To increase the completion rate of critical college financial aid forms during a senior year interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) has launched a comprehensive outreach campaign aimed at getting more financial aid to graduating seniors interested in attending college.

According to Charles Kelley, Executive Director of RISLA, the goal of the campaign is to increase the completion rate of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is the gateway to free federal and college grants and federal loans. “Last year Rhode Island’s FAFSA completion rate was one of the best in the country and we hope to do even better this year during what is admittedly a very challenging year for high school seniors.  Distance learning does not necessarily afford students with the important face time they need with guidance counselors who can encourage the completion of these critical forms. To help, our College Planning Center has developed a broad-based campaign that provides students with the tools they need to complete the forms in as easy and hassle-free way as possible.”

 “As always, we at the College Planning Center are working with high school guidance counselors, albeit remotely, to communicate the importance of filling out the FAFSA, and we are hopeful the use of a variety of channels will help us have a conversation about the array of tools at their disposal, even when bricks and mortar schools are closed,” explained Stacy Crooks, Director of the RISLA College Planning Center.

The campaign features: TV and radio ads that promote the availability of assistance; “How to videos” in Spanish and English which can be found on the College Planning Center website at collegeplanningcenter.org; Students and families and text the word “FAFSA” to 24000 to schedule an over the phone help session with experts from the College Planning Center and to view helpful videos in English or Spanish; Bus Shelter ads placed during the state during in predominantly urban communities; Digital ads; Print ads in community newspapers and statewide; Radio ads in Spanish; and Social media ads and posts in English and Spanish.