HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation was four years old when it assumed responsibility for an educational Talent Search program that eventually grew into Career and Education Outreach. Initially funded as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Educational Talent Search was one component of a "TRIO" of programs, including Upward Bound and Special Services, created in answer to President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty." The purpose of this three-pronged approach was to encourage and assist disadvantaged young people in the pursuit of post-secondary education.
From its inception in 1969, VSAC's Career and Education Outreach was an ambitious statewide effort. Its goal was to assist individuals in fulfilling their potential through education beyond high school. In the first year of operation, two counselors canvassed the state to provide college and financial aid counseling to 326 disadvantaged high school seniors. Today the goal remains the same but the staff and the focus have grown to provide a wider range of services to a broader population of Vermont residents. Now, 40 counselors provide a variety of services to youth, families, and adults. During FY07, 43,953 Vermonters were served. Listed below is the chronological development of Outreach from 1969 to the present. These services are supported by a combination of corporate, private, and federal funds.
OUTREACH PROGRAM HISTORY
1969
The Outreach Program, originally known as “Talent Search,” was created to seek out capable but disadvantaged young people, and to encourage them to pursue education beyond high school. Funded by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” Talent Search was part of a “TRIO” of programs that included Upward Bound and Special Services. In the program’s first year, two VSAC counselors provided college and financial aid counseling to 326 disadvantaged high school seniors statewide.
1970s
Services were expanded to all high school grade levels. The program still placed a strong emphasis on financial aid but also explored self-awareness and career and college decision-making skills.
1976
Following enactment of the 1976 amendments to the Higher Education Act, VSAC established an Educational Information Center (EIC) to increase adult awareness of higher education opportunities.
1981
Federal funding for EIC’s ended, resulting in VSAC’s adult services being combined with Talent Search under the renamed Outreach Program. Staff members conducted 5,000 visits with “traditional” students and parents, and counseled 850 adults.
1987
The Outreach Program established a new component to provide middle school students with college and career information. Staff members conducted 12,000 visits with traditional students and parents and served 1,600 adults.
VSAC opened a Resource Library.
1989
Outreach began to receive Department of Social Welfare (DSW) funds to provide educational services to Reach Up participants statewide.
1991
Demand increased for high school and adult services, and middle school services expanded to include all schools statewide. Five of the 21 Outreach Counselors were dedicated to middle school services. Staff members conducted more than 20,000 visits with all age groups.
Outreach received a four-year Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) grant totaling $813,100, and one counselor was designated to work exclusively with adults.
1992
Additional restructuring took place, resulting in the assignment of all counselors to specific populations: five with middle school students, 10 with high school students, and six with adults.
EOC counselors began to serve as members of Reach Up educational review teams, reviewing the required educational plans submitted by participants.
1994
The Outreach Program signed an agreement with the state Department of Employment and Training (DET) to collaborate on educational and employment counseling services for participants.
Outreach received a five-year National Early Intervention Scholarship & Partnership (NEISP) grant totaling $1.4 million to work with an additional 500 first-generation/low-income students. Through this program, five counselors were hired to provide services similar to Talent Search to students in grades five through 12 in five regions around the state. In addition to providing counseling services, NEISP students receive mentoring and a renewable scholarship for college.
1996
The Outreach Program entered into an agreement with the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and DET to establish seamless pathways that connect the career, educational and financial aid services provided by DET and VSAC with the needs of CCV students.
The Outreach Program became a lead partner in the Vermont School-to-Work (STW) Initiative and received a grant from Vermont’s STW Office. Outreach, in cooperation with Vermont’s 14 regional STW coordinators and their schools, was able to expand career development services to students throughout the state. Outreach staff participated in many STW-sponsored events and projects, including: career fairs, school-based surveys, workshops and professional development training for teachers.
Talent Search began an annual exchange program with students from the Boston area. This three-day program introduced each group of 35 students to the other’s geographic setting, providing cultural and educational opportunities and campus tours. It also created awareness about the diversity and national focus of TRIO programs.
The Outreach Program created a summer program for high school juniors and seniors. This four-day campus-based program combines workshops on preparing for college with cultural events and community service and is offered each year in June.
1997
The Director of Outreach was invited by U.S. Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, Chair of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, to testify on access to postsecondary education for TRIO/NEISP-eligible students.
The Sophomore Summit was established for students from Northeast Kingdom-area rural schools. It brings together high school sophomores and college student mentors for a three-day program designed to provide discussion and interaction around college selection and preparation issues.
1998
Outreach was awarded $2.7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education to continue to serve first-generation, low-income students and adults for another four years.
1999
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Outreach $8.4 million in grants through GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) to provide critical early intervention, mentoring and support services to young people in Vermont over the next five years.
In collaboration with DET, Outreach developed and initiated a pilot Higher Education Information Center in Rutland.
2000
The VSAC Resource Library implemented the Follett software system to assist with circulation and recordkeeping.
2001
The VSAC Resource Library became a central component of the newly opened VSAC Resource Center on the third floor of the Champlain Mill. The Center, serving as the location for all VSAC walk-in customer service, gave increased visibility to the libraries enhanced print and electronic resources.
Outreach was awarded a $170,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation to supplement GEAR UP’s academic programming at selected schools in the northeast region.
2002
For the first time in VSAC history, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Outreach a five-year Talent Search grant totaling $2.2 million. Five-year grants are only awarded when the grantee earns a perfect score of 100% from each grant reader.
2004
VSAC’s Outreach Programs became Career and Education Outreach (CEO). The new name is an indicator of its status as a major contributor to the career and education planning of the citizens of Vermont.
2005
The U.S. Department of Education awarded VSAC a six-year, $20 million State GEAR UP Grant. Through services and scholarships, this initiative will help more middle and high school Vermont students from disadvantaged backgrounds to stay in school, study hard, take rigorous courses, and go to college.
2006
The Career Planning Initiative was formed. The goal of this team is to coordinate statewide career planning services for all Vermonters. Part of this initiative is the Vermont Career Gateway, a comprehensive career and education web-based tool developed in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Labor. The Gateway project provides access to career decision-making tools for students, parents and professionals.
VSAC was awarded five-year grants for its Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Center Programs totaling $4,445,780. Five-year grants are only awarded when the grantee earns a perfect score of 100 percent from each grant reader.
2007
The Director and an Assistant Director or CEO were invited to serve as trainers for the Canadian Millenium Scholarship Programs initiative to develop higher education resource centers in Toronto, Edmonton, and Montreal.
Since 1969, the Outreach Program has had 538,299 contacts with Vermonters and has become one of the most respected programs of its kind in the country.
