SREB announces new Web site arrangement to help students who want to attend college

The Web site will improve states' communication campaigns that encourage students and families to pursue college opportunities. The Pathways Network is managed by The Education Resources Institute and comprises 30 partner organizations. Three lead partners - College Board, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the Southern Regional Education Board - will coordinate college access marketing activities for the Network.

The SREB's Go Alliance is central to this increased effort to encourage students to finish high school and enroll in a college or a technical college. SREB states have joined together to share marketing strategies, resources and media materials that promote students' completing high school and preparing for college. The Web site provides information and resources to state leaders.

The College Access Marketing Web site is designed for schools, programs, organizations and government agencies that provide students and families with support and guidance about going to college. The site explains how to use marketing techniques to develop messages that reach, inform and inspire students, and it emphasizes the importance of investing in good audience research and solid evaluation. It also features a multimedia gallery of examples from past and current campaigns, including TV, radio, print and other materials.

“SREB states have been at the forefront nationally of state efforts to increase college attendance,” said SREB President Mark Musick. “It's a real help to states to have an easy way that allows everyone to benefit from the experience and how-to knowledge of successful campaigns. Instead of spending time and resources reinventing the wheel, we can improve on what's already been done.”

President Dallas Martin, who leads the national association of financial aid administrators, applauded the site, saying, “This is a great resource ... . It takes what we are already doing and makes it more effective. Ultimately, this is about the students. Are they hearing what we are trying to say? If not, what do we need to do differently? This site helps people find constructive answers to those questions.”

“The 'College Access Marketing' site is really breaking new ground,” said Ann Coles, director of the Pathways to College Network and Senior Vice President of The Education Resources Institute. “It links what research shows is effective in communication to the goal of improving college access in a very practical way.”

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 10,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities and career schools across the country. In addition to its Member Web site at http://www.NASFAA.org, the Association offers a Web site with financial aid information for parents and students at http://www.StudentAid.org.

The Pathways to College Network, launched in 2001, is an alliance of 41 national organizations and funders committed to advancing college access and success for underserved students - including those who are the first generation in their families to go to college, low-income students, underrepresented minorities and students with disabilities. For more information, see http://www.pathwaystocollege.net.

The Southern Regional Education Board, headquartered in Atlanta, was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to help leaders in education and government work cooperatively to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. The SREB has 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Each state is represented by its governor and four gubernatorial appointees.