Missouri Community Colleges Partner with ConnectEdu to ''Improve Going To College Rates'' for Missouri Students.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Streamlines College Search, Admissions and Transfer Processes To Positively Impact Student Decision Making, Recruitment and Transfer Placement

ConnectEdu, a leading provider of education planning solutions, and Ozarks Technical Community College, today announced an initiative to provide Missouri high school and community college students with a comprehensive college search, application, financial aid and transfer resource. ConnectEdu and OTC have partnered to deploy a statewide college search, admissions and transfer portal to insure that students receive the guidance and resources necessary to maximize their post-secondary educational opportunities. The founding group of community colleges is expected to include Ozarks Technical Community College, the St. Louis Community College and the Kansas City Community College systems.

Missouri Community Colleges are taking the lead for students by deploying an integrated, comprehensive college placement and transfer solution for high school and community college students across the state. The Missouri Community Colleges anticipate "co-sponsoring" the program into public high schools throughout their districts as well as inviting four-year colleges to join the Web-based community of college bound students.

Missouri's Community Colleges have focused on this initiative, in
an effort to:

Improve the "Going to College Rate" of Missouri High School Students

        Assist in-school counselors in their efforts to provide each
        student-family with a comprehensive, individualized college
        plan best suited to the education objectives and financial
        needs of the specific student.

Lower Student Recruitment Costs for Missouri 2- and 4-year Colleges

        Allow 2- and 4-year colleges to efficiently identify, interact
        and build relationships with potential applicants prior to
        pursuing more traditional student recruitment strategies (e.g.
        direct mail, mass media, placards, etc.)

Facilitate & Maximize Transfer Options for Community College Students

        Provides college counselors with a cost-effective method for
        guiding students through the college search and transfer
        processes. Tools seamlessly facilitate customized, auditable
        and error-free student credit transfers.

"Students, college counselors, transfer advisors and admissions officers don't have the adequate resources necessary to facilitate a comprehensive college search, application and financial aid process," said Ty Patterson, Vice President of Student Services, Ozarks Technical Community College. "With all of them having access to these resources throughout the state, we expect to positively impact enrollment and retention rates."

Missouri community colleges and high schools are invited to join the program by adopting the Connect!(R) technology platform. The Web-based tool has an interactive matching function to help students find the right fit for their academic, social and financial needs, helps them to organize transcripts, test scores and academic information to meet deadlines, and guides them through an automated financial aid application process.

"Technology allows interested high school students, community colleges and 4-year institutions the ability to interact more effectively and efficiently over a greater period of time," said Craig Powell, President and Founder, ConnectEdu. "I'm thrilled that forward-thinking States like Missouri are setting the precedent to democratize the higher education decision making process by simplifying processes."

About ConnectEdu

Founded in 2002, ConnectEdu (www.connectedu.net) provides families and students with the professional guidance necessary to maximize their educational potential, investment and experience. Deploying its innovative online platform - Connect!(R) - ConnectEdu offers comprehensive, interactive technology solutions dedicated to supporting students, counselors, and admission officers engaged in the college search, admission and financial aid process.

ConnectEdu's Connection to Missouri

ConnectEdu's founder, A. Craig Powell, was born in Fairfax, MO and was a 1995 graduate of Maryville R-II High School. Craig went on to attend Brown University (Providence, RI) and founded ConnectEdu to resolve the issues he faced in his own college search, application and financial aid process. He is committed to ensuring that every student in Missouri receives the college search and financial aid guidance necessary to maximize their post-secondary choices.