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ACAC Resources

The American College Application Campaign® team is available to offer technical assistance and trainings to help make your program a success. If you are a new State Coordinator, please contact our staff so we can provide you with a brief overview of the initiative, review your state campaign goals, and walk you through the resources available to assist with the planning and implementation of your state’s program.

The following resources are intended to assist State and Host Site Coordinators as they plan and implement the Campaign in their state or local community. Items have been posted to this web page and the State Coordinator SharePoint. If you are a State Coordinator and do not have access to the ACAC Network SharePoint, please contact one of our team members. 

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Site Coordinator Materials

There are a variety of activities that high school site coordinators can do prior to, during, and after the school’s College Application event. The Site Coordinator Materials provide an overview of the Campaign at the school-level. Additionally, you will find a Site Coordinator Checklist and Timeline which brings the planning and execution process together. State Coordinators should review, edit, and customize the Site Coordinator Materials to reflect their state’s implementation of the Campaign. Once edited, the resources should be sent to Site Coordinators at participating high schools and posted to the state’s Campaign website.

Pre-Event Planning Resources

The following resources should be utilized in the 6-8 weeks prior to hosting a college application event.
  • Host Site Coordinator Timeline
  • Planning Committee Audit
  • Host Site Planning Committee Agenda
  • Communication – Ask Me About it Poster blank
  • Communication – Instructions- Ask Me Buttons and Stickers
  • Student/Family Information Letter template
  • Mayoral Proclamation Template
  • Student Sign Out Sheet Template – Option 1
  • Student Sign Out Sheet Template – Option 2
  • Human Bingo Template
  • 10 Ways to Build Excitement for College Application Events
  • 10 Steps for Applying_to give to students prior to events
  • Press Release and Media Advisory Template
  • Social Media Graphic: College Research Worksheet promo for Facebook
  • Social Media Graphic: College Research Worksheet promo for Instagram
  • Social Media Graphic: College Research Worksheet promo for Twitter
  • Social Media Graphic: Ask Me About Applying to College for Instagram
  • Webinar Recording: Hear from 3 example schools
  • College App Checklist – Facebook
  • College App Checklist – Twitter
  • College App Checklist – Instagram
  • Build a Balanced College List - Info Sheet
  • Build a Balanced College List - counselor slide deck

Day-of Event Resources

The following resources can be utilized during college application events. Some files would need to be printed and prepared in advance of the event.
  • myOptions – Student Registration – for tracking and collecting application data
  • Yard Sign – #IApplied to College
  • Ask Me Sticker
  • Ask Me Blue button (editable)
  • Ask Me Where Grad RED button
  • Ask Me Red button (editable)
  • I Applied rectangle sticker
  • I Applied rectangle sticker – InDesign
  • I Applied round sticker – InDesign
  • #IApplied round stickers – print/order via Canva
  • Accepted Pennant – Black font (to upload in 4Imprint)
  • Accepted Pennant – White font (to upload in 4Imprint)
  • I Applied Pennant – Black font (to upload in 4Imprint)
  • I Applied Pennant – White font (to upload in 4Impint)
  • I Applied Pennant – print in house
  • Accepted Pennant – print in house
  • Accepted Pennant Preview
  • I Applied Pennant Preview
  • #IApplied selfie printout
  • #IApplied selfie printout [Spanish]

Student Resources

The following resources are intended for students to use as they take the necessary steps through the college application process. Host site coordinators (counselors and educators) are encouraged to email or print the resources for students.
  • 10 Steps for Applying to College – for students
  • College Research Worksheet – editable
  • College Application Fee Waiver
  • Next Steps for Students After Applying
  • College Application Worksheet
  • myOptions for Students – provides access to free college and career planning tools and advice
  • ACT College and Career Planning Resources
  • College Board College and Career Planning Resources
  • Reporting Test Scores on College Applications
  • Build a Balanced College List - Info Sheet

