In 2008, 34.9 percent of working age Missourians had a college degree or other postsecondary credential. That number rose to 36.4 percent in 2011, the most recent year such figures are available.

Compared to college attainment rates in other states, though, Missouri still has a long way to go. The top state is Massachusetts, where 50.8 percent of the population has a college degree. West Virginia is last in the nation, with 27.8 percent. The national average is 38.7 percent of the population.

Dewayne Matthews, vice president of policy and strategy for the Lumina Foundation, told a group of higher education leaders in Jefferson City on Monday that increasing the college attainment rate is essential for the economic wellbeing of the state and nation.

During the recent recession, the economy actually added 200,000 jobs that require a bachelor's degree or higher, while eliminating 5.6 million jobs that only require a high school diploma or less. "The recession accelerated long term declines in middle-skilled, middle-wage jobs," Matthews said.

The Lumina Foundation estimates that by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs will require some form of postsecondary education. "Yet, degree attainment rates in the U.S. have been flat for the last 30 years," Matthews said. "Our young people have lower college attainment rates than the baby boom generation, and this has led to the decline of the U.S. to 13^th among developed nations."

Matthews told the higher education leaders that state policies that allow students to progress through college efficiently are contributing to Missouri's rate of college attainment. Those policies include articulation agreements that ensure credits earned at one institution will transfer to others, and a soon-to-be implemented core library of courses that will transfer to all public higher education institutions in the state.

Matthews said funding models that reward institutions for improving completion rates are good policy incentives. The Missouri legislature adopted a performance funding model for public higher education institutions for the 2014 fiscal year.

Missouri benefitted from a tuition freeze at public colleges and universities, negotiated by Gov. Nixon in 2010 and 2011, that kept college affordable and boosted enrollment. Missouri has compiled the lowest rate of tuition growth in the nation during the last three years, making higher education in Missouri a good value.

Matthews noted that 755,000 Missourians have attended college but don't have a degree. The Lumina Foundation provided Missouri with a grant to implement "reverse transfer" in the state. Reverse transfer helps students who have earned enough credits for an associate's degree obtain that degree even if they have transferred to a four-year institution or stopped out of college altogether.

Western Governors University, a private, non-profit institution, will open a branch in Missouri this year. WGU-Missouri addresses the needs of working adults by awarding them credit for competencies they have learned on the job so they can progress toward a degree based on what they know rather than time spent in class. This "competency-based" approach to education will also improve Missouri's rate of degree attainment, Matthews said.

Although positive progress is being taken to increase the percentage of degree holders in the working population, Commissioner of Higher Education David Russell said that more Missourians must be convinced of the importance of post-secondary education or risk being left behind economically.

 "As a state, we must recognize that the jobs of the future require higher education," Russell said. "And we must commit to providing the resources needed so all students are equipped to succeed in a knowledge-based economy."

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education is hosting the forum, which provides an opportunity for board members and chief executives to network and discuss state and national issues facing higher education.

The day-long conference will cover such topics as higher education finance, efficiency, advocacy, student preparation, improving degree attainment rates, using classroom technology and keeping college affordable and accessible.

Gov. Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon will welcome attendees to the forum. Dewayne Matthews, vice president for policy and strategy at the Lumina Foundation, will speak at noon about Missouri's progress toward meeting the goal of having 60 percent of working-age Missourians attain a college degree or high quality certificate by 2025.

Local governing boards provide fiscal oversight, allocate financial resources, approve policies and plans, and hire and fire chief executive officers at Missouri's 13 community colleges, 10 public four-year institutions, and one two-year technical college. Board members at four-year institutions are appointed by the governor, while community college boards are elected by voters within their districts.

Bringing local governing board members together to discuss topics of mutual interest helps build a more cohesive system of higher education, according to CBHE chair, Dalton Wright.

"Colleges and universities across Missouri are grappling with similar issues," said Wright. "The forum is an opportunity to hear other institutions' success stories and challenges, to share ideas and hear the perspectives of state and national experts in higher education."

Sponsors for the conference include the Lumina Foundation, the Missouri Community College Association and the Council on Public Higher Education.

