Monday, December 10, 2018
November 15 marked the start of a new chapter for the company formerly known as Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation. Effective that day, Great Lakes became Ascendium Education Group.
The new name is part of a transition that began at the beginning of this year, when Great Lakes’ student loan servicing affiliate, Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., was acquired by fellow servicer Nelnet, Inc.
As Great Lakes, the company has focused for more than half a century on expanding opportunity through the power of higher education. That focus will continue as Ascendium, which remains the nation’s largest student loan guarantor as well as a provider of student success services for postsecondary institutions and a leading higher education philanthropy.
Earlier this fall, the company announced its Text Steps learning community of districts throughout the state that are launching texting programs to help college-bound graduates overcome “summer melt.” This initiative is just one way Great Lakes has promoted postsecondary access with K-12 partners.
All high schools across Wisconsin will still have access to free resources to help their students navigate the path to postsecondary education. The informational brochures and dynamic presentations created and field-tested by Great Lakes have been refreshed are now available for download.
These free resources complement schools’ ongoing efforts to help send more students to college. Offerings include:
•“Choosing A College: How To Find The Right One For You” presentation for 10-12 grades
•“Calculating The Price Of College: It's Less Than You Might Think” presentation for 11-12 grades
•“Finding Scholarships: Where To Look And How To Win Them” presentation for 10-12 grades
•“Completing The FAFSA®: How To Unlock Money For College” presentation for 12 graders and their parents
•“Learn More Earn More” brochure
•“The High Schooler's Guide to Going to College” brochure
The Ascendium website also contains links to free resources from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid.
To learn more and request these free materials, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.
Subscriber Submission: Melissa Gloudeman