Post-Event Resources

The following materials are intended to serve as handouts after application completion events.
  • Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters
  • College Signing Day FAQ
  • FAFSA Complete Event Reminder
  • FAFSA Awareness Campaign

K-12 Resources

The following resources are for additional support beyond the college application process. These resources can be used throughout the entire senior year and with younger grades. In partnership with ACT, the American College Application Campaign has developed a Pre-College and Career Readiness Curriculum for Students and Their Families based on school counselor feedback. The curriculum-available in English and Spanish-provides students and their families an opportunity to become familiar with the language and processes associated with obtaining a postsecondary education diploma or credential. This curriculum is intended for middle and high school counselors and college access professionals who work with students to identify interests and lay the academic foundation for their careers and life. Additionally, ACT and ACAC have developed the College and Career Awareness  Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students which augments the Pre-College and Career Readiness Curriculum. Feedback from school counselors led to this development of materials for earlier grades. The current version includes activities and lessons for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary and middle school students. The new materials were developed and shared by the College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) and GEAR UP Washington State.
  • SwiftStudent – a free digital tool to help college students request changes to their financial aid. (bilingual info sheet)
  • ACT College and Career Planning Resources
  • College Board College and Career Planning Resources

State Coordinator Materials

The State Coordinator Materials provide an overview of the Campaign at state-level. Items include resources and worksheets to accomplish the key tasks of implementing a successful Campaign program, templates for communication, and a timeline to guide implementation. Each State Coordinator should download and review the resources and contact the ACAC team with any questions.

Making the Case | Building a State Campaign

The following materials are for state campaign coordinators who are in the early years of launching their state campaign or for new state campaign coordinators stepping into the role. These materials will help you audit the college access landscape of your state and determine how to build a steering committee, develop your campaign and enhance it each year.
  • Why Join?
  • Implementing a College Application Campaign Program – This piece explains the state and site coordinator roles and responsibilities
  • State Coordinator Campaign Timeline – This piece outlines the recommended timeline for state campaigns.
  • State Partner & Resource Guide
  • ACAC Logo – Transparent, Standard
  • ACAC Logo – Transparent, Light

Host Site Recruitment and Training Materials

Listed you will find resources such as host site responsibilities, implementation timeline, template invitation letters registration forms and a sample host site training agenda. Some materials can be used as is while others are set up as templates for the state campaign to localize.
  • Host Site Recruitment Timeline and Best Practices – This piece covers the recommended timeline for state coordinators to recruit host sites.
  • Inviting Host Sites to Participate
  • Host Site Registration Form Template
  • Host Site Request Letter Template
  • Partner Site Request Letter Template
  • Host Site Interest Form Template
  • Host Site Invitation Letter Template
  • Host Site Training Agenda Template
  • Host Site FAQ – Defining College
  • Host Site List - Template

Communication Materials

The following available communication materials should be used to help elevate awareness of statewide campaigns.
  • Brand Guidelines and Standards
  • Communication Audit
  • Sponsorship Request Letter Template
  • 2022 Certificate of Participation
  • Community Information Letter Template
  • Press Release and Media Advisory Templates
  • Governor’s Proclamation Template
  • Mayoral Proclamation Template
  • ACT Photo & Media Release Form

Volunteer Materials

The following documents are available for recruiting, training and supporting volunteers. You will find resources such as a volunteer management timeline, volunteer audit, template recruitment and thank you letters, and a volunteer training agenda.
  • Volunteer Audit Worksheet
  • Volunteer Recruitment Overview
  • High School Volunteer Recruitment Letter
  • Volunteer Recruitment Letter – for Steering Committee
  • Volunteer General Information
  • Volunteer Task List
  • Volunteer Feedback Survey Template
  • Volunteer Thank You Letter Template
  • Thank You Volunteer Facebook graphic
  • Thank You Volunteer Facebook (editable – InDesign)
  • Thank You graphic Twitter
  • Thank You Graphic Twitter (editable – InDesign)
  • Thank You Volunteer Instagram graphic
  • Thank You Volunteer Instagram graphic (editable – InDesign)
  • Call for Volunteers Facebook graphic
  • Call for Volunteers Facebook graphic (editable – InDesign)
  • Call for Volunteers Twitter graphic
  • Call for Volunteers Twitter graphic (editable – InDesign)
  • Call for Volunteers Instagram
  • Call for Volunteers INSTAGRAM graphic (editable – InDesign)