The event is made possible through a $100,000 College Access Challenge Grant administered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

Pat Gillman is director of College and Career Readiness at State Fair. She said the grant enables area high schools to participate in the fair by underwriting the cost of transportation. "Superintendents told us 'no way can we come' when the first economic crunch hit," Gillman said. "The cost of buses and lunches for the students was prohibitive."

Gillman saw the grant as a resource to help continue the successful program. "When I asked for letters of support from superintendents, I expected a handful would respond," she said. Instead, she got 41 endorsements.

The morning of the fair offers students a chance to get acquainted with colleges and universities in the state. The afternoon brings together businesses and industries to show off employment opportunities and the academic preparation required for them.

The fair is one of a three-pronged approach State Fair uses to motivate students to attend college. A program aimed at middle schoolers explains the academic requirements that are needed, and financial aid advisers help high school students understand their options to pay for college.

"The academic program for middle school students is a wake-up call," Gillman said. "It is amazing what a little preparation can do to raise test scores."

The financial aid advisers work with high school counselors and provide help with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to high school students and adults who want to return to school.

This will be the third year that State Fair has received a College Access Challenge Grant. Gillman said FAFSA filings have risen in every district as a result of grant activities. State Fair partners with Central Methodist University on the grant activities.

College Access Challenge Grants were created by Congress in 2007 to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. This year the Missouri Department of Higher Education awarded more than $1.6 million in federal funds to 21 groups to reach underserved students.

Other grant recipients are:

College Bound St. Louis ($100,000-St. Louis)

College Bound provides weekly classes on "college knowledge" ranging from admission requirements, types of postsecondary schools, developing study skills, college application completion, scholarship research, essay writing, career exploration, financial literacy and standardized test preparation.

College Summit ($100,000-St. Louis)

College Summit provides a comprehensive college access and preparation program to 15 partner schools in the St. Louis area as they continue building a systemic college-going culture.

De La Salle Middle School ($99,964-St. Louis)

De La Salle Middle School will provide effective information to students and families, beginning in middle school, on postsecondary education benefits, opportunities and planning as well as career preparation.

Drury University ($58,506-Springfield)

Drury University, in close partnership with the Springfield Public Schools, conducts the Drury Scholars Program, which is a yearlong mentoring and tutoring initiative.

Harris-Stowe State University ($51,161-St. Louis)

The 2013-2014 HSSU Financial Awareness Outreach Program will serve area low-income middle and high school students as well as parents, non-traditional students and continuing education students.

Infinite Scholars Program of Missouri ($93,853-St. Louis)

The Infinite Scholars Program provides a combination of comprehensive college access activities and career opportunity awareness activities to students and their families.

Metropolitan Community College and the Career Education Consortium ($71,734-Kansas City)

College Access Challenge Grant funds will be used for the FAST Project (Finding Academic Success in Transitions) which serves six geographically diverse school districts in the metropolitan Kansas City area.

Missouri College Advising Corps ($100,000-University of Missouri- Columbia)

The Missouri College Advising Corps (MCAC) program provides college access support and activities to 26 partner high schools in the state. 

Missouri Council on Economic Education ($18,090-Kansas City)

The Missouri Council on Economic Education will create an iBook textbook called: "How to Pay for College."

Missouri Southern State University ($30,000-Joplin)

Missouri Southern State University will develop a "Major, Minor, and Career Preparation Academy" to assist students in exploring and selecting appropriate major, minor and career paths.

Missouri State University- West Plains ($100,000-West Plains)

College Access Challenge Grant funds will be used to support and sustain "Project Threshold" which serves Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Wright, Douglas, Ozark, Carter, Reynolds and Wayne counties in south-central Missouri.

St. Charles Community College ($99,926-Cottleville)

St. Charles Community College will implement the "BE READY" Project with middle and high school students in St. Charles, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and Warren counties.

St. Louis Internship Program ($45,668-St. Louis)

St. Louis Internship Program provides college access outreach to students in all 25 St. Louis City public, charter, parochial and private high schools.

