ACCESS College Foundation

The mission of ACCESS College Foundation is to provide educational pathways leading to certification or college degree attainment and career opportunities for students, particularly those who may not otherwise have access. ACCESS fulfills its mission by:

•Working to ensure that low-income middle school students are well-informed about their options regarding postsecondary education.

•Providing students in every public high school in the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk; and in the county Northampton, VA with preparation, guidance and the financial assistance needed to make post-secondary education a reality.

•Supporting our students while in college to help them stay in school and graduate.

•Providing valuable training, networking, and mentoring to students while in college and connecting students to internship opportunities after graduation.

ACCESS is committed to providing postsecondary access and success services free of charge to local students and their families. Our goal is to eliminate barriers to attaining a postsecondary education for underrepresented and low-income students, thereby increasing the number of students who successfully matriculate to a postsecondary institution and complete their certification or degree program.

Through the placement of advisors in 28 high-need public middle schools, 30 public high schools, and on 13 Virginia university/college campuses, ACCESS accomplishes the following:

•The ACCESS Early College Awareness Program gives 7th and 8th graders a head start in understanding the necessary steps involved in attaining a postsecondary degree by providing workshops and advising sessions.

•The ACCESS 9th and 10th Grade Program helps students develop a personal educational plan to keep them on track for high school graduation, while increasing their knowledge and aspirations for pursuing education after high school.

•The ACCESS High School Program increases the number of students who enroll in postsecondary institutions by guiding 11th and 12th grade students through the complicated college application/admission pipeline and assisting high school seniors with college admission applications, financial aid, and scholarships. To bridge the gap between the amount of financial aid received and the actual cost of attending college, we also award ACCESS "Last-Dollar" Scholarships.

•ACCESS Scholars participating in the ACCESS College and Career Success Program benefit from the provision of support services through one-on-one and group counseling sessions with one of our advisors for academic, adjustment, financial, and personal issues. The College and Career Success Program promotes the successful progression and completion of postsecondary education. This program also assists ACCESS Scholars during their junior and senior years in college by providing workshops and networking/internship opportunities within our community.

ACCESS currently employs 34 full-time advisors who are fully committed to assisting this program's targeted student population with attaining postsecondary education and achieving postsecondary success. The Advisors and the program as a whole have a dedicated office staff of 12 full-time members to oversee and support program/administrative activities, perform administrative tasks relating to program implementation and execution, and ensure compliance in managing all grant funds and fulfilling all grant reporting responsibilities. The support of our Board of Directors (47 volunteer board members), coupled with the backing of the schools and community, enables us to provide the highest level of services for local students.

Since 1988, ACCESS Advisors have assisted more than 77,000 local public high school students with enrolling in college and helped secure $780 million in scholarships and financial aid for these students. Additionally, ACCESS Advisors have helped students secure over $14 million in ACCESS “Last-Dollar” Scholarships, bridging the gap between the amount of financial assistance received and the actual cost of attending college. For every $1 spent on program services, ACCESS leverages $10 in financial aid and scholarships for students. Our vision is that every desiring student in the South Hampton Roads and Northampton County region are given the opportunity to optimize their lives through the attainment of higher education.