ConnectEDU News

SALLIE MAE PARTNERS WITH CONNECTEDU TO HELP ENSURE A GENERATION’S FINANCIAL STABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:03:00 +0000

Together the Companies Will Enhance College Planning Tools, Help Families Jumpstart College Savings With Upromise Rewards

(NEWARK, Del.) Jan. 31, 2012 - As planning for and choosing the right college are more important than ever, Sallie Mae has partnered with ConnectEDU to help high school students successfully plan for college and a career of their choice. The companies will work together to develop innovative financial planning products and services to enable students to create a free step-by-step college and career path, and to encourage them to save for college.

ConnectEDU’s web-based service offers academic planning, college selection, and career opportunities to more than 5 million high school and college-aged students through a growing network of over 100,000 high schools, colleges and employers.

“This partnership provides an exciting opportunity to drive a paradigm shift in the way students learn critical financial concepts and how those concepts unfold at the intersection of their education, career, and financial planning,” explains ConnectEDU CEO, Craig Powell. “With Sallie Mae tools, like the Upromise college savings program, we are even better positioned to provide comprehensive, student-centric planning resources in a single destination, leading to informed student decisions and smart financial planning.”

ConnectEDU’s national platform and products help students assess and match their interests and strengths with potential schools and careers, as well as evaluate their prospective investment. Students can search for scholarships, grants and financial aid opportunities and easily complete financial aid applications. Now through this partnership, ConnectEDU will feature Sallie Mae’s Upromise rewards service to encourage students and their families to save for college.

Free to join at Upromise.com, members have earned more than $660 million in cash for college, including $64 million in 2011 alone. Money earned from everyday spending goes directly into a Upromise account and can be invested in a tax-deferred 529 plan, deposited into a Sallie Mae high-yield savings account, used to help pay down a Sallie Mae eligible student loan, or requested by check.

“College is a major lifetime investment and we encourage families to approach it with their financial resources and potential post-graduate income in mind,” said Jack Remondi, president & COO, Sallie Mae. “Sallie Mae is excited to partner with ConnectEDU to expand the ways we can help students of all income levels pursue college.”

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Sallie Mae (NASDAQ:SLM) is the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. Whether college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae turns education dreams into reality for its 25 million customers. With products and services that include college savings programs, scholarship search tools, education loans, tuition insurance, and online banking, Sallie Mae offers solutions that help families save, plan, and pay for college. Sallie Mae also provides financial services to hundreds of college campuses as well as to federal and state governments. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

CONNECTEDU INTEGRATES EXPERIENCE TO CREATE INDUSTRY-LEADING HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TO CAREER NETWORK

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Expanded network will serve 20 million students, more than 3,000 educational institutions, and 130,000 employers

(BOSTON, MA) January 23, 2012 - ConnectEDU (the web-based leader in connecting learners to possibilities) and Experience (the largest university-endorsed career network bridging the gap between college and the working world) have merged to provide 21st-century learners the ultimate destination for college and career planning. For the first time, learners can map their education decisions to potential careers, versus blindly selecting a college major or course plan and assuming career prospects will exist upon graduation. With the integration of the Experience network, ConnectEDU’s products and services now form a database of a generation’s college and career decisions tied to actual college and career outcomes. Using predictive modeling and actionable intelligence, this information can be used to optimize investments in education plans, workforce development, and inevitably build a more stable financial future for all college graduates.

Specifically, employers can now build a talent pipeline by guiding learners’ education decisions, from middle school to college and beyond. Colleges can now better prepare students for gainful employment upon graduation by connecting career placement opportunities with course planning, internships and other employment preparation activities that will improve post-college outcomes. And government and workforce development organizations can better ensure economic sustainability by leveraging analytics and reporting across the Learner Lifecycle™. Together, institutions can now work collaboratively to connect the needs of the workforce with the educational paths being pursued.

“Education and career decisions must be integrated to truly empower a learner to be successful in the 21st-century job market,” said ConnectEDU CEO, Craig Powell. “Like many aspects of the education and workforce development initiatives in this country, the efforts to date – classifieds, job boards, etc. – are transactional in nature and don’t serve to inform a student’s decision making or prevent potentially catastrophic education and financial decisions. Gone are the days when a college education would ensure a student’s place in America’s middle class. Today, students must be positioned to succeed; they must have education plans that are informed by their career opportunities that will be available upon their graduation from college or completion of a certificate program. This requires a dynamic, real-time network and proactive planning solution; this is precisely what we have developed with Experience.com.”

“Experience’s vision has always been to help young adults learn from the experiences of others. More than simply a bank of resumes or a traditional job board, Experience helps people understand their choices and where their interests and aptitudes are in highest demand by employers,” said Experience CEO, Jennifer Floren Sozzi. “By teaming up with ConnectEDU, more learners enter into and will graduate from college prepared to apply their talents in ways that best serve the needs of employers and grow our economy.”
In combination, ConnectEDU and Experience will manage 20 million student accounts, over 3,000 high school, college and professional organization deployments, 130,000 employers, and over 1 million entry-level job opportunities – along with the actionable, data-driven intelligence derived from this extensive community.

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About Experience:
Experience is the largest university-endorsed career network bridging the gap between college and the working world. Since 1996, we have partnered with universities to educate, assist and inspire college graduates to launch and lead extraordinary careers. Each year our award-winning network connects millions of candidates from 3,800 colleges and universities with more than 130,000 employers.

About ConnectEDU:
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. The Company’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

Northern Arizona College Resource Center working with ConnectEDU to help Arizonans attend college

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

(Arizona) November 2, 2011 - The Northern Arizona College Resource Center (NACRC) has partnered with ConnectEDU, the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Through presentations and workshops, as well as through advising appointments that are tailored to students’ individual needs, the NACRC helps students and adults attend and succeed in college and track their progress. ConnectEDU’s tools help advisers organize notes, manage events, communicate to students, and track student success. Students can also track their own progress as they apply for college admission and financial aid.