Southeast Missouri State University ($100,000-Cape Girardeau)

Southeast Missouri State University will lead the "PLAN FOR COLLEGE" initiative which provides a prescribed set of college planning and preparatory services to 44 public high schools in a 10-county region in southeast Missouri.

The Community Partnership ($32,318-Rolla)

The Community Partnership will help at-risk youth, specifically youth in foster care and teen parents, obtain information, resources, support and opportunities related to post-secondary education.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis ($85,000-St. Louis)

College Access Challenge Grant funds will be used for the foundation's "Student Advocate and Advising Program."

The University of Missouri- Columbia 4-H Extension ($100,000-Columbia)

The University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for youth development makes college an obtainable goal for high school youth who are not otherwise encouraged to attend college. 

The University of Missouri- Kansas City ($84,500-Kansas City)

College Access Challenge Grant funds will assist with a collaborative college and career preparatory program among several key units at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Truman State University ($38,120-Kirksville)

Truman State University's BULLDOG (Building Up Lives; Lending Direction and Optimism for Going) Program will foster collaboration with area high schools in northeast Missouri.

Wyman Center, Inc. ($99,994-Eureka)

Wyman provides college access through its Wyman Prep program in a progressive manner from middle school through high school for teens in need.

FAFSA Frenzy events make applying for financial aid easier by providing students with free, on-site help to fill out the FAFSA, which is the first step in applying for most federal, state and institutional financial aid.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education recognized two Outstanding Site Coordinators of the Year and two Outstanding Volunteers of the Year based on nominations from FAFSA Frenzy organizers and volunteers.

Site Coordinator of the Year awards went to Robin Stimac, financial aid director for Metropolitan Community College- Maple Woods, and Rebecca Strubbe, director of guidance at Lebanon High School.

Robin Stimac, who coordinated FAFSA Frenzy at the Maple Woods campus of Metropolitan Community College, was recognized as a tireless promoter of FAFSA Frenzy at community events and on local TV and radio shows. "Robin makes sure every parent and every student feels comfortable," said one of her nominators.

Rebecca Strubbe hosted FAFSA Frenzy at Lebanon High School, bringing in families from schools within a 30-mile radius to join the event. She recruited financial aid advisors from several colleges and guidance counselors from surrounding high schools to lend their expertise to students and their families.

Volunteer of the Year awards went to Teresa Steinkamp, program advisor at the St. Louis Scholarship Foundation, and Sharon Kavanaugh, customer service representative for State Fair Community College.

Teresa Steinkamp served at numerous sites and was nominated as a volunteer at Hazelwood East Middle School. She was recognized for her expertise and ability to work one-on-one with participants to submit the FAFSA, and for following up with an individual student who encountered problems. "She emailed the student in less than 24 hours and later followed up with her to see if the student had completed her application," according to the nominating form.

Sharon Kavanaugh helped at the FAFSA Frenzy event at State Fair Community College. She promoted the event throughout Sedalia, even securing donated lunches, cookies and prizes for the participants. "Everyone was impressed we provided lunch for them ... they were so very grateful," wrote her nominator. "She went above and beyond to make our event a success."

"Students encounter many obstacles in the path to college," said David Russell, commissioner of higher education. "The dedicated volunteers of FAFSA Frenzy help remove those obstacles so students can apply for financial aid on time. We recognize these outstanding site coordinators and volunteers of the year, and extend our thanks to the hundreds of others who give freely of their time to help students obtain financial aid."

The State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards for math and English as part of the Missouri Learning Standards in 2010. The new standards will be in use in all public school districts in the state by fall 2014.

The new standards were developed and adopted by states to define the knowledge and skills all students should know and be able to do to be on track for success in college and careers.

Currently, about one-third of recent high school graduates in Missouri must take remedial classes to prepare for college-level coursework. The new standards, which promote critical thinking and reasoning, align with entry-level college courses. With successful implementation, the Common Core State Standards are expected to drastically reduce the need for remedial classes.

Chris L. Nicastro, commissioner of education, said the standards set a clear roadmap for academic expectations.

