College Affordability Academy: College and Corporate Staff Training
About
The College Affordability Academy® training is for anyone involved in the recruitment and enrollment process to be able to provide prospective and current students and their families with unbiased information on subjects like:
- student debt and college financing options;
- students' expected earnings upon graduation;
- how to find third-party ratings and evaluations of colleges and universities;
- how campus employment, study abroad, and internships contribute to lifetime employability.
At Robert Morris University, the College Affordability Academy® has changed how we serve prospective students and their families, but it has also impacted our staff across campus. From admissions counselors to student affairs advisors and financial aid professionals, we serve students with an emphasis on how to make their college experience not only transformative, but affordable.
The College Affordability Academy® goes beyond information sharing to application of the knowledge and tools taught in the modules. As the modules are completed, participants work in interdisciplinary groups develop capstone projects that help translate what is learned in the Academy to prospective students and their families. At Robert Morris, capstone projects were reviewed by a panel of outside experts from organizations including the College Board, PNC, Henderson Brothers, and Ruffalo Noel-Levitz. Previously completed capstone projects may be viewed by accessing rmu.edu/affordability.
Get More Information
Our goal is to increase financial awareness and decrease debt for all college students, regardless of whether the student attends RMU or not. If you're interested in bringing this content and training to your organization (free of charge), please reach out to us. We're happy to share! Inquiries can be sent to fraas@rmu.edu.
Get the Book
The College Affordability Academy®: A Blueprint for Counseling Families is for anyone involved in the college recruitment and enrollment process. The book may be used as a stand-alone volume or to accompany the College Affordability Academy® training modules.
The book includes a foreword written by RMU President Chris Howard and a conclusion written by former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
“This book is not just a tremendous service for those who advise families on paying for college (and ultimately for the families themselves), but also for those of us who advocate for affordability and access to higher education,” wrote Duncan.