The NACRC and ConnectEDU relationship began through an introduction by National College Access Network (NCAN). “NCAN’s partnership with ConnectEDU reinforces our commitment to providing the most comprehensive and reliable services for our members to build capacity for making data-driven decisions and to increase the number of students who have access to and success in postsecondary education,” said Kim Cook, Executive Director of the National College Access Network.

In addition to NACRC, ConnectEDU works with other NCAN partners including Partnership for the Future in Virginia, Simmons Memorial Foundation in North Carolina, Associated College of Illinois, San Francisco Education Fund, and the SEED Foundation.

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About NACRC:
The NACRC offers one-on-one advising, workshops and school and community presentations on all aspects of the college going process to the community. They provide information to prospective students on how to find best fit schools, complete applications, write essays, prepare for standardized tests and finance their education. All of their services are free to high school students and adults throughout Northern Arizona.

About NCAN:
NCAN's mission is to build, strengthen, and empower communities committed to college access and success so that all students, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education, can achieve their educational dreams.

About ConnectEDU:
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. The Company’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU Raises $10 Million in New Equity Round

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:20:00 +0000

(Boston, MA) Ocobter 27, 2011 - ConnectEDU, Inc., the leader in web-based college and career access solutions, today announced it has completed a $10 million equity offering led by Allen & Co. with the continued support of the company's initial group of investors from the education, private equity and Internet industries. The new round of funding will fuel the company’s continued expansion and acquisition strategy.

"This round signifies our shareholders’ interest in continuing to aggressively pursue ConnectEDU's mission to service students, and those who serve them, throughout their education, career and financial planning process," said Craig Powell, ConnectEDU Chief Executive Officer. "This funding will accelerate the continuation of ConnectEDU’s successful acquisition strategy, which has included our Enrollment Marketing and Retention Management business and CoursEval, the leader in web-based student and teacher assessment.”

In the last year, ConnectEDU has opened offices in Hoboken, NJ and Austin, TX in support of its growth and national expansion. The company was recently selected by San Francisco Unified School District to implement Connect!, and it was featured in Washington Monthly Magazine for its work with Miami-Dade School District, the fourth largest school district in the United States, and Yale University.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MURRAY LAUNCHES DYNAMIC COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING PORTAL

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:18:00 +0000

YourPlanForCollege empowers all Massachusetts students to take charge of future

(Malden, MA) October 5, 2011 – Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced the launch of YourPlanForCollege.org, the Commonwealth’s no-cost, one-stop, college and career planning portal now available for all students in Massachusetts. YourPlanForCollege is a free, online portal that centralizes key resources and information to support families, parents and mentors as students prepare for college and future careers.

“YourPlanForCollege is an integral part of our Administration’s commitment to providing every child with access to higher education and a brighter future,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “YourPlanForCollege has served as a critical resource within some high schools, and as the program expands to all high schools in the state, it will serve as a comprehensive tool to help prepare our students for the 21st century workforce.”

Today’s announcement celebrates the availability of YourPlanForCollege to all Massachusetts residents. Prior to this launch, students and families only had access to these tools in local participating high schools. By leveraging technologies and online user-experiences, YourPlanForCollege centralizes all the key data points of a student’s educational career, including course history, grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and graduation requirements, while also providing students with deadlines on key milestones for the college application, financing and enrollment process. YourPlanForCollege also provides students with robust, interactive tools and information to help make informed decisions on higher education and career choices that are continually evolving within the state’s diverse innovation economy.

“YourPlanForCollege positions Massachusetts as a national leader in college and career planning,” said Secretary of Education Paul Reville. “In addition to the profound impact the portal will have for students and educators, it will also provide us with valuable student data that will help us make informed decisions on education policy and investments.”

The portal was made possible by the leadership of the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) and Massachusetts’ federal College Access Challenge Grant award in 2008.

“We at MEFA were pleased to move this forward on behalf of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and to collaborate with the Secretary’s office on this important initiative," said Thomas Graf, Executive Director of MEFA. "The mission of YourPlanforCollege aligns perfectly with the MEFA mission of supporting families across the Commonwealth - for more than 30 years - as they to find their pathway to college.”

YourPlanForCollege was the first, state-sponsored portal in the nation to integrate directly with multiple information systems and power real-time access to critical information for students, families and educators alike. The portal serves as a tremendous resource for schools across the Commonwealth and is leveraged extensively by guidance staff for completion of time-dependent college and career planning tasks with their students.

About YourPlanForCollege

YourPlanForCollege is an initiative of MEFA, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Created in 2010 with funding from federal College Access Challenge Grants, YourPlanForCollege is managed by MEFA and powered by ConnectEDU technologies. For more information, please contact Martha Savery MEFA, (617) 224-4813.

Arizona State University Selects ConnectEDU’s CoursEval as Online Tool for Course and Faculty Evaluations

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Web-Based Software to Replace Paper Approach with Easier, Smarter, and Less Expensive Process

(Boston, MA) September 19, 2011 – Arizona State University (ASU) and ConnectEDU today announced their partnership to help faculty, chairs and deans gather information on students’ perceptions and opinions about their courses in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. ASU will be utilizing ConnectEDU’s CoursEval™ software to evaluate courses across the University’s four physical campuses and one virtual campus, which in total serve over 70,000 students.

CoursEval is designed to make the required task of course evaluation easier, smarter, and less expensive for administrators and instructors. CoursEval will allow ASU administrators to evaluate courses and faculty online, replacing the paper process/bubble sheet approach.

“In today’s education landscape, with more secondary learning options available than ever before, it is vital for institutions to keep their finger on the pulse of their students and understand what is and what is not working in the classroom,” said Craig Powell, CEO and founder of ConnectEDU. “CoursEval is the industry’s leading tool for evaluating courses and we are confident that Arizona State University will reap tremendous benefits and insights from the platform.”

