Iowa College Access Network Comes to Western Iowa
Iowa College Access Network Comes to Western Iowa
New College Planning Center Hours Offered in Council Bluffs
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (Feb. 12, 2009) — Students and families in western Iowa will
soon be able to receive free personal assistance with college planning, financial aid and
scholarship searches through a new partnership between the Community Education
Foundation (CEF) in Council Bluffs and the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN).
ICAN currently offers free one-on-one appointments to assist students with college planning
at the ICAN College Planning Centers in Cedar Rapids and West Des Moines. Through the
CEF partnership, ICAN outreach representatives will be available in Council Bluffs. Fortyfive minute appointments are available on several Thursdays in March through July.
ICAN services include:
• FAFSA completion. The electronic or paper Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) from the U.S. Department of Education is required to qualify for federal
financial aid. Professional assistance isn’t required, but ICAN’s free service can
reduce confusion and ensure accuracy. The FAFSA is available online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• College planning preparation. ICAN staff can help students ensure they meet
college entrance requirements, narrow down college choices and prepare for college
visits. • Financial aid assistance. Besides offering help with the FAFSA, ICAN staff can
guide students and families through the entire financial aid process, including
comparing and evaluating financial aid awards.
• Scholarship searches. ICAN can help recommend free scholarship searches and
sources of scholarship funds.
Office hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the dates below in the conference room at CEF’s
offices in the Omni Centre, 300 West Broadway, Suite 212.
March 5
March 19
April 2
April 16
April 30
May 14
May 28
June 11
June 25
July 9
July 23
To schedule an appointment, call CEF at (712) 322-8800, ext. 15.
