The campaign pairs Get Schooled’s expertise at engaging young people in education with Univision’s steadfast commitment to empower Hispanic America
NEW YORK – February 2, 2015 – To ensure more young people have access to the information they need to get financial aid for college, Get Schooled and Univision have launched a text hotline in English and Spanish to help answer questions about financial aid. The campaign offers parents and students an easy way to have their questions answered by financial aid experts; topics covered include questions about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), other sources of federal aid, state aid or scholarships.
A 2013 Gallup poll found that 72% of Americans widely believe that having a degree beyond high school is very important. But about the same number(74%) do not believe that high education is affordable for everyone who needs it.[1] Further, paying tuition or college loans is the top financial challenge for young adults in the U.S. In a 2014 Gallup Poll, more than one in five adults aged 18 to 29 mentioned college costs as the biggest financial problem their families are dealing with.[2]
“Confusion and concerns about financial aid are considerable barriers to college access and college success,” said Marie Groark, Executive Director of Get Schooled. “Get Schooled is excited to partner with Univision to meet students and parents where they are with the information they need to reach their educational goals.”
The text hotline recognizes the importance of financial aid information and the ubiquity of texting among American teenagers. According to a 2012 Pew Research study, texting is the dominant mode of communication between teens and all those whom they communicate.[3] The text hotline enables students to use their preferred communication channel to connect with an expert who can answer their financial aid questions.
“Our deep experience with the Hispanic community related to education has made it clear that Hispanic youth need information that attracts them, answers their questions and helps them chart their path from high school to college, “said Roberto Llamas, Executive Vice President of Human Resources & Community Empowerment, Univision Communications, Inc. “We are delighted to partner with Get Schooled for this hotline and help them deliver a much needed service to Latino families.”
The hotline was initially launched last month with a specific focus on California families. In just two weeks, more than 1,000 text messages were exchanged. Through text, parents and students asked questions about financial aid deadlines, where to find key forms and the availability of aid for part time students. In a follow-up survey of users, more than 97% of those who texted in found the service to be helpful.
Beginning in February, the text hotline will be available to any student or parent in the United States. Get Schooled and Univision will promote the availability of the text help across their networks, with a specific focus on audiences in California, Arizona, New York, and Texas. For students seeking help:
- In English, text “FAFSA” to 335577
- In Spanish, text “Dinero” to 335577
The hotline is part of Univision and Get Schoooled’s ¡Di que si! Campaign aimed at empowering Latino youth around education. The text platform is managed by Get Schooled, and staffed with financial aid experts volunteering through Univision and Get Schooled.
Get Schooled is a national non-profit founded on the belief that students themselves have the power to improve their future if given the right information and motivation. Launched in 2010 by Viacom, Get Schooled has partnerships with more than 2,000 middle and high schools around the country and its digital platform has attracted millions of young people. Univision’s education initiative, part of its Univision Contigo (Univision With You) empowerment platform, is the nation’s longest-running education campaign on the air, spanning across television, radio, digital and community events.
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About Get Schooled
Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that directly engages and motivates students to graduate from high school and succeed in college. Get Schooled is the premiere education brand for young people – linking students with high quality, cutting edge resources and tools they need to succeed. Get Schooled has developed a track record of success because it engages with young Americans using the media, technology and popular culture that is an integral part of their lives. Get Schooled’s work is boosted by partners like Viacom, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, Capital One Bank and Comcast. Since 2010, Get Schooled has engaged more than 5 million young Americans and has built a network of more than 2,000 middle and high schools.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 95% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 89% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of cable offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; an Interactive network of online and mobile apps and products including UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America, Uforia, the leading Hispanic digital music service, Univision.com, the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. UCI’s assets also include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a new 24-hour English-language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, and a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion, a news, pop culture and satire TV and digital network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.Univision.net.
[1] 2013 Gallup Poll: Americans Say Postsecondary Degree Vital, but See Barriers
[2] 2014 Gallup Poll: Young Adults Cite College Costs As Top Money Problems
[3] 2012 Pew Research Study: Cell Phones, They Are For More Than Making Calls