“With thousands of instructors and tens of thousands of students, it had become difficult to provide course evaluation support to our faculty that was fast, flexible, and affordable,” said Wanda Baker, Associate Director for Assessment and Information Technology with the University Office of Evaluation and Educational Effectiveness at Arizona State University. “The implementation of CoursEval will speed up our evaluation process and give our academic departments considerable flexibility in the design and administration of their evaluations, while saving the University money. CourseEval’s customized reporting features will support our efforts to monitor students’ perceptions of their courses and the instruction they are receiving, at considerable savings in cost and time. This is an important technology implementation for ASU in our continuing efforts to provide instruction of the highest quality.”

ASU’s implementation of CoursEval will begin during the Fall 2011 semester. ConnectEDU will be providing ASU officials with a high level of customer support and training as ASU takes advantage of the software’s high degree of customization to determine the information that will have the greatest impact on administrators, professors and students.

The software permits ASU faculty to collect longitudinal information about students’ perceptions of their courses and instruction. Some academic units also use it to conduct formative evaluations to promote mid-course adjustments.

About ConnectEDU:
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. The Company’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU Acquires Enrollment and Retention Services Division of EducationDynamics to Provide Enhanced Services and Tools for Students and School Administrators

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Acquisition Empowers Colleges to Engage and Support Students from First Point of Contact, Into College and Beyond

(BOSTON, MA) September 7, 2011 – ConnectEDU, the leader in web-based college and career access solutions, today announced that it acquired the Enrollment and Retention division of EducationDynamics, higher education’s leading technology and services company dedicated to helping colleges and universities find, enroll, and retain students.

The acquisition strengthens the team behind ConnectEDU’s Connect! Platform, a first-of-its-kind web solution that supports students – and their teachers and counselors – from high school to college to career.

The acquired division specializes in providing technologies and content development services to colleges and universities that allow them to support, guide and interact with students from their first point of contact, through the admissions process, academic life, career placement, and beyond. As a result, ConnectEDU will deliver unmatched resources and tools to students, their high school support networks and the institutions that will guide them through their next phase of education and into career paths.

“ConnectEDU’s mission is to provide learners with a single online source for making and managing 100% of the decisions that impact their lives, where decisions about their education, career and finances intersect. No longer can learners simply expect to go to college, be successful, graduate, and realize the American Dream. Students and those supporting them need help,” said Craig Powell, CEO of ConnectEDU. “Today, we celebrate the robustness of the Connect! platform and our ability to provide learners with the tools and resources they need to make smart, informed decisions on the Learner Pathway™ and in their relationships with those who support them.”

Existing EducationDynamics customers will enjoy not only the same products and services they are accustomed to, but also the broad resources of ConnectEDU. They will retain the same account manager with whom they have an established relationship.

As John Mathew, President of the Enrollment and Retention division pointed out, “ConnectEDU is such a smart fit for us and our clients. With them, we have a partner who is committed to the students and institutions we’ve been serving for more than a decade. ConnectEDU is committed to investing in the type of research and development that can move the needle for our clients, and their relationships with employers gives students a leg up as they begin their job search and post college planning.”

To date, ConnectEDU has successfully acquired and integrated a number of best-in-class companies and products. The company also partners with market leaders that service specific aspects of a learner’s pathway. Most recently, ConnectEDU was selected by San Francisco Unified School District to implement the Connect! Platform and was featured in Washington Monthly Magazine for the company’s work with Miami-Dade School District, which is the fourth largest school district in the United States, and Yale University.

About ConnectEDU:
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed, and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real learners and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable, and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every learner, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career. To learn more about ConnectEDU, visit http://www.connectedu.com/.

About EducationDynamics:
EducationDynamics is higher education's leading marketing information and technology services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including: EarnMyDegree.com, EducationConnection.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, TestDriveCollege.com and its special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition, as well as other innovative solutions including LeadWatchLive, its web-based inquiry management system. Through Aslanian Market Research, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com/.

San Francisco Unified School District and ConnectEDU Partner to Help Students Prepare for High School, Post-Secondary Education and Careers

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Connect!™ Platform to be Implemented Across the Entire District Throughout San Francisco

(Boston, MA) August 31, 2011 - With the goal of assisting students as they prepare for high school and beyond, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and ConnectEDU (http://www.connectedu.com/), the leader in developing web-based high school, college and career access solutions, today announced a major partnership to place ConnectEDU’s Connect!™ platform district wide in San Francisco. As part of the Plan Ahead curriculum, all ninth graders within the San Francisco school system will be using Connect!.

The “Plan Ahead” course prepares ninth graders to succeed in high school and to set goals for post-secondary education and careers. The course exposes them to a range of potential careers and helps them develop the skills, the attitudes, and the behaviors they will need as they embark upon their lives as young adults.

The Connect! platform will be used by SFUSD to create opportunities for more than 20,000 students to build new relationships with colleges and employers, as well as provide them with the resources needed to create an informed plan for life after high school. With student consent, Colleges can even streamline their recruiting process using ConnectEDU’s StudentRecruit, the premier enrollment marketing tool, to connect with SFUSD students, in addition to the millions of other students using Connect!. The Connect! platform makes every aspect of preparing, planning, applying, financing, and transitioning to college and/or careers faster, easier, and cheaper for all involved. SFUSD had previously deployed the Connect! platform on a pilot program basis with support from the San Francisco Education Fund before deciding to expand the program to all students across the system.

“ConnectEDU is proud to partner with SDUSD to assist students as they begin planning the next stage of their education and start considering careers that might be of interest,” said Craig Powell, CEO and founder of ConnectEDU. “The Connect! platform is a powerful tool that will have an immediate impact by assisting thousands of students in San Francisco, not just in the classroom, but by also by starting to build relationships with schools and employers.”

“We are excited to continue our relationship with ConnectEDU and leverage student data to identify at-risk students earlier,” said Maureen Carew, Director of San Francisco Promise and Bridge to Success, college planning initiatives within the San Francisco Unified School District. “With Connect! our students will have the tools they need to successfully plan for college and a career.”