"Students will know well ahead of high school graduation what knowledge and skills they will need to be successful, whether they elect to go on to college or other postsecondary training, or join the workforce," Nicastro said. "The standards are relevant, attainable and based on practical, real-world learning goals."

Nicastro emphasized that individual school districts will continue to develop their own curricula, and classroom teachers will decide how best to teach to the new standards.

"There is no state-mandated curriculum," she said.

Having uniform learning goals across the state and nation helps students who transfer to another school district, as well as students from military families who come to Missouri from another state.

The Common Core State Standards will also help make Missouri students competitive in a globally recruited workforce, said David Russell, commissioner of higher education.

"Implementing the Common Core State Standards will lower remediation rates, increase rates of college completion and provide significant savings to students, their families and the state," Russell said. "The standards are essential if we are to increase the number of Missourians with a college degree, which translates to almost a million more dollars in lifetime earnings for the student and a more robust economy for the state."

The Common Core State Standards have been endorsed by more than 200 Missouri school districts, 90 individuals, 50 educational organizations, 40 businesses and business organizations, and 35 institutions of higher education. A complete list of endorsements is available at dese.mo.gov/documents/CCSS-Support-lists.pdf.

More than $150 billion is provided by the U.S. Department of Education to help students with financial need attend college. FAFSA Frenzy events make applying for financial aid easier by providing students with free, on-site help to fill out the FAFSA, which is the first step in applying for most federal, state and institutional financial aid.

2013 marks the 10th year Missouri has held statewide events to help students and their parents complete the FAFSA. During the past nine years, more than 9,500 Missouri students have received help at such events, and 65 percent of them were from groups that are under-represented in higher education, such as low-income, minority and first-generation college students.

The events help the state progress toward its goal of having 60 percent of the adult population possess a degree or high quality certificate by 2025. Currently, about 46 percent of Missourians ages 25 - 64 hold a postsecondary certificate or higher.

The events also boost college-going rates of low-income, minority and first-generation students. Commissioner of Higher Education David Russell said raising educational attainment among these groups could boost the state's economy by $4 billion.

"In order for Missouri to grow economically, it is essential to invest in the education of our citizens," Russell said. "FAFSA Frenzy helps remove the sometimes daunting barrier of applying for financial aid to make college more accessible." Russell will volunteer at a FAFSA Frenzy event Feb. 16 in Columbia.

 Missouri students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible, but certainly by April 1 for timely consideration for financial aid.  Students and families do not need to have filed their federal income taxes for 2012 in order to participate in a FAFSA Frenzy event or to complete the FAFSA.

A majority of FAFSA Frenzy events will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and Feb. 17. To find a location near you, click here or visit the Missouri Department of Higher Education website (dhe.mo.gov) and click on the FAFSA Frenzy banner.

Participants are asked to bring:

• 2012 W-2 forms.
• Copies of their 2012 tax forms, if they are ready. If students or their parents have not yet filed 2012 returns before they attend a FAFSA Frenzy event, they should be sure to bring any statements of interest earned in 2012, any 1099 forms, and any other forms required to complete taxes. This will allow students and their parents to submit FAFSA online during the event. The student will then need to go back to the FAFSA and submit corrections once tax returns are filed. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool should be available to help submit corrections accurately within a few weeks after the tax file date.
• Student PIN and parent PIN. Students and parents may apply for PINs at www.pin.ed.gov before attending a FAFSA Frenzy event.

Students who attend a FAFSA Frenzy event will be entered into a statewide drawing to win a scholarship. Scholarship funds are being provided by the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority and by the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel. All students receive gift bags with helpful information for planning and paying for college.

Mahoney served as president of Lincoln University in Jefferson City from 2005 until her retirement in 2012. She has had a distinguished academic career, beginning as an assistant professor of mathematics at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, in 1984. She chaired the mathematics department at California State University San Marcos until 2000, when she became dean of the school of mathematics and then provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, the position she held prior to becoming president of Lincoln University.

Mahoney graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in mathematics from Siena College in Memphis, Tennessee, and went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees, also in mathematics, from Ohio State University.

