The Use of a Web Portal to Increase
Access to Higher Education
Hawaii
February 24 & 25 , 2009
Joe Watts
Senior Fellow, The Institute for College and Career Success

“We found that access to American higher education is unduly limited by the complex interplay of
inadequate preparation, lack of information about college opportunities and persistent financial
barriers.”
Former US Secretary of Education
Margaret Spellings

• Define the Problem
• North Carolina’s Response
• Review the Site
• New Initiatives
• Examine Results
• Benefits

•Changing Demographics
•Shifting Economics

The number of public high school graduates peaks in 2009, doesn’t recover until 2017
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000

The racial composition of HS graduates will change
1994-2018
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Non-Public White Black Asian Hispanic American Indian

Projections of High School Graduates by State
2002-2018
Loss of 10%-35%
Loss of 1%-9%
Gain of 1%-10%
Gain of 11%-25%
Gain of 26%-50%
Gain of 51%-103%
Source: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

North Carolina
Public and Nonpublic High School Graduates
2003-04 through 2017-18 (projected)
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
20
03
-0
4
04
-0
5
20
05
-0
6
20
06
-0
7
20
07
-0
8
20
08
-0
9
20
09
-1
0
20
10
-1
1
20
11
-1
2
20
12
-1
3
20
13
-1
4
20
14
-1
5
20
15
-1
6
20
16
-1
7
20
17
-1
8
American Indian/ Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black, non- Hispanic
Hispanic
White, non- Hispanic

Public and Nonpublic High School Graduates
2005-06 through 2021-22 (projected)
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
20
05
-0
6
20
07
-0
8
20
09
-1
0
20
11
-1
2
20
13
-1
4
20
15
-1
6
20
17
-1
8
20
19
-2
0
20
21
-2
2
American Indian/Alaska
Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black/Non-Hispanic
Hispanic
White/Non-Hispanic
Source: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Source:http://www.cerc.com/detpages/aboutus79.html

• Historically a manufacturing/agricultural state
 Loss of textiles
 Loss of furniture
 Loss of tobacco
• Future Industries for Growth
 Biotechnology
 Pharmaceuticals
 Pervasive computing
 Nanotechnology
 Service industries

Skill Level Changes
Unskilled
60%
Skilled
20%
Professional
20%
1950
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Skill Level Change s
Skilled
45%
Unskilled
35%
Professional
20%
1991
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Skill Level Changes
Skilled
65%
Unskilled
15%
Professional
20%
2000
Bureau of Labor Statistics

CFNC is a partnership requested by the
UNC Board of Governors and funded by the
1999 General Assembly.
• Department of Public Instruction (K-12)
• NC Community College System (58)
• NC Independent Colleges and Universities (36)
• UNC System (16)

NC’s loan originator -
501(c)3
CFNC is the name of a service provided by three
NC entities
Pathways
State-funded K-16 partnership (DPI,
NCCCS, UNC,
NCICU) administered by the
UNC System
State Guarantor scholarships, 529 program

Our Primary Goal = Access
G
O
A
L
To increase the college-going rate in
North Carolina with particular attention toward “first-generation” college students.
Two obstacles facing first-generation college students:
(1) Can I really go to college in NC?
(2) Can I afford to go to college?

Technology and Internet
Services www.CFNC.org
Career Center
Student Planner
College Fair
Online Applications and HS Transcripts
Paying for College
Saving for College
Resource Center
GEAR UP North
Carolina
1.866.866.CFNC
Toll-free Telephone
Hotline for Career,
College, & Financial Aid
Planning
Email from CFNC.org
Publications
Training
Hispanic Services
Low-income (FRL) school students
$37 million
Two grants from
Dept of Education
(2000-2011)
35 NC counties
14,000+ students

1. Good Information = Good Decisions
2. Comprehensive: “Plan, Apply, and Pay”
3. Up-to-date / Real Time
4. Accessible
5. Interactive
6. Personalized
7. Versatile
8. Supports and Enables Student Transitions

CFNC.org Highlights
• Career information
• Four-year planner
• Free Test Prep for SAT/ACT/GRE
• College profiles and matching assistant
• Online applications
• Electronic high school transcripts
• Online FAFSA
• Financial aid information
• 529 College Savings Plan

The College Access A’s and Mentor Portal
1. Aspirations
2. Academic Preparation
3. Affordability
4. Availability
5. Applications
Career Planner
Student Planner
Paying for College
College Fair
Online Applications

Taking Access to The Next Level
• College Access and Career Planning Curriculum
• Premier Agenda High School Planner
• Career Planning and Exploration
• College Application Week

NEW

NEW

NEW
A North Carolina Innovation

College Application Week Background
• Patterned after College Goal Sunday
• Target the two biggest obstacles standing in the way of students matriculating to post-secondary education:
Admission and Cost.
• Cosponsored by CFNC and CACRAO
• Goal = All Students Apply to College

College Application Week Timeline
• 2006, 15 high schools
• 931 students participated
• 1,007 applications were submitted
• 2007, 109 high schools
• 12,808 students participated
• 21,445 applications were submitted
• 2008, a statewide event:
• 19,356 students
• 37,903 applications

Events

Just because you build it, doesn’t mean they will come…

CFNC Marketing
Marketing Strategies:
■ TV
■
Radio
■ Print and Direct Mail
■
Billboards
■
Collateral Materials
■ Public Service Announcements

• Year One Brand Awareness
• Year Two Targeting Services
• Year Three Targeting Services
• Year Four Targeting Audiences

•80% of High School and Middle
School parents in North Carolina are aware of CFNC.org
•Of those who know the site, 84% anticipate using the services

• 4,850+ School Counselors Trained
• 500+ Admissions Officers Trained
• Superintendents and Principals
• Teachers/ Media Center Directors
• School Boards
• Governor’s Education Cabinet
• Legislative Education Oversight Committee

CFNC.org Usage 2001 through January 2009
2,461,441 student accounts
9,336 visitors per day for an average of 10 min
97,417
(2007&2008)
High school transcripts
1,270,332 online applications

North Carolina College Participation Rates for Students from Low Income Families
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Fiscal Year
Source: Postsecondary Education Opportunity

• Collaboration
• Flexible and Robust Technology
• “One Stop Shop”
• Training
• Marketing
• Constantly Evolving
• Student Centered

• A “One Stop Shop” for College and Career
Planning
• A P-16 Initiative and Collaboration
• Increased Access to Higher Education
• Better Educated Workforce
• Lower Unemployment
• Increased Tax Revenue

• “One Stop Shop” for Career & College
Planning
• Better and More Up to Date Information
• Portfolio Development
• Simplifies College Comparisons
• Auto population of Forms
• Comprehensive

• Career Planning Tool
• College Exploration Tool
• Course Selection
• ACT/SAT Preparation
• Case Load Management
• Electronic Transcripts
• Tracking

• Increased Visibility
• Source of Prospects
• Online Application (Funnel)
• Electronic Transcripts
• Costs Savings
• Better Prepared Students
• Access to State Based Financial Aid

• Career Planning
• College Planning
• Course Selection
• Test Preparation
• College Applications
• Transcripts
• Financial Aid

Joe Watts, Senior Fellow
The Institute for College and Career Success
336-407-5819 watts@theiccs.org