ConnectEDU’s Connect! platform will work with SFUSD student information and data systems to create a custom environment for each student. Once these systems are integrated, students can navigate the college-application process and prepare for careers with maximum efficiency. Over 100 teachers and counselors have been receiving hands-on training from ConnectEDU representatives to help prepare for the deployment during the 2011-2012 school year.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.: (http://www.connectedu.com/)

ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. The Company’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU Selected by Louisiana to Deploy Statewide Customized College and Career Access Web Portal

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

New Comprehensive, Data-Driven Solution Guides Students Through College and Career Transitions

(Baton Rouge, LA) August 3, 2011 – The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) today announces a partnership with ConnectEDU, Inc., (http://www.connectedu.com/), the leader in developing web-based college and career access solutions. ConnectEDU will collaborate with the State to develop the first Louisiana statewide college and career planning web portal that utilizes student academic performance data. The web portal will provide an integrated, data-driven college and career planning resource for students, parents and counselors.

The web portal will be made available at no cost to students and schools and will include multi-year planning tools that map high school curriculum pathways to a broad range of postsecondary opportunities, technical programs and careers. Additionally, embedded longitudinal data reporting tools will empower State policy makers with unique insights into the State’s high school-to-college-to-career pipeline.

“The goal of the State's investment in this portal is to ensure that Louisiana students are better able to find college and career opportunities, and successfully navigate the critical transitions associated with those opportunities,” said Melanie Amrhein, Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. “To achieve this goal, the State is proud to partner with ConnectEDU to provide students with a comprehensive college and career access web portal, driven by student data.”

The web portal will serve as a medium through which Louisiana college access organizations, postsecondary institutions and employers can connect students with critical information and opportunities. Local counselors will receive training in advance of the web portal's launch, to coincide with the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. Students in grades 8 - 12 will have access to the web portal wherever they connect to the Internet.

“We are proud to partner with the State of Louisiana to provide this valuable resource to students,” said Craig Powell, CEO of ConnectEDU. “We look forward to leveraging our innovative technology platform and distinct understanding of college access populations to help Louisiana students manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future.”

Louisiana is the fifth state that ConnectEDU has partnered with to launch the company’s statewide college and career access solutions.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.

ConnectEDU is the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed, and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real learners and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every learner, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career. To learn more about ConnectEDU visit http://www.connectedu.com/

Nick Ciarcia Joins ConnectEDU as Vice President of Corporate and Strategy Development

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:40:00 +0000

(Boston, MA) August 1, 2011 - ConnectEDU, (www.connectedu.com), the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more stable financial future, is pleased to announce the addition of Nick Ciarcia as Vice President of Corporate and Strategy Development. In this capacity, Nick will be responsible for ConnectEDU's corporate development pipeline, certain new business initiatives, and acquisition process and execution.

"We’re thrilled to have Nick join the ConnectEDU team," said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. "Nick's transaction experience, as well as his academic background, will compliment and strengthen our already strong and active corporate and strategic development initiatives.”

Recently Nick was engaged in research at Harvard University for their Department of Economics. Prior to Harvard, Nick worked at MTS Health Partners on their advisory and investment teams. At MTS Health Partners Nick executed several public and private market equity investments. Subsequently, he joined a portfolio company, Loving Care Agency, where he led a number of acquisitions, in addition to operational and integration initiatives. Nick began his career in the Investment Banking Division of Citigroup where he worked in the Financial Institutions Group advising companies in the student loan sector and other specialty finance companies having completed several M&A and financing transactions.

"As a follower of ConnectEDU's growth since inception, I am enormously impressed by its mission, technology, team and success,” said Ciarcia. “I’m excited to join an innovative team dedicated to improving student pathways, as well as the broader team of investors, advisers, and partners equally supportive of the company’s mission."

Nick received a B.A. in Economics and Philosophy from Brown University.

ConnectEDU to Advance Student Success through the Creation of The ConnectEDU Pathways Council

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:06:00 +0000

Jane Swift will Chair the New Council Designed to Identify, Inform, and Promote Education Policies Focused on Students’ College, Career, and Financial Success

(BOSTON, MA) July 22, 2011 – As a continued effort in ConnectEDU’s commitment to empowering students to manage their education, launch their careers, and secure a more prosperous financial future, the company is proud to announce the creation of The ConnectEDU Pathways™ Council (“Council”). The Council will identify, inform, and promote education policies that expand students’ access to postsecondary opportunities and prosperous career pathways.

ConnectEDU is also pleased to announce that Jane Swift, former Massachusetts Governor, will be transitioning from her current role as Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at ConnectEDU to chair this newly formed Council. Swift will head the group of thought leaders appointed by ConnectEDU with varying backgrounds across public service and the private sector. Council members will offer diverse perspectives for expanding postsecondary access, career readiness, and solutions that empower students across the education-to-employment pathway. Additional Council members will include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. Secretary of Education and ConnectEDU Director, as well as Ted Fischer, ConnectEDU’s President and COO.

“I am honored to serve as Chairperson on The ConnectEDU Pathways Council, as the policies that we will promote will have a powerful impact on students’ education, career, and financial success,” said Jane Swift. “I am eager to help grow the Council with leaders in the education community and the private sector who are equally dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of students.”

“Jane’s leadership and unique perspective on the policies that are necessary to ensure a student’s success across their education, career and financial pathways made her an obvious selection to chair the newly formed Council,” said Craig Powell, CEO and Founder of ConnectEDU. “There is nothing more important than the education and career development of students of all ages, and the Council will be an advocate and voice for helping improve and reform a system that is vital to the future of our leaders of tomorrow.”

About ConnectEDU, Inc.

Tim Brown Joins ConnectEDU as Chief Strategy Officer

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:04:00 +0000

(Boston, MA) July 18, 2011 - ConnectEDU, (http://www.connectedu.com/), the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers and secure a more stable financial future, is pleased to announce the addition of Tim Brown as Chief Strategy Officer. In this capacity, Tim will be responsible for ConnectEDU's mergers and acquisitions strategy, post-acquisition integration and developing strategic partnerships and initiatives.

