The Adult College Completion Initiative
The Office of the State Superintendent’s (OSSE) Adult College Completion (ACC) Initiative seeks to encourage first-time adult college students and adult learners who attended college and left without obtaining a degree to earn postsecondary credentials.
Adult learners often face various challenges that keep them from completing their postsecondary goals. In January of 2014, OSSE convened a working group comprised of ten adult-friendly community and postsecondary partners, aimed at providing stronger institutionalized and community-based support for adult learners. The working group designed a district-wide campaign to educate adult learners about the available paths for college completion.
The ACC Initiative helps promote a collaborative approach to increasing adult college completion and brings the student-centered perspective to the forefront of college completion work.
ACC Working Group Members:
Academy of Hope
DC College Access Program: Retention Services (DC-CAP)
Maya Angelou Public Charter School
New Futures
Prince Georges Community College
Reach 4 Success - College information Center
Trinity Washington University
University of the District of Columbia (UDC)
University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC)
Excelsior College
For Adult Learners
Are you interested in returning to college to complete your degree or enrolling in college for the first time?
Through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) unique partnership with College for America at Southern New Hampshire University, you can earn a college degree from a respected nonprofit university on your time for just $3,000 per year as a District resident or District of Columbia employee, without attending hours of classes.
Apply today or learn more by visiting http://go.collegeforamerica.org/DC.
For more information or questions, please contact Tiffany DeJesus at [email protected] or (202) 741-6415.
It’s never too late to #BeAFinisher
Take a peek the 2016 Second Annual Adult College Completion Fair.
Adult-friendly Colleges and Universities
Your gateway to college is the admissions office. The links below will take you to admissions websites for the major colleges and universities that were featured at the Second Annual Adult College Completion Fair, on April 8, 2016. Please note that these are postsecondary institutions in the Greater Washington area that best serve adult learners:
Excelsior College
George Mason University
Metropolitan College
Northern Virginia Community College
Prince George’s Community College
Trinity Washington University
University of the Potomac
University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia Community College
University of Maryland University College
Adult-friendly Community-Based Organizations
Many community organizations within the District offer certificate training programs, college counseling, adult education programs and financial aid and scholarship opportunities for adult learners. The community-based organizations listed below were featured at the Second Annual Adult College Completion Fair. Please visit their websites for more information on programs and services.
Academy of Hope (AOH)
College Board (Educational Opportunity Center)
Community College Preparatory Academy
Department of Veteran Affairs - Department of Veteran Affairs
District of Columbia Department of Disability Services (DDS)
District of Columbia Department of Human Resources (DCHR)
District of Columbia Public Library
District of Columbia Re-engagement Center (The REC)
Goodwill Training Programs
Intellectual Point
Latin American Youth Center Career Academy (LAYCCA)
Mayor’s Scholars
New Futures
The Next Step Public Charter School
Public Allies
Reach 4 Success- The College Information Center
So Others Might Eat- Center for Employment Training
Tuition Assistance Program Initiative for TANF (TAPIT)
Revisiting the Dream
Have you gone as far in your career as you can without a college degree? Or is your dream to transition to a career that requires postsecondary education? Whether it's job-related or for personal development, obtaining a credential or graduating from college opens up a new world of potential for your life.
Follow These Steps to Ease the Transition to College:
STEP 1: EXPLORE FINANCIAL AID
It is important to understand your options regarding financial aid to pay for college. Financial aid applications can be complex and adult resources are limited. Start now.Federal options
- To explore federal financial aid opportunities, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The FAFSA application opens on Jan. 1 of each year. Students should submit by March 15 to have the best chances. Your school’s deadline may be earlier, so be sure to ask. Visit fafsa.ed.gov/ to access the FAFSA application.
District options
- Talk to a financial aid counselor about how to find scholarships, fellowships, grants and other sources of free aid. The less you have to pay out of pocket and borrow, the better off you’ll be. If you are under the age of 24, you may be eligible for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG).Please contact the DCTAG office at (202) 727-2824 for more information.
- The Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program provides need-based funding, to cover tuition and fees, for eligible DC residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree at a select public or private college or university in the DC metro area. Please visit osse.dc.gov/mayorsscholars for more information.
- Many community organizations within the District offer scholarships to Adult learners. Please visit the following websites for more information:
Institutional options
- Contact the Financial Aid office at your prospective school and request a full list of scholarships available. Also, check with your academic advisors, as sometimes an academic college or department will offer scholarships.
Employers & organizational options
- Many employers and organizations offer tuition assistance and reimbursement; check with your human resources department.
- If you would like more in-depth information on financial aid or if you have never applied for financial aid before, please visit fafsa.ed.gov/ or call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
STEP 2: GET ENROLLED
Make an appointment with an admissions officer to review enrollment information.
Complete the application process
- Be sure to mark application dates and deadlines on your calendar so you won’t miss them. Submit your admissions application and any separate department or program applications as early as possible, and well before any deadlines.
- If you have acquired college credits from previous institutions, you will need to request your official transcripts from the office of the registrar of all the colleges you have attended. The transcript must be mailed directly from the college you attended to the college you are applying to.
- Once you have been accepted, be sure to register for classes as soon as possible. Attend orientations and explore campus and community organizations. The more involved you become the more likely you are to succeed.
STEP 3: GET AN ADVISOR
- Many schools have special offices or advisors for adult students. These professionals can tell you what programs and services are specifically available, such as day care, career counseling and financial aid.
Step 4: CHART YOUR COURSE
Work with academic advisors to design a class schedule that works for you.
- Whichever schedule option you choose, be sure to follow your degree plan and allow for study time.
- Generally, you should allow six hours of study per week for each three-credit-hour course.