Data Collection and Analysis Materials

These resources provide recommendations for tracking and reporting results of your state campaign. It includes resources such as myOptions, a data collection worksheet, host site data collection form, student sign-out form, and tips for sharing your data. Whether your state is in its pilot year or has hosted the campaign for 10 years, these resources will help states strengthen their data management process.
  • Why Data Matter
  • Data Collection Timeline
  • Host Site Data Summary
  • Sharing Your Data Worksheet
  • Data Collection Worksheet
  • myOptions – Student registration for virtual tracking of applications/data collection
  • Sample Host Site Data Collection Form
  • Student Sign Out Sheet Template – Option 1
  • Student Sign Out Sheet Template – Option 2
  • Host Site List - Template

Why Apply

This fall, students across the country will be submitting college applications and celebrating their plans for the future. Hundreds of thousands of them will do so when schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia host American College Application Campaign (ACAC) events. To celebrate college application season and our students, ACAC encourages participating in the #WhyApply social media campaign.

How to Promote #WhyApply

Resources
  • #WhyApply Selfie Printout
  • #WhyApply digital template (if you don’t have access to a printer)
  • WhyApply 2022 Social Media Toolkit
  • #WhyApply promo – FB
  • #WhyApply promo – Twitter
  • #WhyApply Promo Instagram
  • #WhyApply promo – Email Banner Horizontal
  • #WhyApply promo – Email Banner Vertical
  • #WhyApply promo 1 - square
  • #WhyApply Day Customizable Promotional Graphics – Canva Folder

Social Media Engagement

The following resources are to help you understand how to engage with #WhyApply on an organization’s or personal social media channels.
  • Engaging with Social Media
  • Webinar: What if … we could rock #WhyApply Day on social?
  • WhyApply Content Template & Calendar for Canva Graphics
  • Tutorial for Using WhyApply Customizable Graphics on Canva
  • Facebook Profile Frame #WhyApply (head to Facebook, select Profile Pic Frames and search #WhyApply)
  • Snapchat Filter #WhyApply
  • WhyApply Customizable Graphics – Canva Folder

Graphics

The following resources are ready-to-use graphics for an organization or personal social media channels.
  • WhyApply Customizable Graphics – Canva Folder
  • College App Checklist – Facebook
  • College App Checklist – Twitter
  • College App Checklist – Instagram
  • Earn More – FaceBook
  • Earn More – Twitter
  • Earn More – Instagram
  • Senior Year Checklist – Facebook
  • Senior Year Checklist – Twitter
  • Senior Year Checklist – Instagram
  • Senior Year Checklist – Snapchat
  • Volunteerism – FaceBook
  • Volunteerism – Twitter
  • Volunteerism – Instagram
  • First Generation Students – FaceBook
  • First Generation Students – Twitter
  • First Generation Students – Instagram
  • #WhyApply Day Customizable Promotional Graphics – Canva Folder

#IApplied Resources for Students

The following are resources for students to celebrate when they apply to college. Ask students to post a photo or video using the hashtag #IApplied.
  • Customizable Graphics for Canva
  • Facebook Profile Frame #IApplied (head to Facebook, select Profile Pic Frames and search #IApplied)
  • Snapchat Filter #IApplied
  • #IApplied printout (English)
  • #IApplied printout (Spanish)

Equity in Action Blog

Stay informed through ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning blog which offers thought leadership and reflective pieces on barriers and solutions to help students who are systemically underserved achieve education and career success.

I Want to Be Part of That Team
March 2023
When Faced with Difficulties, It Brings Out the Kind of Person You Truly Are
January 2023
Stay Disciplined
December 2022
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