"Tim's deep understanding of the education market and competitive landscape as well as his experience in acquisitions, capital raising and operations brings a unique perspective and balance to our already strong team," said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. "We believe Tim can help us rapidly accelerate our growth plans through strategic partnerships and acquisitions that will enable ConnectEDU to serve more students, families, counselors, teachers/ professors, admission/ development officers, and employers.”

Recently, Tim was a member of the management team at EducationDynamics where he served in several operational roles and was responsible for its M&A and corporate development function. His previous career experience includes nine years at Halyard Capital, a mid-market private equity fund, which he joined at its inception. Prior to joining Halyard Capital, Tim was an investment banker at CIBC World Markets and UBS Securities.

"The ConnectEDU team has built a tremendous platform and established itself as the leader in developing technology for students to manage their education path and launch their career", said Brown. "I am excited to join the ConnectEDU team and look forward to contributing to the future success and growth of the company."

Tim received a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

ConnectEDU’s Connect! College Suite Named “Best Postsecondary Enterprise Solution” in the Software & Information Industry Association's 26th Annual CODiE Awards

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:55:00 +0000

ConnectEDU Recognized as Providing Top Web-Based Product in the Education Industry

(Boston, MA) May 26, 2011 – ConnectEDU, the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers and secure a more stable financial future, is proud to announce that the company’s Connect! College Suite™ has won the prestigious CODiE™ Award for “Best Postsecondary Enterprise Solution”. The CODiE Awards represent the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program, established by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) to recognize excellence and achievement in the business software, digital content, and education technology industries.

ConnectEDU’s Connect! College Suite provides post-secondary institutions with a comprehensive approach for coordinating, guiding, managing, tracking and reporting throughout a learner’s college, career and financial planning pathway – The Learner Pathway. By creating a means for institutions to track and engage with students from the first point of contact through soliciting, advising, monitoring and guiding throughout their campus experience, the Connect! College Suite is the comprehensive “cradle to grave” solution for institutions dedicated to student success.

In the past year, ConnectEDU has seen rapid growth with post-secondary institutions adopting the Connect! College Suite, K12 schools adopting the Connect! High School Suite™, and employers engaging with learners throughout their education, career and financial planning. ConnectEDU recently inked deals with Miami-Dade School District and Miami area post-secondary institutions as well as the States of Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii and Texas. In the past year, ConnectEDU’s network (“The Connect! Community”) has grown to include over five million learners and over 3,000 K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions and employers.

“We are thrilled to be named as a CODiE Award winner and humbled to be recognized amongst such a distinguished group of companies. We believe that this recognition authenticates the value and importance of providing products, services and solutions focused on success throughout a learner’s education, career and financial planning process,” said Craig Powell, CEO and Founder of ConnectEDU. “Gone are the days when the end game was merely getting a student into college. Today, learners, parents, regulators, providers and the general public have recognized that our country has been failing in epidemic proportions with respect to insuring that our learners successfully complete high school, enroll in post-secondary, graduate, find jobs and in so doing create a more stable financial future for themselves. It is an honor for the Connect! College Suite and our vision for comprehensive Learner Pathways to be recognized by our SIIA peers.”

"Now in its 26th year, the CODiE Awards continue to recognize those companies providing the best new technology products and services across a broad array of industries," noted SIIA President Ken Wasch. "In addition, its winners are a prolific testament to the power of technology to deliver innovative solutions to businesses and consumers. SIIA warmly congratulates all of the winners and nominees of the CODiE Awards, whose innovation is essential for continuing America's leadership in the global knowledge economy," Wasch continued.

About the CODiE™ Awards
The CODiE™ Awards, originally called the Excellence in Software Awards, were established in 1986 by the Software Publishers Association (SPA), now the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), so that pioneers of the then-nascent software industry could evaluate and honor each other's work. Since then, the CODiE Awards program has carried out the same purpose - to showcase the software and information industry's finest products and services and to honor excellence in corporate achievement.

About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to 500 leading software and information companies. For further information, visit www.siia.net.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering learners to manage their education, launch their careers and secure a more stable financial future. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real learners and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every learner, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career. To learn more, visit www.connectedu.com.

ConnectEDU Selected by State of Hawaii to Deploy a Customized College and Career Access Portal

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:39:00 +0000

State Will Launch a Comprehensive, Data-Driven Solution Designed to Streamline College and Career Transitions

(HONOLULU, HI) May 3, 2011 – The Hawaii Workforce Development Council, the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii System today announce a partnership with ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com), the leader in developing web-based college and career access solutions. ConnectEDU will collaborate with the State of Hawaii to develop the first statewide college- and career-planning web portal that utilizes student academic performance data. Portal users will gain access to innovative tools that support student performance and make the college application process more efficient, such as longitudinal data reporting and analytics, as well as an electronic student transcript and application exchange system.

The objective of the web portal is to positively impact educational outcomes by using real-time student data to drive comprehensive college, financial aid and career planning for students, parents and counselors. Additionally, the web portal will support Hawaii’s efforts to build a data bridge between K-12 education, higher education and employers by facilitating electronic transcript and application exchanges.

“This new platform means that Hawaii students, not to mention their counselors and families, will have access to a personalized online tool which will help them manage the complex college selection and application process, including financial aid and scholarships,” said James Hardway, Executive Director, Hawaii Workforce Development Council.
Craig Powell, CEO and Founder of ConnectEDU, remarked, “ConnectEDU will provide ongoing support and training to Hawaii’s students, high schools, colleges and employers on how to use the new platform. We are putting the appropriate tools and knowledge in the hands of the students and those who support them.”

