Postsecondary Pathways
College/Career Access & Action Network (CAAN)
Our College/Career Access & Action Network brings together counselors and other professionals supporting students’ postsecondary planning to develop their capacity and ensure they have access to up to date information on policy and practice.
School Year 2026-27 Upcoming Events
Friday, October 23 | 10:30-11:30 AM
Join Lucy McIntyre from CUNY for a practical update on everything financial aid this year. We’ll start with CUNY’s state of FAFSA completion, then cover this year’s (and last year’s) FAFSA changes, key OBBBA policies around loan limits and Pell. We’ll discuss the importance of TAP for all families. Lucy will also share tips from her side of the desk — including information about refunds and payment plans, and what she’s learned from this year’s completion events.
Past Event Materials | School Year 2026-27
Session Objectives:
- Learn about CUNY and SUNY updates for the 2026-27 School Year
- Deepen knowledge of CUNY and SUNY systems
- Discuss updates to essential student applications
- List new academic programs and support programs at CUNY and SUNY
Past Event Materials | School Year 2025-26
Session Objectives:
- Identify at least three pathways for undocumented students to generate legal income and pursue professional careers.
- Outline key strategies and resources for connecting undocumented students with essential professional experiences.
- Explain how partnerships can be a useful tool to connect students to opportunities.
Session Objectives:
- Explain the multiple pathways for New York State financial aid, including FAFSA-TAP, the DREAM Act, and the Alternate Eligibility Pathway Application process.
- Identify best-practice advising strategies for supporting undocumented students and mixed-status families, including discussions on privacy protections.
- Utilize application resources, such as broad overviews with screenshots and in-depth tutorials, to guide students through the financial aid process.
Session Objectives
- Understand the key requirements of CDOS Option 1 as it relates to CDOS academic policy.
- Identify concrete steps to implement CDOS at their school, including aligning systems for advising, WBL coordination, documentation, and progress monitoring.
- Determine how SYEP hours and on- or off-campus student jobs can count toward CDOS, including what supervision, documentation, and verification are required.
- Identify strategies for creating a WBL class or reflection structure that supports high-quality experiences.
Session Objectives:
- Identify current parent engagement strategies and analyze their effectiveness in supporting student success.
- Evaluate strategies through an equity lens, ensuring access for vulnerable populations (families with language, work, or technology barriers).
- Commit to one actionable step they will implement during the school year to strengthen family-school partnerships.
Session Objectives
- Learn about CUNY and SUNY updates for the 2025-26 School Year
- Deepen knowledge of CUNY and SUNY systems
- Discuss updates to essential student applications
- List new academic programs and support programs at CUNY and SUNY
Objectives:
-Deepen understanding of the proposed changes to New York State graduation requirements, including what the Portrait of a Graduate is and why it matters.
-Reflect on how current school practices might need to change to support these updates.
-Identify one or two specific steps their school can take this year to start getting ready.
Past Event Materials | School Year 2024-25
Session Objectives
- Define the role recommendations play in the application
- Identify admissions expectations for recommendations
- Understand the changing landscape (especially post-SCOTUS)
- List ways to optimize your time in writing recommendations
- Discuss ways to make recommendations most powerful
Session Objectives
- Understand the changing landscape of work and its impact on high school students
- Identify priority skills and resources needed for future success
- Develop strategies to support students in navigating the job market
- Build partnerships to practice student skill building
Session Objectives
- List the information students need in order to apply to a career training program
- Review best practice referral strategies
- Highlight what counselors need to know in order to refer students to programs
Session Objectives
- List resources to share with mixed status families and undocumented students
- Practice having difficult conversations with parents and students
- Ask questions that relate to the current context of our work today
Session Objectives
- Plan ways to incorporate career pathways conversations into their 9th, 10th, 11th grade plan
- Help students identify best-fit options by starting with their interests, skills, goals, and priorities
- Understand the resources (structures/systems, technology tools, instructional materials) available that support these conversations
Session Objectives
- Review different financial aid programs that are available in NY
- Highlight TAP updates
- Answer questions from participants
Session Objectives
- Learn what protections exist for mixed-status families
- Review who is eligible to complete the FAFSA
- Develop ways to talk with mixed-status families about completing the FAFSA
Session Objectives
- Review reasons students transfer and essential transfer vocabulary
- Practice a student workshop about transferring colleges
- Identify the information students need to know in order to transfer successfully
Session Objectives
- Review last year’s FAFSA especially it’s longer term effects
- Spotlight the Financial Aid office’s experience with FAFSA
- List what’s changing for this year in processing and verification
- Discuss risks involved in sharing information in light of the recent presidential election
Session Objectives
- Review postsecondary opportunities for undocumented students
- List financial aid options for undocumented students
- Share best practices for creating a safe and productive space
Session Objectives
- Receive updates from CUNY for the 2023-24 School Year
- Discuss CUNY admission updates
- Share resources and recruitment initiatives