We are living in an unprecedented and stressful time. Now more than ever we need to support each other. As students, schools and community organizations adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will share here resources and information we hope are helpful. Please send any additional information you would like us to share to info@stlouisgraduates.org. Send questions too and we’ll try to find answers. Stay well.
- About a dozen scholarship programs are still accepting applications via Scholarship Central. Check here for a list of updates to scholarship deadlines.
- Walk-through videos to help you fill out the general application
- And someone else created this handy video to help with FAFSA completion
For students currently enrolled in college:
- Virtual graduation celebration with Michelle Obama. June 6 at 2 PM.
- Emergency grants are available. Check with your college’s financial aid office first. They will know about how your institution will be distributing the CARES Act emergency grants. St. Louis Community Foundation and The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis are providing support to their current grantees. Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation’s Director’s Choice Emergency Grant for Missouri students in need. Students can request support through their financial aid office or submit a written description of their emergency to info@moslf.org who will contact the financial aid director to approve student requests.
- Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation’s interest-free loan program application is here.
- A+ eligibility for postsecondary students – MDHEWD update 3.19.20 – new update 4.1.20
- A terrific summary of changes for student loan borrowers from TICAS
- Federal Student Aid updates – includes update on loan repayments 3.25.20
- JSTOR academic journals available online for free
- For info on accessing free internet, see bottom of page
For students applying to college:
- List of college plans for opening in the fall – from Chronicle for Higher Education
- Virtual graduation celebration with Michelle Obama. June 6 at 2 PM.
- Support Group for 2020 Seniors (free, starts May 9) 2020 Senior Support Group Flyer
- Colleges that have moved deposit deadline to June 1 or later
- Test optional colleges – from Fair Test
- UMSL 2020 Commit to Success College Prep Talks
- 2020 Virtual Summer Academy Recruitment
- CollegeWise – Ask Me Anything Facebook Live chats to answer college admissions questions
- Missouri College Advising Corps provides free virtual college advising on Tuesdays 10 AM-12 Noon and Thursdays 1 to 3 PM through May 14. Schedule an appointment here.
- March and May SAT are cancelled
- April ACT now scheduled for June 13
- Free online ACT prep courses
- UMSL Bridge to the ACT summer program for juniors re-taking the ACT. Register for the ACT summer program here.
- UMSL Bridge Summer Academy for current 9th and 10th graders. Link to all UMSL Precollegiate Programs.
- CTE course updates from DESE
- Federal Student Aid resources
- MDHEWD State Aid Eligibility Guidance 4.16.20
- A+ eligibility for 2020 seniors – 3.19.20 and update 3.27.20
- Bright Flight eligibility for seniors – 4.1.20
- College admissions in the time of COVID-19 – updates for students from Cappex
- College Greenlight has virtual campus tours (requires login). So does Campus Reel.
For undocumented students and families:
- United We Dream resource page
- Tangible support for undocumented students right now – a guide from Immigrants Rising
- Talking Points app to help with translating
- UndocuGrads webinar (taped) on applying to graduate programs
- List of colleges providing emergency aid to undocumented students
For higher education professionals:
- Surveys predict drop – summary of recent surveys from Inside Higher Ed 5.4.20
- A new normal: survey of college presidents
- Colleges are deluding themselves – The Atlantic opinion piece
- 15 Fall Scenarios – Inside Higher Ed 4.22.20
- US Dept of Education HEERF funds (CARES Act student emergency aid) FAQ – 4.21.20 and announcement of additional CARES Act funding 4.21.20
- Hope Center: Maximizing the impact of CARES Act emergency aid for students
- McKinsey: How should higher education plan for an uncertain future?
- Calling out xenophobia, racism and intolerance during the COVID crisis – Diverse Issues webinar 4.17.20
- National College Access Network (NCAN) roundup of information and resources for higher education leaders responding to COVID-19 – regularly updated policy info
- Delivering emergency aid during COVID-19: webinar transcript from Trellis Company – excellent resource as planning for student emergency aid via CARES Act
- COVID-19 DEI Crisis Action Strategy Guide from the National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy
- Hope Center guide for how colleges can best support low-income students in need of help with housing, food, and more.
- Food and Housing insecurity among student athletes – report from Hope Center
- Thoughts from a former college admissions officer – from Wil del Pilar at EdTrust
- Questions institutions should ask themselves to ensure decisions are being made through an equity lens – from NFP Quarterly
- Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development has created an online update of resources and links to institutional COVID-19 plans.