Hawaii is the fourth state that ConnectEDU has partnered with to launch a statewide college and career access portal. ConnectEDU is excited to launch the Hawaii portal in tandem with the 2012 Hawaii school year.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.: (www.connectedu.com)
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. ConnectEDU makes the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. This approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU®’s Connect!™, Connect! College Suite™ and SuperAPP™ Products Selected As 2011 CODiE™ Awards Finalists

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:50:00 +0000

ConnectEDU Recognized as Providing Top Web-based Products in the Education Industry

[Boston, MA] (April 18, 2011) – ConnectEDU, the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education and launch their careers, today announced that three of their products (Connect!, Connect! College Suite and SuperAPP) have been selected as finalists for the prestigious CODiE Awards in the “Best K-12 Enterprise Solution” and the “Best Postsecondary Enterprise” categories. Being selected as a finalist is a unique and important distinction, as the CODiEs are the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program. Established by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the CODiEs recognize excellence and achievement in the business software, digital content, and education technology industries.

“For more than 25 years, the CODiE Awards have shone a spotlight on the companies and products that are revolutionizing software, education technology and digital content,” said Ken Wasch, President of SIIA. “What sets this program apart from all others is that the winners are selected by those who really know their stuff – whether they’re tech executives, industry analysts, or journalists. SIIA recruits leading software, digital content and education people to put each nominated product through an intensive review process. ConnectEDU and all companies that survive the process and become a finalist can say unequivocally that they are producing some of the finest, most innovative products on the market.”

“We are honored to be CODiE award finalists with products that show how we are working with colleges, high schools, students, and employers. These nominations further validate our company's commitment to using cloud computing technology to empower all students to advance their education and career goals,” said Craig Powell, CEO and Founder of ConnectEDU.

For more information and a complete list of categories and finalists, please visit www.siia.net/codies/2011

SIIA members will now review finalists and vote for a winner in each category. CODiE Award Winners will be announced in May.

About the CODiE™ Awards
The CODiE™ Awards, originally called the Excellence in Software Awards, were established in 1986 by the Software Publishers Association (SPA), now the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), so that pioneers of the then-nascent software industry could evaluate and honor each other's work. Since then, the CODiE Awards program has carried out the same purpose - to showcase the software and information industry's finest products and services and to honor excellence in corporate achievement.

About SIIA
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. SIIA provides global services in government relations, business development, corporate education and intellectual property protection to 500 leading software and information companies. For further information, visit www.siia.net.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

In the past year, ConnectEDU has seen rapid growth with colleges adopting the Connect! College Suite, and high schools adopting Connect! High School Suite, including SuperAPP. ConnectEDU recently inked deals with Miami-Dade School District, as well as the States of Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas to develop statewide college and career planning portals. In the past year, ConnectEDU’s network (“The Connect! Community”) has grown to include 5 million high school and college-aged students, 2,500 high schools, 450 colleges, and nearly 50 employers. For more information visit: www.connectedu.com.

###

Miami-Dade School District Invests in ConnectEDU’s College Prep & Application System to Boost Higher Education Enrollment

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Fourth Largest School District in the U.S. Seeks to Empower Counselors, Students
& Families with New Tool for Increasing Volume of College-Bound Students

(MIAMI, FL) March 1, 2011 – The Miami-Dade County Public School District today announces a partnership with ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) the leader in developing online college and career planning tools and platforms. Under the terms of the agreement, Miami-Dade and ConnectEDU will partner to implement a district-wide online college and career planning assistance program. This program will help high school students research, manage and navigate the complex college selection and application process as well as the financial aid filing and scholarship application process. ConnectEDU’s web-based solutions are on track to be incorporated into the existing curriculum of all Miami-Dade high schools by March 2011.

In preparation for the county-wide rollout of its technology, ConnectEDU sent a team to Miami in December to train over 300 guidance counselors, CAP advisers and high school principals on to how use the online tools with students and parents. To meet the growing demands and diverse needs of the community, ConnectEDU also introduced the bilingual program to The Parent Academy in Miami-Dade as a first step in informing parents of ways they can help their high school students plan ahead for a successful transition to college.

Miami-Dade school district’s decision to use the ConnectEDU platform means that counselors, students and families throughout Miami-Dade County will have access to a personalized online tool which will help streamline the college and career planning process, while also helping achieve the ultimate district goal of having all Miami-Dade students finish high school.

“Students need the appropriate help to take the right tests at the right time, research careers, develop the right list of colleges to attend, and be better informed of their financial aid and scholarship options. To date, there has not been a way of managing all of that information in one place. With the Connect! platform, our students, their parents and guidance counselors will be empowered to do more than ever before and will be able to access it online, 24/7,” said Dr. Lupe Diaz, Director, Schools of Choice & Parental Options of Miami-Dade County (FL) Public Schools.

A growing body of research points to the importance of concrete guidance, information, and support in helping students apply to and pay for college. In order to be successful, students must complete a series of specific tasks, many of which are time-sensitive. ConnectEDU uses state-of-the-art technology and verified, student-level data to help high school students stay on track to graduate and to effectively navigate the college search, application, and enrollment process or take the steps necessary to transition directly to a post-high school career.

In the case of Miami-Dade County, ConnectEDU's platform had initially been reviewed and approved to be implemented in high schools that were affiliated with the National Academy Foundation (NAF), thanks to a partnership between NAF and ConnectEDU. However, when Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho and Miami-Dade Schools Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Helen Blanch saw the technology's capabilities and how they empowered students, parents, teachers and counselors, they knew that the platform needed to be implemented in schools across the district.

“In the United States today, the average student-to-guidance counselor ratio is 500 to 1. Unfortunately, the issues of everyday school life often take precedence over the limited amount of time a counselor can spend with each student regarding college preparation. We have built the ConnectEDU program with the stressed high school guidance system in mind. Our technology offers educators the opportunity to meet many of the challenges they face in a way that is scalable and cost effective. We are putting the appropriate tools and knowledge in the hands of everyone to work together and do more with less.” says Craig Powell, CEO and Founder of ConnectEDU. “We applaud the Miami-Dade School District for providing more comprehensive support for their students as they transition from high school to college.”

