Virginia State Report (VASFAA)
D. Sherwin Hibbets, President

On Track for “Going the Distance!” – Comments from the Commonwealth (… of Virginia, that is!)

On November 9-10, 2003, VASFAA co-sponsored an Awareness Summit in conjunction with SCHEV and the Education Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) in Richmond, VA. The theme was Virginia Partnerships for College Access. More than 100 invited guests from around the state and neighboring states attended the Summit. Christina Milano, Executive Director of the National College Access Network and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio College Access Network was the keynote speaker. Her address highlighted access issues ascertained from a review of the demographic data of various geographical areas of the state and how it relates to enrollment at Virginia institutions. The goal to foster a cooperative effort to centralize Virginia’s college access services and to coordinate a network of service providers was validated as a need. The originating committee of this event will meet on December 11 to formalize the next steps to address issues covered in the Summit.

VASFAA’s Secondary School Relations Committee, chaired by Anita Aymer, is in the process of completing the second month of a comprehensive schedule of High School Guidance Counselor Workshops at 13 sites around the state this year. Some comments received to date indicate that the session attended was the best one ever. VASFAA is glad to be able to assist in meeting this annual need for training of High School Guidance Counselors.

Thanks to the support and initiative of our colleagues at James Madison University’s Student Work Experience Center, VASFAA is co-sponsoring a Job Location and Development (JLD) Forum on December 12, 2003. The purpose of this session will be to provide representatives from Virginia public and private institutions of higher education with the opportunity to discuss their current JLD programs or their interest in establishing a JLD program. This forum will provide student employment professionals with the opportunity to learn from one another and acquire new ideas for providing services to their constituents. Topics of discussion are expected to include, among other things: Applying for a JLD Program; ABCs of JLD; Job Posting Methods; Marketing to Students and Employers; Federal Regulations; and Tracking Requirements.

We anticipate that this initiative will provide a greater understanding of the JLD opportunity and increase participation interest.

The VASFAA Winter Board Meeting will be held January 29-30, 2004 and the VASFAA Spring Conference will be held May 2-5, 2004 in Virginia Beach, VA at the Founders Inn & Conference Center.

Kentucky State Report (KASFAA)
Ronald “Ron” McMakin, President

KASFAA held its Executive Board Meeting on Tuesday, the 28th of October, at the Hilton Inn in Florence, KY. Program Chair Runan Pendergrast reported on the Fall Conference and talked about the events that would take place over the next three days. The Conference had 220 registered with 20 vendors exhibiting. The theme, Getting a Clue with KASFAA, will have a murder mystery going on for three days and ending on Friday morning. Shelly Park, Vice President of Training, talked about the nine High School Counselors Workshops scheduled from November 5th thru the 21st and the NASFAA Fall training that is taking place at the KHEAA Building in Frankfort on the 13th of November. Charles Vinson from Murray State University will be the trainer. There will also be Support Staff Training schedule for November the 10th at Eastern Kentucky University. Rhonda Bryant reported that there would be 17 sites for the College Goal Sunday Program that will be held in February on Sunday the 8th. Borshoff Johnson Matthews will again handle the public relations. The kick-off assemblies at the high schools will be replaced with videos this year allowing more flexibility for the students and saving money. This program provided assistance to over 2000 students in Kentucky last year filling out the FAFSA. This will be the fourth year Kentucky has hosted this event.

The Spring 2004 Conference will be held in Louisville at the Marriott East beginning April the 7th. The Fall 2004 Conference will be held in Owensboro, KY at the Executive Inn Rivermont from October 20th thru the 22nd. It was also announced that KASFAA has 29 new members this year and about 25 will be attending a New Members Workshop at the Conference and have lunch with the Executive Board. The next Program Meeting for planning the Spring 2004 Conference will be held in Louisville on December the 11th with Executive Board the following day.