Kansas State College Advising Corps
Who We Are
The Kansas State College Advising Corps aims to increase the number of first-generation, low-income and underrepresented high school students entering and completing higher education. KSCAC hires recent college graduates to serve as college advisers full-time in select high schools in either Wyandotte or Johnson counties. The college adviser assists by providing guidance and encouragement needed for the students to navigate the college admissions and financial aid processes.
The Need
The need for this program stems from a shifting workforce development landscape. According to the Mid-American Regional Council, 34 percent of adults over the age of 25 in the Kansas City region have at least a bachelor's degree. In the last 10 years, 40 percent of new jobs created in the Kansas City region require a bachelor's degree.
Simultaneous to this evolving workforce landscape is the changing demographics of the U.S. and Greater Kansas City. The U.S. Census Bureau projects a significant shift in demographics. By 2050, the bureau projects black, Hispanic and Asian populations will comprise half of the U.S. population, while the number of white households is projected to decrease. Individuals in these diverse groups are often first-generation college students and unfamiliar with the application and scholarship processes needed to enter higher education.
What We Do
Specific services provided by college advisers include:
- one-on-one and group advisement
- workshops for students and families surrounding college topics and issues
- college and career exploration
- college application completion assistance
- ACT/SAT test fee waiver distribution and test registration
- FAFSA completion assistance
- scholarship assistance
- campus tour planning and coordination
- plan and coordinate college representative visits
College advisers teach students how to be resourceful and empower students to be self-advocates. Advisers work full-time in select partner high schools with 9th-12th grade students and occasionally provide early awareness outreach to middle school students. Advisers aim to help students find a “best-fit” post-secondary opportunity to increase the likelihood of persistence and completion rates. Additionally, advisers create and foster a college-going culture that engages administration, teachers, and staff that helps build an environment that encourages and supports college attendance and completion.