She was a Zonta Woman of Achievement in 2009 and was given the Ralph S. Brown Award for Shared Governance by the American Association of University Professors in 2007.

Commissioner of Higher Education David Russell said Mahoney's extensive experience in higher education will be an invaluable asset to the Coordinating Board.

"Dr. Mahoney will bring an insightful perspective to the board that will benefit colleges and universities statewide," Russell said.

Mahoney joins Coordinating Board members Dalton Wright (chair, Conway), Lowell Kruse (St. Joseph), Brian Fogle (Springfield) and Betty Simms (Ladue). Kathy Swan, former chair and longtime board member, has resigned effective Dec. 31, 2012, due to her successful bid for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Results of the Improving Teacher Quality Program evaluation, conducted by M.A. Henry Consulting, an independent research and evaluation firm, confirmed that 229 math and science teachers participating in the ninth cycle of grants experienced statistically significant gains in knowledge acquisition.

More than 14,000 students of the public school teachers participating in the programs showed comparably significant gains at the high school level in mathematics when compared to a control group of students of similar teachers who did not take part in the Improving Teacher Quality Grant program.

"It is unusual to see such statistically significant student gains of any type after such a relatively brief period of working with teachers," said Martha A. Henry, PhD, of the firm performing the evaluation.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education has administered the Improving Teacher Quality Grant program with federal funding for the past nine years. The grant-funded projects were conducted through universities and colleges across the state with teachers from grades kindergarten through high school.

Teachers participate in programs such as summer academies, enhanced assessments and content knowledge refreshers in math and science.

Commissioner of Higher Education David Russell said Improving Teacher Quality Grants help K-12 teachers keep up-to-date on new math and science concepts and provide resources they can use for hands-on learning in the classroom. "The acquisition of scientific knowledge is accelerating at an incredible pace," Russell said. "Classroom teachers need to continually update course content and teaching methods to prepare students to be successful in college and careers."

Missouri received $1.1 million for the program in Cycle 9. Ninth-cycle projects were funded and implemented at Columbia College, Maryville University, Missouri State University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Southeast Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri and University of Missouri.

Cycle 10 projects already are underway, and proposals for Cycle 11 are being accepted now.

A letter of intent to apply for the Cycle 11 Improving Teacher Quality Grant is due by November 13, 2012. The completed application is due Dec. 17, 2012. The Request for Proposals may be obtained on the Missouri Department of Education Website at http://www.dhe.mo.gov/documents/Cycle11RFP.pdf

The purpose of the Improving Teacher Quality Grant program is to increase the academic achievement of students by helping schools and districts improve K-12 teacher and administrator quality and by helping to ensure that all K-12 teachers are highly qualified.

For Cycle 11, approximately $300,000 will be available for new projects. The grant amounts generally range from $70,000 to $200,000 per project, depending on the number of participants and the extent and quality of the professional development provided by each project. Cycle 11 proposals will have a competitive focus on environmental education, data system competencies, and the Missouri Core Academic Standards for math and English language arts.

The grant program is funded by and operates under the federal legislation known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It is the largest federal initiative that supports professional development projects for teachers and principals, with a focus on high-need school districts and higher education institutions. Through this legislation, state education agencies, local education agencies and state agencies for higher education receive funds on a formula basis.

A technical workshop will be held on October 18, 2012 in Jefferson City, Mo. For more information and registration for the workshop contact the grant administrator, Liz Valentine at elizabeth.valentine@dhe.mo.gov.

The board passed the resolution at their meeting Sept. 5 in Jefferson City. The resolution states:

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education supports passage of Proposition B, the November ballot initiative to raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco-related products. This initiative would increase funding for higher education by approximately $84 million annually. The CBHE further endorses provisions of the measure to devote 25 percent of the proceeds for higher education to prepare future health care workers - including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and others - for high-paying professions and to address the health care needs of the state. The CBHE believes this additional funding for higher education will make high quality postsecondary education more affordable for Missouri students, will improve economic development and will contribute to improved quality of life for many Missourians.

