Over the past 18 months, nearly one million Americans have used the information resources of the College Is Possible campaign to learn more about the important process of planning, choosing, and paying for college. Established in October 1998 by the Coalition of America's Colleges and Universities - an effort involving 1,200 colleges and universities, the U.S. Department of Education, and more than 30 higher education associations, led by the American Council on Education (ACE) - the campaign provides invaluable college admission and financial aid information through its website (CollegeIsPossible.org), and toll-free phone number (1-800-433-3243).

"We are quite pleased - but not exactly surprised - by the strong public interest in College Is Possible," said ACE President Stanley O. Ikenberry. "People are hungry for solid, reliable information - there are so many scams and scare stories involving the college admission and financial aid process, we knew that people would respond to material recommended by groups like The College Board, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the College Fund - UNCF."

The campaign, which includes community outreach efforts by participating colleges and universities, was established in response to national survey research showing that - while parents and students value a college education - many dramatically overestimate the price, often by as much as 200 percent, and underestimate the resources that are available to them to help pay for college. The danger, which America's colleges and universities hope to avert through this campaign, is that many citizens will miss out on the opportunity for a college education because they do not have adequate information about the range of options and sources of help. Those most at risk are minority students, families with low incomes, and students whose parents did not themselves attend college.

Colleges have an obligation to help Americans become better, more knowledgeable consumers of higher education, Ikenberry said. "No deserving student should be deprived of a college degree because he or she doesn't have the right information," he said. "We think this nationwide campaign will help close the information gap."

Among the College Is Possible outreach efforts since the campaign launch in 1998:

• With the generous support of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a public-service announcement was telecast on both CBS and ESPN during the 1999 and 2000 Men's and Women's Division I Basketball Tournaments - "March Madness" - attracting millions of viewers with the simple message, "You don't have to be an athlete to get money for college."

• Working with the U.S. Department of Education, more than 400 institutions and associations held the first-ever "National College Week," Nov. 15-19, 1999. This nationwide program, which included a series of high-profile events involving colleges and Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, helped build public awareness on student financial aid and resulted in more than 100 news stories. The next National College Week is scheduled for Oct. 9-13, 2000.

• Hundreds of colleges and universities have been involved in community outreach and publicity activities since the start of the campaign. Institutions have been involved in activities like student aid forums, college nights, phone banks, as well as generating news stories, opinion pieces, and print and magazine advertisements.

• Important partnerships have been established with national community organizations to deliver the college affordability message more specifically to students who may need help. Groups working with College Is Possible include The American Library Association, Boys and Girls Clubs, Future Farmers of America, The National 4-H Council, and the National Urban League.

• As an offshoot of the College Is Possible campaign, the American Council on Education and USA Group Foundation have co-sponsored a new cost-management award program to recognize colleges and universities for implementing programs to improve academic quality while controlling costs. The Academic Excellence and Cost Management National Awards Program will highlight effective academic cost-management practices and demonstrate how campuses can communicate their successes more effectively to the public. Nineteen out of 120 proposals submitted have been chosen as award finalists, with the national winners featured at a national symposium on June 12, 2000.

In coming months, the Coalition of America's Colleges and Universities plans to deliver the College Is Possible message to as wide an audience as possible through increased marketing and advertising. Several important partnerships have been developed with corporations and foundations to assist in this effort, Citigroup Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation, USA Group Foundation, Lilly Endowment, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Pfizer Foundation, Peterson's, and Sallie Mae.

ACE is a comprehensive association of the nation's colleges and universities dedicated to analysis of higher education issues and advocacy on behalf of quality higher education programs and adult education programs. Counted among ACE's members are more than 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations.

Organizations Participating in The College Is Possible Campaign

AFL-CIO
American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American College Personnel Association
American Council on Education
Association of American Universities
Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
The College Board
The College Fund/UNCF
College Parents of America
Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Council of Independent Colleges
Educational Planning Center
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
National Association for College Admission Counseling
National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
National Association of College and University Business Officers
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Institute for Literacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce