The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is hosting their third annual GO!vember campaign this month. Officials said it’s an effort each November to help upcoming high school graduates apply and pay for post-high school education. Partners of the CPE’s GO!vember campaign include GEAR UP Kentucky, Kentucky Collaborative for Families and Schools, Kentucky Advising Academy, and Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.
CPE Council President Dr. Aaron Thompson said the mission for GO!vember is to increase the number of Kentucky high school students going to college and earning a college-level degree or certificate by the year 2030.
“The percentage of Kentuckians who are graduating from high school, going to college is really low. It’s 47.8 percent going to a Kentucky school, and 52 that’s going anywhere. So, it’s our goal to get them to say, ‘here’s an affordability option.’ If you’re scared of it, we’re there for you. They can call in and ask questions, we’ll have this all month,” said Thompson.
The campaign also offers a student resource hub with online and downloadable information on picking a college, filling out the FAFSA and applying for scholarships.
Dr. Thompson said the process of getting into college can be intimidating, which is why he hopes everyone takes advantage of the campaign and the information it provides parents and students.
“We’ve got to get information to them better and faster because it’s our most needed students that are left out of it,” he said. “And so, I hope that the public gets people to participate in this GO!vember campaign but more specifically get people to participate in college-going.”
Thompson said the GO!vember initiative has seen success in increasing the number of students who complete the FAFSA and apply to college. An online webinar will be held on November 16 to give parents and students more information on transitioning from high school to college.