 Board member Lowell Kruse, former CEO of Heartland Health in St. Joseph, said, "Raising the tax on cigarettes - which is the lowest in the country --  fulfills two important goals: it will increase funding for education, which is in critically short supply, and it will improve health outcomes for Missourians."

The NGA will provide $65,000 and ongoing technical assistance to Missouri to bring together K-12 and higher education teachers and administrators to ensure that Common Core State Standards are widely understood and implemented.

The Common Core State Standards initiative spells out academic expectations in English and mathematics. The standards define the knowledge and skills all students should master in order to succeed in college and career. They were created through a state-led initiative and have been adopted by more than 45 states, including Missouri. 

The grant will help fund development of a model curriculum to be used by schools of education to prepare new teachers to use the Common Core State Standards. It will also enable working groups made up of high school and college personnel to align their efforts to help students meet the new standards.

David Russell, commissioner of higher education, said the grant is confirmation that Missouri efforts to set expectations for students in the areas of English and mathematics are on the right track.

"In 2007, the Department of Higher Education brought together representatives from all sectors of K-12 and postsecondary education to launch the Curriculum Alignment Initiative," Russell said. "By providing this funding, the National Governor's Association has recognized Missouri as a leader in setting and implementing academic standards that will help our students succeed."

The NGA said the Common Core State Standards are a major step forward in education reform, with far-reaching implications for K-12 and postsecondary education.

Funding for the initiative is provided by the Hewlett and Lumina foundations.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education is hosting the event. It is the first time the coordinating board has assembled local governing boards to discuss higher education issues facing the state and nation.

The day-long conference will cover such topics as stewardship, higher education finance, improving degree attainment rates, maintaining academic quality in challenging fiscal times, and forming partnerships with business and industry.

Speakers with national perspectives include Stan Jones, founder of Complete College America; Rich Novak, senior vice president of the Association of Governing Boards; and Jee Hang Lee, director of public policy for the Association of Community College Trustees.

Local governing boards allocate financial resources, guide policies, and hire and fire top administrators at Missouri's 13 community colleges, 10 public four-year institutions, and two-year technical college. Board members at four-year institutions are appointed by the governor, while community college boards are elected by voters within their districts.

Bringing local governing board members together to discuss topics of mutual interest is a priority for the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, according to its chair, Kathy Swan.

"We have more in common than we have differences," said Swan. "We are all faced with reduced financial resources, growing enrollment and pressure to graduate more students. We're coming together next week to learn from each other and national experts about how institutions around the state and nation are coping with these challenges."

Sponsors for the conference include the Higher Education Partnership, Husch Blackwell law firm, Complete College America, the Missouri Community College Association and the Council on Public Higher Education.

The number of veterans enrolled in college in Missouri who are receiving the post-Sept. 11 education benefit grew from 7,512 in 2010 to 11,592 in 2011, making Missouri ninth in the percentage of growth among all states. The numbers are expected to swell as troops withdraw from the Middle East.

Only the states of Iowa, West Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, Georgia, New Hampshire, Maryland and North Carolina had higher rates of post-Sept. 11 GI enrollment growth.

The Department of Veterans Affairs, which funds the post-Sept. 11 veterans benefits program, has paid out nearly $18 billion to fund the program, which has attracted 435,000 participants since it went into effect August 1, 2009.

Returning veterans can face difficult transitions from active duty to a college campus. Most Missouri institutions of higher education have special services to help them adjust to college life and find the support they need to succeed in college.

Missouri State University at West Plains provides a "one-stop shop" for veterans called the VIP (for Veterans Incentive Program) Center. Coordinator Mark White says the center provides tutoring and counseling for the veterans. "We try to make them feel like they're part of a family," White said.

The veterans face numerous obstacles, particularly those who were exposed to mortar fire and explosives. "The classroom environment is important to them," White explained. "For example, some need to have two escape routes visible at all times. We help them determine a physical placement in the class where they can relax and concentrate on studies."

White said the center helps veterans acclimate to civilian and campus life, providing counseling for such challenges as short term memory loss, post-traumatic stress disorder and anger management. "Their lives have changed. There are new demands on them," White said. "We provide academic and personal counseling, or refer them to the VA or other groups that can help."

