​

ASCENT is

Tuition Free College

for one year

​

Information Session - November 18, 2024

GRAD+ Team

Madeline Brockish- Boulder Universal, Arapahoe Ridge

(Madeline.Brockish@bvsd.org)

Vanessa Carroll- Fairview High

(Vanessa.Carroll@bvsd.org)

Dr. Kelly Isom- Broomfield High and Monarch High

(Kelly.Isom@bvsd.org)

Wendy Pearson- Centaurus High and Boulder High

(Wendy.Pearson@bvsd.org)

Nettie Welk- Nederland and New Vista

(Nettie.Welk@bvsd.org)

Work Experience

College Credit

Industry Certification

Seal of Biliteracy

College Credit Before Graduation

Work-Based Learning

Seal of Biliteracy

Industry Certification

Tonight’s Grad+ Quadrant Focus:

College Before Graduation

​

​

WELCOME to Career and College Connections!

​

ASCENT - Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment

• Program Overview
• Participating Colleges and Universities
• Program FAQs
• How to Apply
• Tips
• FAFSA/CASFA Workshops
• District Select courses

5

ASCENT

What is ASCENT?

​

• Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment
• Provides tuition and fees for the first year of college at our partner institutions
• Students must have a minimum of 9 college credits completed by May of their senior year in order to participate

6

ASCENT

Participating Colleges and Universities

​

7

ASCENT

Map of ASCENT Partners

8

ASCENT

ASCENT

​

1 year program - Fall and Spring Semester

• Must have 9 college credits (grade C or better) by end of senior year
• Opportunities to earn credits -
• College courses taught in the high schools - CU Succeed, FRCC/MSU (vary by school, ask counselor or Grad+ TOSA)
• College courses offered after school and during the summer (District Select)
• College courses at the college campus
• AP tests only counts if taken before senior year
• CLEP tests - College-Level Examination Program - score must be transcripted

9

ASCENT

Program FAQs

​

• Funded by the State of Colorado.
• Students must meet all high school graduation requirements by the end of their senior year.
• Students will walk with their graduating class. BVSD will hold their diploma- this is what allows us to pay tuition.
• Students are not in need of basic skills coursework (remedial courses) and demonstrate college readiness. Supportive classes taken along with ENG 1021 or specific Math courses are allowed.
• Students must sign up for the College Opportunity Fund (COF). Credits earned through these programs will NOT be deducted from lifetime COF total of 145 credits.

​

​

10

ASCENT

Program FAQs (cont.)

​

• Students must complete the FAFSA or CASFA. Pell Grants may provide students with more aid. Students may not accept any state or federal financial aid while in either program. Private scholarships are allowed if they do not require the student to have graduated from high school.
• Only tuition is guaranteed, however, BVSD will also cover the cost of books and fees.
• There is a cap as to how many students may participate. In the application explain why you are a strong candidate for ASCENT. Highlight commitment to your career path, financial need, family circumstances, first in family to attend college, etc.).

​

​

​

11

ASCENT

Program FAQs (cont.)

​

• Students must participate immediately following their senior year (4th year of high school).
• Students must maintain a 2.0 college GPA to remain in the program.
• When ASCENT participation is complete, students may transfer to any college or university. Transfer of credits will be determined by the accepting institution.
• May attend college part time (3-11 credits) or full time (12+ credits)

​

​

ASCENT Information and Application Packet

​

​

​

12

ASCENT

13

ASCENT

14

ASCENT

15

ASCENT

16

ASCENT

How to Prepare

​

• 9th-10th Grade: Meet with your high school counselor or Grad+ Site Lead to discuss your interest and plan how to qualify

​

• Prepare for college level courses and plan out how you will get 9 credits by May of your Senior Year. Must earn a C- or higher in college classes
• 11th Grade: This is your last year to take AP tests whose scores will count toward ASCENT. Review your plan to ensure you will have 9 credits by end of senior year.
• 12th Grade: Ensure you are taking any final requirements to qualify. Submit ASCENT Application by March 31. Details next slide

​

​

​

​

17

ASCENT

How to Apply - 12th Grade

​

• Review the ASCENT Information and Application Packet. Discuss options with parents/guardians and a school representative (counselor, Grad+ Site Lead)
• November - Complete the ASCENT Interest form. This step is not required, however, it lets us know who is interested and who to follow up with
• October - December - Apply to at least one of the ASCENT partner colleges/universities previously listed - your application is complete when you have a student ID number from the school; provide AP/IB and/or CLEP test scores

​

​

​

18

ASCENT

How to Apply (cont.)

​

• December - February - Complete either the FAFSA or CASFA Financial Aid Application - the sooner it is completed the sooner you can get award letters from colleges and universities
• February - March - Submit ASCENT Application. Don’t forget student, parent/guardian, and school representative signatures.
• April 21 - Check email for ASCENT Acceptance
• May 1 - Confirm participation in ASCENT
• May 19 - Attend ASCENT/TREP Success Orientation

Applications received after March 31 will be accepted on a space available basis.

​

​

19

ASCENT

Tips

​

Limited spaces available- student needs to stay involved after application is submitted.

• Attend a FAFSA/CASFA Workshop - if you want help completing the application
• Check email and respond promptly - Request for missing materials and acceptance into program will be send via email
• Confirm you will participate in ASCENT
• Attend ASCENT/TREP Success Orientation May 19, 8am - 4pm

​

​

​

​

20

ASCENT

FAFSA/CASFA Workshops

​

Students will need:

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID Sign up for this at least 24 hours in advance
• List of schools they are considering (up to 20)

​

Parent/Guardian will need:

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID Sign up for this at least 24 hours in advance
• Social security number (if they have one)
• Date of birth
• A personal email address
• 2023 tax return
• Records of untaxed income and assets if applicable.

​

​

​

​

​

Attend a session at any location

• Education Center - January 29, 4:00-7:00 pm
• Boulder High - January 30, 4:00-7:00 pm
• Arapahoe Ridge - February 12, 4:00-7:00 pm
• Centaurus High - February 26, 4:30-7:00 pm

​

21

ASCENT

District Select Courses - Spring 2025

​

22

ASCENT

Where to get more information?

​

• Talk to your High School Counselor or Grad+ Site Lead
• Vanessa Carroll - Fairview - vanessa.carroll@bvsd.org
• Wendy Pearson - Centaurus, Boulder High - wendy.pearson@bvsd.org
• Dr. Kelly Isom - Broomfield, Monarch - kelly.isom@bvsd.org
• Nettie Welk - New Vista, Nederland - nettie.welk@bvsd.org
• Madeline Brockish - Boulder Universal, Arapahoe Ridge - madeline.brockish@bvsd.org
• Google: BVSD ASCENT
• https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/academics/career-and-college-connections
• Email: CareerAndCollege@bvsd.org

23

ASCENT

ASCENT Resources

24

ASCENT