (pdf)

05-09-2023 Meeting (Click for Recording)

Allegheny Intermediate Unit
BUILD.org Flyer and Presentation
Hebrew Free Loan Association of Pittsburgh
Neighborhood Learning Alliance
Pittsburgh (PGH) HBCU Collaborative Flyer and Events
Pittsburgh Scholar House
The Mentoring Partnership
Troutwood

03-02-2023 Meeting

STEM PUSH Presentation
Pitt Bio Outreach: Gene Team
Young Naturalists
Remake Learning

01-31-2023 College Success Forum

Agenda
Elizabeth McCloud Keynote
PA FAFSA Go!
Advocating for an Ethical Process
Building Scholastic Community for Parenting Scholars
Stacking Coins: Expanding Banking Access Through Education & Partnerships
The New Digital SAT: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Understanding FAFSA Simplification
Investing: It’s Not Important You Know How, It’s Imperative!
PA 529 and Keystone Scholars Usage, Access, and Benefits
Meeting Students’ Basic Needs
Reaching Across the Desk—Best Practices for Admission and Secondary School Counselors
The Justice Scholars Institute an Equity-Focused, College Preparatory Initiative
Why Entrepreneurship Education Is Critical to Pave the Way for College and Career Success
The Importance of Financial Literacy
ACT WorkKeys for Pennsylvania Students

11-08-2022 Meeting

University of Pittsburgh Financial Wellness Presentation
Ingram Market Analytics, LLC Presentation

09-13-2022  Meeting (Click for Recording)

Pittsburgh Foundation Postcard
Pittsburgh Promise Presentation
Questbridge Presentation

05-10-2022  Meeting

CCAC Presentation
JFCS Presentation

03-15-2022  Meeting

Recording
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Admission Counselor Job Posting
Duquesne University Center for Student Wellbeing

01-25-2022  College Success Forum

Agenda
Recognize Respond and Refer
Addressing Life Challenges
Caring for Community Caregivers
Enrollment Trends
FAFSA Simplification
How to Support Minority Students
Junior Achievement
Project-based AP Courses
Troutwood
Master Plan for Higher Education
Character in Application Review
How America Pays for College
Introducing Pennsylvania Western University
Reaching Across the Desk

11-09-2021 Meeting

View the recording
Junior Achievement
Rosedale Tech Presentation
Rosedale Tech Educators’ Luncheon
Student Loan Relief for Nurses

05-11-2021 Meeting

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation
OPDC Video
CCBC High School Academy Pathways
CCBC Video

Student Outreach

PASFAA and the Western PA College Success Roundtable have teamed up to provide resources to all Pennsylvania students and parents in a one-stop-shop. Both organizations work toward helping students achieve their educational dreams through access and funding sources.

FAFSA Completion Events

Please visit www.pheaa.org/college-planning/fafsa/help-events.shtml for a listing of public FAFSA Completion Sessions.

Employment Resources

PA Careerlink www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us
Workforce Investment Board www.paworkforce.state.pa.us
Goodwill Industries www.goodwill.org

*If you are an alum of a school, keep in touch with their Career Services Office for assistance with employment, resume writing, etc.

College Access/Planning Resources

Pennsylvania Association for College Admissions Counselors (PACAC) www.pacac.org
The College Board www.collegeboard.org
Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
Education Planner www.educationplanner.org
Net Price Calculator www.collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx

The Application Process

PACAC www.pacac.org
The Common Application www.commonapp.org
The College Board www.collegeboard.org

College Visits

Education Planner www.educationplanner.org
Big Future (College Board) www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
KnowHow2Go www.knowhowtogo.org
NCAA www.ncaa.org

Financial Aid Resources

Scholarship Tips
Pittsburgh Foundation Scholarship Postcard page 1
Pittsburgh Foundation Scholarship Postcard page 2
Interest-free loans (Allegheny County residents) www.hflapgh.org/
Federal Student Aid www.federalstudentaid.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.gov
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) www.pheaa.org
Stafford Loans/PLUS Loans/Entrance-Exit Interviews www.studentloans.gov
Military Benefits www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
ROTC www.goarmy.com/rotc.html; www.afrotc.com
Outside Scholarships www.fastweb.com; www.finaid.org; www.collegeboard.org

*Google “unusual scholarships”, speak to your guidance counselor regarding local scholarships, and talk to your college and major department.

Study Abroad www.zinch.com/scholarships/

Financial Literacy Information

The Missing Semester www.themissingsemester.com
Junior Achievement www.juniorachievement.org
YouCanDealWithIt www.youcandealwithit.com
MySmartBorrowing www.mysmartborrowing.com

Voting Resources

Elections Infographic
18th Birthday Card
Civic Engagement Presentation
Municipal Elections Infographic

Support Services

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) www.dli.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/vocational_rehabilitation/10356
The Pittsburgh Promise www.pittsburghpromise.org
Disability Services on Campus (ADA) www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/hiv___aids/14241/ada/557959
Transition (Intermediate Units) www.paiu.org

Parent Information

FSA Resources for Parents www.studentaid.ed.gov/resources/parents
College Prep Checklist www.studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/college-prep-checklist.pdf
PLUS Loans www.studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/plus
Outside Scholarships www.fastweb.com; www.finaid.org; www.collegeboard.org

*Google “unusual scholarships”, speak to your guidance counselor regarding local scholarships, and talk to your college and major department.

Additional Funding Options

*Contact your local lending agency or the school for alternative/private education loans.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Graduation and Beyond

Exit Interview Information www.studentloans.gov
Loan Consolidation www.studentloans.gov
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) www.nslds.ed.gov
Public Service Loan Forgiveness www.myfedloan.org
Loan Repayment Information www.studentloans.gov
Federal Servicers www.myfedloan.org; www.mygreatlakes.org; www.nelnet.com; www.navient.com

*If you are an alum of a school, keep in touch with their Career Services Office for assistance with employment, resume writing, etc.

Other Related Sites

PA Treasury www.patreasury.gov
IRS www.irs.gov
Ed Tax Credit www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-benefits-for-education-information-center
Tax Transcript Service www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
Selective Service www.sss.gov
Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov
US Citizen and Immigration Services www.uscis.gov
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) www.consumerfinance.gov
FSA Ombudsman www.studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/disputes/prepare/contact-ombudsman
US Senate www.senate.gov
US House of Representatives www.house.gov
PA House of Representatives www.house.state.pa.us
PA Senate www.pasen.gov
Find Your Legislator in PA www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/index.cfm
NCAA www.ncaa.com
Americorps www.americorps.gov
Military Benefits www.benefits.va.gov/gibill