UNCW College Advising Corps reports higher FAFSA and application rates at South and West Columbus High Schools

Representatives of the UNCW College Advising Corps presented results from their work at South Columbus and West Columbus High Schools during a Columbus County Board of Education meeting, reporting higher FAFSA submission rates, increased college application activity and ongoing grant funding.

Veronica Thapia, program director for UNCW College Advising Corps, told the board the program serves West Columbus and South Columbus High Schools and that the initiative hires recent college graduates to provide full‑time advising in underserved schools. Thapia said the UNCW program is part of the national College Advising Corps network and that the local advisors use a “near peer” model to support students through postsecondary planning.

Tricia Gose, a third‑year college advisor at South Columbus High School, described the program’s methods, including one‑on‑one meetings and family engagement, and reported results she attributed to that approach: “Last year, this approach resulted in 50 6 college applications submitted with 94% of seniors accepted to a college and 77% of the graduating class declaring college enrollment,” she said. Gose and other presenters also highlighted a county‑wide FAFSA push: the presentation said the program helped achieve a 73% FAFSA submission rate at both South and West Columbus High Schools, a 19% increase from before the partnership began.

Rebecca Stout, a West Columbus advisor, described outreach tactics at her school — classroom visits, visible information tables, incentives and parent cold calls — and said those efforts produced a reported 70% college application rate among seniors so far in the current school year. Presenters also described specific activities such as FAFSA workshops hosted at Southeastern Community College that drew families from all four county high schools.

Program funding and sustainability were discussed. Thapia said the UNCW advising positions in Columbus County are “100% grant funded” with committed funding “through August 2026.” She said the program is exploring options for long‑term sustainability, including a possible future district cost‑share model, and that UNCW and local partners are discussing strategies to minimize any future cost to schools.

Board members asked for comparative data across years; Thapia and other UNCW staff said year‑to‑year figures were not immediately at hand but that they could provide additional information on request.

Why it matters: College advising programs that raise FAFSA completion and application rates can affect students’ access to financial aid and postsecondary enrollment. The UNCW advisors’ reported increases, and the program’s current grant timeline, are material to district planning for student support and future budgeting.