Update from the Access Committee

Submitted by Ginny Washington, Senior Assistant Director of Student Financial Services at IUPUI and co-chair of the Access Committee

The Access Committee plays a crucial role in helping MASFAA members prepare students and families for success at our institutions. Its purpose and goal is to highlight proven methods for access to higher education.  To achieve this goal, we focus on two key areas. First, we work to create networking and best practice opportunities with partners or agencies who are focused on similar work as MASFAA, such as access to higher education, connecting with students, and barriers to access. We also research best practices that exist with partnerships, including researching the interest in organizations that may want to partner with us for this purpose.

The committee is currently working on gathering data to help define best practices in this area.  Each committee member is reaching out to their community to find those best proven methods and what partnerships already exist. We also surveyed the nine MASFAA states and gained some information about what some states are doing in the area of access and how some states have formed partnerships with community groups.  We would love to have more examples. If you would like to share your school or state’s partnerships, please email Ginny Washington.

As we move forward with the rest of the board year, our goal is to continue gathering data about access programs and possibly coordinating pre-conference session or interest session at the annual conference regarding our research, sharing best practices, and demonstrating how MASFAA members can form a collaborative relationship or partnership with local or state groups.

How can you help the Access Committee reach these lofty goals? We would be delighted to have other MASFAA members join us in our efforts. We would appreciate your input on successful strategies that you see in your area. Just sharing your knowledge about your community partners and your working relationships that have a proven method for access to higher education would be great.  And, if you have a passion for this work, consider serving on the committee. To share your feedback or to join the committee, please send your information to Ginny Washington. 

Thank you for all you do to help prepare students and their families for success!