Hi everyone-
Just here to report out on some of the updates from COE's monthly state leaders meeting. Apologies that a lot of this is TRIO-centric.

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All things FAFSA:
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FAFSA is open 24 hours now
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There is still not a patch for the issue of parents without a SSN not being able to submit their information. They ARE able to create an FSAID and verify their identity through TransUnion.
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The ISER process will be working as of 2/1 but no corrections will be able to be made until the end of February, so students needing to correct their FAFSA should do so on the FAFSA site, not through FA.
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COE is advocating re: access to student aid data and would like SSS program input on whether you rely on student ISERs to calculate eligibility. Please respond here: https://fs3.formsite.com/coecoecoecoe/7wfjjsqene/index

[https://fs3.formsite.com/images/social/twitter-share.jpg]<https://fs3.formsite.com/coecoecoecoe/7wfjjsqene/index>
Student Financial Aid Aquisiton Survey for TRIO College Programs<https://fs3.formsite.com/coecoecoecoe/7wfjjsqene/index>
View this form on Formsite
fs3.formsite.com

  *   SSS Competition
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COE is advocating with the Dept. of Ed to establish a timeline that will have the grant competition completed by April (1st slate) and May for the funding band. See the attached slide which was also shared by Jen Rudolph in our COE update at the conference
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PPPs will NOT be the same as last competition
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Hoping for a deadline of mid-December. If it's not, then it will be in early 2025
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They expect new programs to be funded and urged us to message that programs are in competition with the SCORE, not each other. I know in Maine we collaborate and support each other's success, but it's a message worth reinforcing.
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There will be several grant writing workshops offered by COE, in April (virtual) and in July (in person only, in Philly) which will include an opportunity to get feedback on sections.
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Government Relations
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The Senate passed a continuing resolution that will fund the government until March. House is expected to pass it as well; they were hoping it would happen today because legislators were itching to leave town before another storm grounds everyone in DC. No partial shutdown is expected.
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Johnson & Schumer have a top line funding agreement that leadership expects to hold despite resistance from the Freedom Caucus. Expect to have FY 24 wrapped up by March in time to begin the FY 25 process for Policy Seminar

I hope that you are all staying well and warm as we grind through January's ups and downs. Thank you for all you do every day to support our students achieving their dreams!

Best,
Ginny
Ginny Fowles Ward (she/her)
Associate Director

Bowdoin College Upward Bound
3400 College Station / Brunswick ME / 04011
Cell: 207-841-7539
Office: 207-725-3565
Zoom: https://bowdoin.zoom.us/my/ub.ginny
Why pronouns matter<https://medium.com/gender-inclusivit/why-i-put-pronouns-on-my-email-signature-and-linkedin-profile-and-you-should-too-d3dc942c8743>