Missouri institutions of higher education are rising to the challenge of meeting the special needs of veterans, according to Commissioner of Higher Education David Russell. "We can expect to see more and more post-Sept. 11 veterans on college campuses as troops withdraw from military engagement," Russell said. "Colleges and universities are welcoming returning veterans with unique support systems, ranging from tutoring to counseling to formal events that recognize their contributions to the country. We welcome the veterans to campus and look forward to their academic success."

###

Note to reporters:

Information on programs and contacts for quotes about veterans programs at colleges and universities in Missouri include:

Columbia College, Information for Veterans, Keith Glindemann, kaglindemann@ccis.edu

Crowder College, Shirley Burns, shirleyburns@crowder.edu

East Central College, Lorrie Baird, labaird@eastcentral.edu

Jefferson College, Information for Veterans, Betty Dye, bdye@jeffco.edu

Lincoln University, Information for Veterans, Craig Galbreath galbreath@lincolnu.edu

Linn State Technical College, Cheryl Probst, cheryl.probst@linnstate.edu

Maryville University, Information for Veterans, Martha Harbaugh, mharbaugh@maryville.edu

Missouri Southern State University, Information for Veterans, Denise Vigil, vigil-d@mssu.edu

Missouri State University, Information for Veterans, Jenifer Kautzman, JKautzman@missouristate.edu

Missouri State University- West Plains, Information for Veterans, Mark White, MWhite@missouristate.edu 

Missouri University of Science and Technology, Information for Veterans

North Central Missouri College, Information for Veterans, Megan Stout, mstout@mail.ncmissouri.edu

Northwest Missouri State University, Information for Veterans, Marge Stoner, mstoner@nwmissouri.edu

Ozarks Technical Community College, Dennis Peters, petersd@otc.edu

Southeast Missouri State University, Chris Seyer, cseyer@semo.edu

Southwest Baptist University, John Credille

St. Charles Community College, Information for Veterans, Tomi Schwandt, tschwandt@stchas.edu<mailto:tschwandt@stchas.edu

St. Louis Community College:

• Meramec: Mike Cundiff, mcundiff@stlcc.edu
• Florissant Valley campus: Leslie Wright, lwright@stlcc.edu
• Forest Park: Glenda Doss, gdoss8@stlcc.edu
• Wildwood: Karen Wengler, kwengler@stlcc.edu

Three Rivers College, John Fuller, 573-840-9606

University of Central Missouri, Information for Veterans, Delilah Nichols, Nichols@ucmo.edu  

University of Missouri-Columbia, Information for Veterans, Carol Fleisher, fleishercw@missouri.edu

University of Missouri-St. Louis, Information for Veterans

Westminster College, Tom Dobbins, Tom.Dobbins@westminster-mo.edu

William Jewell College, Information for Veterans, Karen S. Weatherford, weatherfordk@william.jewell.edu

"Education takes you places you could never go without it," says Morey. "It is important because it stays with you forever, and no one can take it away."

This week the Missouri Department of Higher Education awarded Morey and his group a $100,000 College Access Challenge Grant to apply his philosophy in a two-county area hard hit by unemployment and the recession.

The historic mining areas of Vernon and Barton counties have lost 5,300 jobs since 2007. The child poverty rate is 42 percent, almost twice as high as the state average.

Students struggle economically and academically. Almost two-thirds of the students in the school districts targeted by About Our Kids failed to meet the state standard in reading; more than half did not meet the standards for math.

Morey says students in these situations need targeted interventions to put them on a path to completing high school and embarking on postsecondary education. With funds from the grant, About Our Kids will launch the Higher Education Access Route for Teens - HEART - to provide academic enrichment to 250 students.

College Access Challenge Grants were created by Congress in 2007 to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. This year the Missouri Department of Higher Education awarded $1.5 million in federal funds to 17 groups to reach underserved students.

Other grant recipients are:

College Bound - St. Louis -- $100,000

College Access Challenge Grant funds will assist College Bound with implementing a seven-year action plan for low-income, first-generation students and families.

