{"id":810,"date":"2021-04-15T13:52:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T18:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/m-cubed\/?p=810"},"modified":"2024-10-03T08:39:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T13:39:13","slug":"mayor-joins-m-cubed-leaders-to-stress-importance-of-completing-fafsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/m-cubed\/news\/mayor-joins-m-cubed-leaders-to-stress-importance-of-completing-fafsa\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor joins M\u00b3 leaders to stress importance of completing FAFSA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joined leaders of the M3 <\/sup>education initiative to encourage high school seniors to fill out a critical financial aid form needed to unlock access to potential scholarships, grants and other types of assistance to help pay for college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of April 2, the number of high school seniors nationwide who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/a> was down 7% compared to the same point in the 2019-2020 academic year, according to the National College Attainment Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\u00a0recent survey\u00a0by\u00a0education firm EAB<\/a>\u00a0found, in part, that high school students were having more difficulty accessing support networks of college counselors, teachers and coaches during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The M3 <\/sup>partnership, which involves Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, hopes to help reverse the decline in FAFSA completion through an outreach campaign that includes opportunities for virtual and in-person assistance to fill out the form. Barrett took part Wednesday in the latest edition of M3<\/sup> | Education Transformed<\/i><\/b>, a virtual event series, to promote FAFSA completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an especially important time for high school seniors as they decide where to attend college in the fall. The FAFSA can affect a student\u2019s financial aid package, which can include federal and grants, federal loans, work-study positions and other institutional aid.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Joshua Wilder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Joshua Wilder, a senior at Riverside University High School, completed his FAFSA form in the fall with the help of his aunt and counselors from high school and the Boys & Girls Clubs. An aspiring software engineer, Wilder wants to create a foundation that manufactures and teaches software as a way to help low-income communities struggling with access to technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilder is trying to decide where to attend college, choosing among options both in and out of state. \u201cBecause I completed my FAFSA, a lot of different opportunities are out there and I\u2019m able to choose between those many different schools,\u201d Wilder said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barrett said that FAFSA completion was the first step to opening opportunities in higher education and beyond. Addressing racial disparities ranked as the Milwaukee region\u2019s biggest challenge in a survey of Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce<\/a> board members and the CEOs of its member companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First step toward opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about the future of our city and the future of our economy,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cThe path of success is always going to include knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne key to unlocking a bright future is seizing the assistance that\u2019s available,\u201d the mayor added. \u201cIt\u2019s what our city needs \u2013 talented young people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

College students also must fill out the FAFSA each year. It can help determine eligibility for other types of need-based aid, such as the federal CARES grants that have been distributed to help students pay for emergency expenses due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broad goal of the M3 <\/sup>initiative<\/a> is to increase the retention, graduation and career success of students. The collaboration already has helped to increase MPS high school graduation rates and started a dual enrollment program to help MPS students earn college credits during their senior year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenters on Wednesday, which included MPS Superintendent Keith Posley, MATC President Vicki Martin and UWM Chancellor Mark Mone, also offered tips for family members and friends of high school students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n