- Clarification of A+ 4.7.20 – MDHEWD 4.7.20
- How colleges can help high school seniors – opinion piece
- Maintaining equity and inclusion in virtual learning environments from SDSU
- US Department of Education updates and resources
- MO College Access Network resource page
- Federal Student Aid updates – includes update on loan repayments 3.25.20
- A terrific summary of changes for student loan borrowers from TICAS
For high school counselors and access advisers:
- Resources to keep students moving through COVID-19 – from ACT Equity
- Resource guide for counselors supporting LGBTQ+ youth – from HRC
- COVID-19_Public NCAA Eligibility
- Supporting Students with Disabilities During COVID-19
- 2020 Senior Support Group Flyer
- MSCA Guide on Handling Crises from Virtual Platforms – MSCA Guide
- NCAN: 5 things to do to support high school seniors
- Spreadsheet of virtual college admissions events
- MDHEWD State Aid Eligibility Guidance 4.16.20
- Common App tips on how counselors can stay connected
- ACT announces summer testing date options and stay-at-home testing – April 17
- Free online ACT prep courses
- ASCA virtual school counseling resources
- NCAA waiving standardized test for incoming freshmen
- DESE updates for 2020 seniors
- DESE cancels statewide assessments; impact on 2020 seniors
- MDHEWD update A+ eligibility for 2020 seniors – 3.19.20 and A+ Additional Guidance 3.27.20
- Colleges that have moved deposit deadline to June 1 or later
- Test optional colleges
- National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) updated list of colleges admissions changes
- 2020-21 FAFSA walk-through video
- College admissions in the time of COVID-19 – updates for students from Cappex
- US Department of Education updates and resources
- DESE updates and COVID-19 resources
- Social-emotional support resources – CASEL
Webinars for professionals in the field:
- St. Louis Graduates hosts Brown Bag virtual meetings for high school counselors and access advisers. Learn more and register here.
- Racial equity in online environments – weekly webinar series from Center for Urban Education.
Community Support Resources for the St. Louis area:
- STLResponse – resource list, community news and data dashboard (includes former STL/East STL resource guide)
- 2020 St. Louis COVID-19 Social Resource List
- St. Louis City Office of Financial Empowerment resource guide
- Start Here STL
- Alive & Well STL trauma-informed resources
- STL Community Mutual Aid
- All For Kids – list of STL area sites providing free food so students continue to eat while schools are closed
- Operation Food Search map of child meal locations
- WePower resource list
- United Way 211 resource directory
For those who wish to donate:
- St. Louis Community Foundation Regional Response Fund – info on how to donate and funding priorities for area non-profits
- The Scholarship Foundation financial aid advisers are working remotely but still available to advise on financial aid matters. They have also set up a fund to provide training for staff who are helping students navigate the traumatic disruption to their lives. More info here.
- St. Louis Community Foundation Gateway Resiliency Fund – fund providing one-time grant to employees and small businesses who have been impacted by the coronavirus
Educational resources for families:
- StemSTL online educational resources for families and students
- Nine Network educator and caregiver toolkit
For anyone working from home:
- 8 Tips to make working from home work for you
- Tips for how to be good at video meetings – we’re all learning together!
- Slow down – reminders for facilitators now working online
For all of us:
- Needing emotional support? Behavioral Health Response – emotional support 24/7 – 314-469-6644 or 800-811-4760 or TTY: 314-469-3638
- YMCA free virtual workouts
- CALM – app for meditation
Access internet services and mobile/community hotspots via providers
As per the Federal Communications Council agreement, providers will waive late fees, maintain service regardless of payment and open Wi-Fi hotspots. In addition, many providers are offering free Wi-Fi for 60 days as well as enabling mobile hotspots at no charge.
| • | Altice USA: Free 60 days of Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution to any new customer household |
| • | AT&T: $10/mo plans to low-income families and free hotspots in many communities |
| • | Charter: Free 60 days of internet |
| • | Comcast: Free 60 days of internet for low-income families and free hotspots in many communities |
| • | Cox: Low-income internet tier with no annual contract |
| • | Sprint: All mobile phones will enable hotspots for 60 days at no extra charge |
| • | T-Mobile: Soon allowing all mobile phones to enable hotspots for 60 days at no extra charge |
| • | Verizon: Free hotspots in many communities |