Reach Higher College Access eSummit

Learn about tools that can help open up opportunities to increase student success

College Access eSummit Invitation Dear Reach Higher Supporters, The Obama administration has worked hard to develop tools to enable every student the opportunity to pursue a postsecondary degree and achieve their fullest potential. To help these tools get into the hands of as many students and student advocates as possible, the First Lady’s Reach Higher Initiative and its Better Make Room campaign are pleased to host a College Access eSummit for its stakeholders to provide the chance to learn more about these student-centered tools and how they open up opportunities to increase student success. WHAT: College Access eSummit WHEN: Wednesday, October 19th from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET WHERE: Call-in and webinar information will be sent to those who RSVP.  PLEASE RVSP USING THIS LINK. Note there is a maximum capacity for this call/webinar – participants will be allowed to join on a first-come, first-serve basis. The eSummit will provide an overview of the movement to increase college access through the work of Reach Higher and discuss tools including the College Scorecard and “UpNext,” Better Make Room’s new texting tool designed to help keep students on top of important college and financial aid deadlines. There will be time for Q & A. Speakers The Webinar will feature Eric Waldo, Executive Director of the First Lady’s Reach Higher Initiative,Ajita Menon, Special Assistant to the President on Higher Education;  Don Yu, Director of the Better Make Room Campaign and Ben Castleman Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Virginia working on Better Make Room’s UpNext mobile messaging campaign. Background In 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama approached then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan with the goal of encouraging more young people to attend college. Inspired by her own experience as a first-generation college student, the First Lady wanted to give high school and college students the resources to thrive in their education and in the world. In 2014, she started Reach Higher, an initiative for families, schools, and communities to support all students in pursuing rewarding postsecondary opportunities; and in 2015, she announced the Better Make Room campaign to directly reach underserved, college-aspiring youth. Since then, Better Make Room has launched Up Next, a tool that gives students and families across the country free personalized support on all things college – college search and application, federal student aid, even student loan repayment – all through texting.  Follow us on Twitter @ReachHigher and on Instagram@ReachHigher2020