Over 100,000 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) forms were completed thanks to the work of City University of New York’s Financial Aid Support Team (CUNY FAST)! The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation provided the seed funding to address the crisis with FAFSA delays. Grouptrail powered their initiative by providing texting tools and a program tracking database and working with CUNY FAST Project Director Shaquinah Taylor Wright. CUNY FAST’s work in partnership with New York City Public Schools over just a few months included:

▪ Event Support: CUNY FAST Coaches and campuses hosted over 500 financial aid completion events from May to August

▪ Social Media Impact: Garnered 1.2 million impressions

▪ Outreach: Reached 120,000 CUNY applicants and current students through email and text communications

▪ Presentations: FAST Coaches shared insights on the impact of peer support in financial aid with the Board of Directors at the Petrie Foundation

As a result, CUNY received the Higher Education Innovation Award from the National Partnership for Student Success in recognition of the CUNY FAST launch and impact. The University’s initiative also supports seven campuses in setting Federal Work Study goals, placing more college students as paid mentors and tutors for high school students. Dean of CUNY’s K16 Initiatives, Andrea Soonachan, and College and Career Bridge Program Director, Daitwan David, proudly accepted the award from U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about CUNY FAST here.