College Advising Corps

College Advising Corps
Name	College Advising Corps
Founded	0 2005
Founder	Nicole Hurd
Location	Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Key people	Shirley Collado (CEO)
Focus	College access, Educational equity
Website	https://advisingcorps.org/

College Advising Corps is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students who enter and complete higher education. Founded in 2005, it places well-trained, recent college graduates as full-time college advisers in high-need high schools across the United States. The organization partners with universities and colleges to deliver its program, aiming to democratize access to postsecondary opportunities through direct, individualized advising.

History and founding

The organization was founded in 2005 by Nicole Hurd, then a dean at the University of Virginia, inspired by the University of California, Berkeley's Cal Corps Public Service Center. Its initial model was developed as a pilot program, the College Guide Program, supported by a grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The program was designed to address persistent disparities in college access revealed by research from scholars like William G. Bowen and Anthony P. Carnevale. Early expansion was fueled by partnerships with institutions like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and support from philanthropic leaders such as Stanley S. Shuman. The organization incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2007, establishing its national headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Mission and model

The core mission is to support students from underserved communities in navigating the complex pathways to postsecondary education. The model is characterized by placing recent graduates, often AmeriCorps members, as near-peer advisers in partner high schools. These advisers, who are themselves often first-generation college graduates, receive intensive training at a Summer Institute hosted by partner universities like the University of Michigan or Texas A&M University. They provide direct, hands-on assistance with tasks such as completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), navigating the Common Application, preparing for the SAT and ACT (test), and identifying Pell Grant-eligible institutions. This approach is informed by the school counseling framework and aims to supplement, not replace, existing high school staff.

Programs and services

Services are delivered through a school-based advising model, with advisers embedded for one to two years. Key program activities include conducting financial aid workshops, organizing college visits to campuses like Howard University or Appalachian State University, and hosting presentations from admissions officers from a range of institutions including Ivy League schools and local community colleges. Advisers also facilitate events like College Application Week, a initiative promoted by the American Council on Education. The organization has developed specialized initiatives, such as the STEM College Advising Corps and virtual advising pilots, often in collaboration with entities like the National Science Foundation and Google.org. All services are provided free of charge to students, families, and partner high schools.

Impact and outcomes

Independent evaluations, including studies by researchers at Stanford University and the University of Chicago, have shown that the program significantly increases college enrollment rates, particularly at four-year institutions. The organization annually serves over 200,000 students in hundreds of high schools across more than 15 states, from California to Massachusetts. Outcome data is tracked through partnerships with the National Student Clearinghouse and reported to funders like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The model has been recognized with awards such as the Social Innovation Fund grant and has influenced federal policy discussions led by the U.S. Department of Education.

Partnerships and funding

The organization operates through a network of partnerships with over 30 university partners, including Vanderbilt University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Boston College. These institutions often host and employ the advising corps members. Major philanthropic support has come from the Lumina Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Corporate partners have included Bank of America and State Farm Insurance. Funding is a mix of private philanthropy, federal grants through AmeriCorps, and contributions from university partners and local school districts, ensuring the program's sustainability and reach.

Leadership and organization

The national office in Chapel Hill, North Carolina provides strategic direction, training, and evaluation support. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that includes leaders from higher education, philanthropy, and business, such as former University of Texas at Austin president Larry R. Faulkner. The current Chief Executive Officer is Shirley Collado, former president of Ithaca College. Regional operations are managed through the university partner sites, each led by a campus director who supervises the corps of advisers. The organizational structure emphasizes data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement, guided by research from the American Institutes for Research.

Category:Educational organizations based in the United States Category:College access programs Category:Non-profit organizations based in North Carolina Category:Organizations established in 2005