College Visions

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse at College Visions

College Visions was proud to host Senator Sheldon Whitehouse as he highlighted the upcoming Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver deadline (Oct 31). Thank you Senator for being an advocate for access and affordability! And, thank you to the speakers who shared their personal PSLF stories! 
 
Established in 2007, the PSLF program provides a path to loan forgiveness for people working in public sector and non-profit jobs in fields such as education, healthcare, and social work. After making 120 payments, PSLF participants can have the balance of their student loans forgiven.
 
For low-income, first-generation college graduates like CV’s alums, the PSLF program provides an important option. CV alum Jennifer Recinos (Brandeis University Class of 2013) spoke at the event and shared that participation in PSLF has allowed her to pursue a career where she can give back as Associate Director of First Generation Experience at Rhode Island School of Design.

For more information about the event and to find out to get help with PSLF applications, click here: Press Release

College Visions Names Executive Director

Providence, RI—Lamont Gordon has been named the next Executive Director of College Visions, effective August 15, 2022. The announcement follows a six-month national search by executive search firm Eos Transition Partners.

Deborah Obalil, Chair, College Visions Board of Directors states, “I am delighted to announce that Lamont Gordon is the new Executive Director of College Visions. Lamont brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the fields of college access and success, a strategic vision for the future of College Visions, and a strong connection to the work. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the founding of College Visions, we are excited to have Lamont lead the next phase of College Visions’ development. As first-generation, low-income students continue to navigate challenges associated with COVID, the services provided by College Visions have never been more needed.”

[Read more…] about College Visions Names Executive Director

College Visions Statement of Solidarity

College Visions works to combat a racist educational system, but CV students face many structural oppressions that we cannot fix. We exist to support students who want to earn college degrees and face a multitude of challenges due to the structural systems that tell them they are unworthy and not enough. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, 3 Black individuals whose deaths were at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them. It is no question that racism and police brutality affect our Black community at disproportionately high rates. It is no question that still to this day, there is work that needs to be done to demand justice for Black Lives. College Visions stands with our Black students, families, and community in demand of that justice. We see you, we hear you and we will fight with you.

[Read more…] about College Visions Statement of Solidarity

COVID-19: How the Pandemic Impacts Low-income College Students

Abrupt campus closures have brought national attention to the plight of low-income college students. For many CV students, financial aid provides not only tuition support but also food and housing. CV is working to provide for the emotional, academic, and basic needs of RI youth. This spring and in the coming years, young people and their families may need extra help to stay focused on college and the longterm benefits that I degree can bring to individuals, families, and communities. CV is committed to providing that help!

For more information on the state of low-income college students, please check out the articles below:

College Made Them Feel Equal. The Virus Exposed How Unequal Their Lives Are.

The Coronavirus Class Divide: Space and Privacy

No Emergency Aid for DACA Students

The Real Lesson of the College Closures

Pandemic Has Forced Graduating Seniors to Reconsider College Choices

Advising Undocumented Students in Rhode Island for College Access

Our mission at College Visions is to empower low-income and first-generation college-bound students to realize the promise of higher education by providing advising and resources to promote college enrollment, persistence, and graduation. College Visions advances equal access to educational opportunities in historically under-served communities.

At College Visions, we believe our work is an embodiment of our core values:
– Empathetic, compassionate, and transformative relationships drive strong organizations.
– Equity creates strong communities.
– In our community we honor the voice, agency, and identities of all.
– Success means reaching our goals through hard work, failure and growth.

We live and operate through these values daily within our two core programs, the College Access Program (CAP) and the Kolajo Paul Afolabi College Success Program (CSP).

The College Access Program provides the intensive, individualized advising that closes the gap between college aspirations and college enrollment for first-generation, low-income students. Students are provided with one-on-one admissions advising, college knowledge workshops, campus visits, family engagement opportunities, access to technology, financial aid coaching.

The College Success Program provides our college students and graduates of CAP with continued support through college. Students are provided with one-on-one coaching, college success workshops, connection with on-campus resources, transfer coaching, financial aid renewal assistance, and access to our emergency grant fund.

Both of our programs are free to our students and are supplemented with providing social-emotional support for our students. At College Visions, we understand that the journey to and through college can be met with many different challenges, as well as the great successes, especially for first-generation low-income students. We are proud to be a resource for our students, help them navigate through different challenges, and celebrate their accomplishments.

Tina Meetran
College Access Program Director
College Visions

CLICK HERE to download the guide: Advising Undocumented Students in Rhode Island for College Access, 2019-2020