College Summit - St. Louis -- $100,000

College Summit builds the capacity of partner high schools to help transition students to college.

De La Salle Middle School - St. Louis -- $99,902

De La Salle Middle School will provide effective information to students and families on postsecondary education benefits, opportunities, planning and career preparation.

Drury University-Springfield -- $84,511

Drury University, in close partnership with the Springfield Public Schools, conducts the Drury Scholars Program, a yearlong mentoring and tutoring initiative.

Full Employment Council, Inc.-Kansas City -- $100,000

Full Employment Council, Inc. will provide career awareness, counseling, planning, financial literacy training, financial aid assistance and mentoring to 16- to 24-year-olds who are economically disadvantaged and underrepresented.

Infinite Scholars Program of Missouri - St. Louis -- $93,920

The Infinite Scholars Program provides a combination of comprehensive early college access activities and career opportunity awareness activities to students and their families.

Missouri College Advising Corps - Columbia -- $100,000

The Missouri College Advising Corps will provide "near-peer advisers" to high school students in Potosi, Salem, St. Clair, St. James and Sullivan to help them plan and prepare for college.

Missouri State University - Springfield -- $100,000

Missouri State University will serve underrepresented students through the Missouri Innovation Academy, a program to foster sound financial and business practices, creativity, science, technology and career awareness.

Missouri State University - West Plains -- $100,000

College Access Challenge Grant funds will be used to support and sustain Project Threshold, a program created to reach middle and high school students with information and resources for college preparation.

Northside Community Center - St. Louis -- $92,061

Northside Community Center will partner with Washington University to provide college information, assistance, guidance and support for Beaumont High School and Confluence Preparatory Academy students.

St. Charles Community College - St. Charles -- $98,675

St. Charles Community College will implement the PATH Project to target at-risk and/or underserved students in the areas of St. Charles, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and Warren counties.

St. Louis Internship Program - St. Louis -- $42,116

St. Louis Internship Program helps at-risk students connect academics to the world of work, envision a future, complete high school and prepare for postsecondary education.

Southeast Missouri State University - Cape Girardeau -- $100,000

Southeast Missouri State University will provide college planning and financial literacy training for K-12 students, families, and staff in the Cape Girardeau Public School District.

State Fair Community College - Sedalia -- $100,000

State Fair Community College will use College Access Challenge Grant funds for their A.C.E Program -- Advantages of College Education -- to increase the number of underserved Missourians in their 14-county service area.

Truman State University - Kirksville -- $37,120

Truman State's BULLDOG Program will partner with 10 area high schools in northeast Missouri to provide outreach related to financial literacy, ACT prep, and assistance in completing the FAFSA.

The University of Missouri 4-H Extension - Columbia -- $100,000

The University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for youth development will make college an obtainable goal for high school youth in St. Louis, Kansas City and southeast Missouri.

Wyman Center, Inc. - St. Louis -- $99,959

Wyman Center, Inc. implements programs that inspire and enable teens from economically disadvantaged circumstances to develop the confidence and skills they need to achieve a lifetime of success.

FAFSA Frenzy, a program of College Goal Sunday, is offered in Missouri through partnerships between the Missouri Department of Higher Education with the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel, the Lumina Foundation for Education, and the YMCA. To assist students and parents with the FAFSA process, financial aid professionals will be on hand at 36 FAFSA Frenzy events on the main event date, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012.

Thirteen additional FAFSA Frenzy events will be held throughout January, February and March. Dates, times and locations for all events are available at www.dhe.mo.gov or www.masfap.org/showmetocollege.

Eight $500 scholarships will be drawn for students attending the event in Missouri. Winners will receive their scholarships upon receipt of enrollment verification for the 2012 fall semester at a Missouri postsecondary institution.

Families will be able to complete the 2012-13 FAFSA on-site and obtain valuable information.

2012 FAFSA Frenzy events will mark the ninth year that Missouri has participated in the CGS program. In the past eight years, CGS/FAFSA Frenzy has helped more than 7,300 Missouri students obtain financial aid.