“We are the fourth largest school district in the U.S. and need to lead by example and show that we can increase post-secondary enrollment by making smart technology investments,” says Debbie Montilla, District Director, Division of Student Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “To that end, we will continue training our counselors, students and parents on how to use the ConnectEDU platform to map each student’s high school course selection towards a college and a career plan. We’re confident that this investment of time, money and resources will yield great results for our community, ultimately leading to financial stability and a successful future for every student.”

To see what a difference ConnectEDU can make within a school district and how students, counselors, admissions officers and policy makers feel about it, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX4SB0x8xDs

About ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

El Distrito Escolar de Miami-Dade Invierte en el Programa de Preparación para College y Sistema de Aplicación Informática ConnectEDU para Impulsar la Inscripción en la Educación Superior

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0000

El Cuarto Distrito Escolar Más Grande en los EE.UU. Busca MAYOR ACCESO Por parte de Consejeros, Estudiantes y Familias a Nuevos Instrumentos para Incrementar el Volumen de Estudiantes con Aspiraciones a Estudios Universitarios

(MIAMI, FL) 1ro de marzo de 2011 – El distrito escolar público del condado de Miami-Dade anuncia hoy su asociación con ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) líder en el desarrollo de instrumentos online para college y para la planificación de carreras y programas universitarios. Bajo los términos del acuerdo, Miami-Dade y ConnectEDU se asociarán para poner en práctica en todo el distrito, un programa online de asistencia para college y la planificación de carreras universitarias. Este programa ayudará a los estudiantes de high school a investigar, gestionar y navegar los complejos procesos de selección de college y aplicación, así como también de ayuda financiera y solicitud de becas. Las soluciones basadas en la red de comunicación de ConnectEDU, se encuentran en vías de ser incorporadas en el plan de estudios vigente de todas las escuelas secundarias de Miami-Dade para mediados de marzo.

En preparación para el despliegue en todo el país de su tecnología, ConnectEDU envió un equipo a Miami en diciembre para capacitar a más de 300 consejeros de orientación, asesores CAP y directores de high school sobre el uso de instrumentos online para ser utilizados con estudiantes y padres de familia. Con el fin de satisfacer las crecientes demandas y diversas necesidades de la comunidad, ConnectEDU también introdujo el programa bilingüe en “The Parent Academy” (Academia de Padres) de Miami-Dade como un primer paso para informar a los padres de familia sobre la manera que pueden ayudar a sus hijos estudiantes de high school a planear una transición exitosa en camino hacia college.

La decisión del distrito escolar de Miami-Dade de utilizar el programa ConnectEDU, significa que los consejeros escolares, estudiantes y familias en todo el condado de Miami-Dade tendrán acceso a un instrumento online personalizado el cual les ayudará a agilizar la inscripción en college y el proceso de planificación de una carrera universitaria. Así mismo ayudará a lograr el objetivo fundamental del distrito escolar que es el que todos los estudiantes de Miami-Dade terminen high school.

“Los estudiantes necesitan la ayuda apropiada para presentar los exámenes más adecuados en el momento más adecuado, investigar las carreras disponibles, desarrollar una lista adecuada de colleges adonde asistir y estar mejor informados sobre sus opciones de ayuda financiera y disponibilidad de becas. A la fecha, no ha habido manera de administrar toda esa información en un solo lugar. Con el programa Connect!, nuestros estudiantes, sus padres y consejeros de orientación estarán facultados como nunca antes para hacer más cosas y podrán tener acceso a ello online, 24 horas /7días de la semana,” así lo dijo la Dra. Lupe Diaz, Directora de “Schools of Choice & Parental Options” de las Escuelas Públicas del condado de Miami-Dade (FL).

Un creciente cuerpo de investigación apunta la importancia de una orientación concreta, información y apoyo para ayudar a los estudiantes a aplicar y costear sus estudios en college. Con el fin de tener éxito, los estudiantes deben de completar una serie de tareas específicas, muchas de las cuales tienen un límite de tiempo . ConnectEDU utiliza la última tecnología mantiene data a nivel estudiantil los cuales ayudan a los estudiantes a mantenerse encaminados a a graduarse, a navegar en la internet con eficacia en la búsqueda de colleges y completar el proceso de solicitud e inscripción, tomar las medidas necesarias para pasar directamente a una carrera post-secundaria.

En el caso del condado de Miami-Dade, el programa de ConnectEDU fué inicialmente revisado y aprobado para ser implementado en sólo un selecto número de academias patrocinado por el “National Academy Foundation”. Sin embargo, cuando el Superintendente de las Escuelas Públicas de Miami-Dade, Alberto Carvalho y la Asistente Superintendente la Dra. Helen Blanch vieron las capacidades de la tecnología y la manera como esta faculta a estudiantes, padres de familia, maestros y consejeros, supieron que el programa meritaba ser implementado en las escuelas de todo el distrito.

“En los Estados Unidos hoy en día, la proporción promedio de estudiante a consejero es de 500:1. Desafortunadamente las cuestiones de la vida diaria escolar a menudo prevalecen sobre la limitada cantidad de tiempo que un consejero puede dedicar a cada estudiante con respecto a su preparación para college. Hemos creado el programa ConnectEDU haciendo hincapié en el sistema de orientación teniendo en mente a estudiantes de high school. Nuestra tecnología ofrece a educadores la oportunidad de enfrentar muchos de los retos que ellos confrontan de una manera accesible. Colocamos los instrumentos y los conocimientos apropiados en las manos de todos para así trabajar juntos y hacer más con menos.” Así lo dijo el Sr. Craig Powell, CEO y Fundador de ConnectEDU. “Aplaudimos al Distrito Escolar de Miami-Dade por proporcionar un apoyo más integral a sus estudiantes en su transición de high school a college.”

