Manages student financial aid programs which provide grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study funds to students attending college or career schools. Offers information about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), grants (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant/FSEOG, etc.), federal educational loan programs (including Stafford Loans), and Campus-Based Aid (such as Federal Work-Study Programs).

Federal Student Aid Information Center | Federal Student Aid Information Center

Programs that provide loan funds to meet the financial needs of students for whom grants and other forms of aid are inadequate or unavailable. Student loans are available at attractive interest rates (usually three to nine percent) and repayment is not required until after the student has completed school. Most student loans are federal Stafford Loans which have two variations: federally guaranteed Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that can be obtained from banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions or other financial institutions; and loans from the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) which are provided to students and their parents directly by the federal government. Stafford Loans may be subsidized (the government pays the interest while the student is in school) or unsubsidized (the student must pay the interest either while in school or following graduation, if deferred). Other options include PLUS loans (federal loans to parents of dependent undergraduate students), state government loans, loans from the educational institution or private donors, and loans that are designated for students who are pursuing specific courses of study (e.g., nursing, medicine, law).

Student Loans

Need-based programs funded by the federal government or individual educational institutions which allow students to work a specified number of hours per week while attending school and full-time during vacations in order to finance their education.  Work-study awards range from $600 to $4500 and students are not permitted to earn more than the award amount.

Work Study Programs

Programs that provide or assist students to apply for awards which usually involve money and/or reduced tuition. Included are both needs-based scholarships which are awarded to outstanding students who are in financial need and honorary scholarships which are awarded on the basis of merit alone and normally carry a nominal monetary award. Scholarship funds come from many sources including private endowments, alumni contributions, college or university funds, individual departments or outside organizations.

Scholarships

Provides a self-paced GED program for youth and adults, online high diploma program, basic computer skills classes, resume writing assistance, and job interview coaching. Also offers a work study program to prepare students for employment. Students may be eligible for a participation stipend.

ISDA Community Learning Center | ISDA Community Learning Center

Programs that provide instruction for adults and eligible minors who have elected to take a series of tests which measure the extent to which they have gained the knowledge, skills and understanding ordinarily acquired through a high school education. Instruction and testing focus on writing, social studies, science, reading and mathematics. Individuals who pass the tests receive a high school equivalency certificate.

High School Equivalency/GED Test Instruction

Programs that offer a series of courses that are especially designed for adults who have not completed their high school education which focus on life skills necessary for personal and job success. The instructional components in the program include reading, writing, listening, speaking, mathematics, participatory democracy and consumer awareness as well as health, home, personal and family relationships, academic and/or vocational specializations and advanced studies. Individuals who successfully complete the program receive a high school diploma.

Adult High School Diploma Programs

Programs that provide instruction for individuals of all ages who want to learn about or perfect their skills in using computers, computer-related hardware and specific home and business applications including word processing, spreadsheet development, presentation development, database management, electronic publishing and image processing. Included are both introductory classes for people unfamiliar with computers and the Internet and more advanced courses, as well as programs that provide instruction in the use of related technology such as smartphones and social media. Instruction may focus on publishing tools such as blogs, video logs (vlogs), photo sharing, podcasting or wikis.  

Computer Literacy Training Programs

Programs that provide individual or group training for people who want to learn to present their skills, education and previous work experience effectively in a written resume or vita.

Resume Preparation Assistance

Programs that provide individual or group training for people who want to learn to be effective in job interview situations.

Job Interview Training

Programs, usually offered by community adult schools or as evening classes at local high schools, that provide instruction in fundamental learning skills for adults who have never attended school or have interrupted formal schooling and need to raise their level of education to increase their self-confidence and/or prepare for an occupation.  Emphasis is placed on basic reading, language and mathematics to strengthen functional skills in communication, computation and personal-social interaction.