2/5/2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Students in West Virginia now have an easier way to plan, apply, and pay for college. The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) was launched today by First Lady Gayle Manchin and Higher Education Chancellor Brian Noland with help from students at Capital High School. CFWV, an interactive web portal located at
www.cfwv.com, is a free resource that guides students in the college search and selection process at their convenience through around-the-clock access.
CFWV also includes a statewide media campaign with billboards, television commercials, and radio advertisements designed to promote the web portal and messages about the accessibility and affordability of higher education across the State of West Virginia.
“As a parent and educator, I am confident that this new resource will promote the importance of education beyond high school for West Virginia’s current and future generations,” said First Lady Gayle Manchin. “West Virginia invests highly in the state’s colleges and universities and in our students through an array of financial aid programs. It is critical that everyone is aware of the opportunities available to them in order to advance their future and the future of West Virginia.”
While the official launch of the web portal and the associated statewide media campaign occurred today, students at Capital High School and other schools across the state have been utilizing CFWV since late last year. “This is a great resource that is very user-friendly for students and parents,” said Amy Lester, counselor at Capital High School. “It provides them with the information needed in a single location, which saves time and reduces confusion.”
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, in conjunction with other entities such as Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs), has provided training to approximately 300 educators. This training has enabled counselors and teachers to assist students with completing college applications and applying for financial aid such as the PROMISE Scholarship Program. Since the training began, there have been more than 20,000 student accounts created. Students are encouraged to create a CFWV account when submitting college and financial aid applications. Students and families can also use many features on CFWV without creating an account. Although students can navigate the web portal with assistance from counselors, teachers, and/or parents, they are also able to navigate the web portal independently.
CFWV provides a variety of features in addition to college and financial aid applications. While on the web portal, students have access to tools to help identify careers and programs of study by examining interests and skill sets. The web portal also provides ACT, SAT, and GRE testing tools that can help students improve their test scores and feel more prepared for the exams.
CFWV is a partnership among the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, West Virginia Department of Education, West Virginia GEAR UP, Governor’s 21st Century Jobs Cabinet, and a host of individual college access entities, who have broad expertise in helping students plan, apply, and pay for college. CFWV provides students and their families with the resources needed to make informed decisions regarding all aspects of college planning.
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