“Somos el cuarto distrito escolar más grande en los EE.UU. debemos guiar con el ejemplo y demostrar que podemos aumentar la inscripción post-high school haciendo inversiones tecnológicas inteligentes,” dice Debbie Montilla, Directora de Distrito, División de Servicios a Estudiantes de las Escuelas Públicas del condado de Miami-Dade. “Con ese fin, continuaremos capacitando a nuestros consejeros, estudiantes y padres de familia sobre como hacer uso del programa ConnectEDU asignando a cada estudiante la selección de cursos apropiados en high school con vistas hacia college, así como un plan de estudios para su carrera universitaria. Confiamos que esta inversión en términos de tiempo, dinero y recursos traerá grandes resultados a nuestra comunidad y en última instancia nos llevará a una estabilidad financiera y a un futuro exitoso para cada estudiante.”

Para ver la diferencia que ConnectEDU puede hacer dentro de un distrito escolar y la manera como estudiantes, consejeros, oficiales de admisión y oficiales políticos piensan al respecto, por favor visite el siguiente sitio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX4SB0x8xDs

Acerca de ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU, Inc. es el líder en la red de Internet para facilitar a los estudiantesel manejo de su educación. La empresa se dedica a ayudar estudiantes a encontrar e inscribirse en el college más apropiado, obtener un título e iniciar su carrera. Creada, desarrollada por parte de personas que han trabajado en todas las áreas de asesoramiento sobre las universidades, ingreso y desarrollo profesional, ConnectEDU utiliza tecnología de la información para conectar a estudiantes con los datos necesarios para ingreasr en colleges reales y disfruten de oportunidades reales para obtener una carrera. Hacemos el proceso de ingreso a college más simple, más eficiente, más confiable y más efectivo. El enfoque de ConnectEDU proporciona a cada estudiante, de todas los zonas del país, la mejor oportunidad para alcanzar su sueño de realizar una educación en college y obtener una carrera prometedora.

CJ Floros Joins ConnectEDU as Chief Corporate Development Officer

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:42:00 +0000

(Boston, MA) February 9, 2011 - ConnectEDU, (www.connectedu.com), the web-based leader in using data to connect students with colleges and employers through the nation’s largest college and career planning network, is pleased to announce the addition of CJ Floros as Chief Corporate Development Officer. CJ brings a wealth of experience in new product and market development, finance, operations, acquisitions, and marketing/brand development to the ConnectEDU senior management team.

"I am very excited to be a part of such a creative, innovative and talented team at ConnectEDU and look forward to contributing to the future growth and success of the company,” said Floros. “There are endless opportunities on how we can continue to positively impact the experience of counselors, admission/development officers, employers, students, and parents utilizing ConnectEDU’s products and services."

Prior to joining ConnectEDU, CJ was the CEO and President of the Perrone Group, a private equity owned business focused on creating integrated multi-channel marketing programs for non-profits, B2B, B2C, and higher education clients. Prior to his work with the Perrone Group, CJ was the CFO and COO for The BAM Group, a brand architecture and management company focused on creating strategic experiential marketing programs. From 1998 to 2005, as the CEO and Founder of A-Plus Exhibits Services and Management LLC, CJ created an event logistics company servicing fortune 1000 companies in the Tradeshow, Sponsorship, and Corporate Events Industry. CJ has also worked in leadership positions with Admore Exhibits and Deloitte and Touche LLP.

“CJ is an accomplished executive who brings a wealth of experience in product and market development, acquisitions, and operations to the ConnectEDU team. CJ’s demonstrated skills and talents combined with his familiarity of the education market will have an immediate impact on ConnectEDU’s growth strategy,” said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. “We are thrilled to have CJ join our senior leadership team and are looking forward to supporting his efforts to grow our business and positively impact more students, families, counselors, teachers/ professors, admission/ development officers, and employers.”

CJ is a graduate of Boston College with B.S. in Accounting and Finance.

ConnectEDU Opens Austin Office to Manage Operations in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Online College and Career-Planning Firm Also Announces Key Staff Additions

(BOSTON, MA) February 1, 2011 – ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) the market leader in developing online college and career planning tools and platforms, today announces the opening of an Austin, TX office, from which to conduct its sales and operations in Texas. The new office is located in the Littlefield Congress Building on East 6^th Street in downtown Austin.

ConnectEDU will use the new Austin space to continue to implement an online college preparation assistance program in select Texas markets, support its high school and college partners in the region, and as a regionalized service center to provide support to other partners in the South.

“We are thrilled to open a regional office and support center in the Lone Star State,” said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer. “With strategic staff in place in Austin, ConnectEDU is positioned to support school districts to do more with less by implementing systems that empower students, guidance counselors and parents to get more involved with each student’s customized path toward a college education and viable career. As a company, we’re poised for continued growth, with a pool of exceptional talent to choose from in Austin to fill positions in customer support, professional services, management and technology.”

Chris Sharman, who joined ConnectEDU in October as Director of Texas, will oversee the Austin office. Sharman is a member of ConnectEDU’s Government Solutions team, exclusively focused on the company’s Texas projects and partners, to ensure that they are successful. Formerly with Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing as Vice President, Sharman has experience working in Texas state government, as well as many years of experience in marketing, both domestically and internationally.

“We’re committed to providing schools with comprehensive online products to help students, parents, counselors, teachers, and administrators manage the high school-to-college-to-career planning process,” said Chris Sharman, Director, ConnectEDU Texas. “Our team is looking forward to successfully working with school districts across the State of Texas to help students set and achieve post-secondary education and career goals.”

In addition to Sharman, ConnectEDU’s Texas staff includes Senior Account Managers, Implementation Support Specialists and Business Development professionals. Marie Keith, Ed.D., a 31-year veteran of the Texas public education system – where she worked as a teacher, counselor, campus-based administrator, curriculum coordinator, as well as being a prior user of ConnectEDU’s High School Suite – will oversee all of ConnectEDU’s high school-focused professional services efforts. Marie and her team of Implementation Support Specialists are primarily focused on supporting school district implementations of ConnectEDU’s solutions in Texas.

Chris, Marie and their team are joined in the TX office by Chris Cutrone, who will serve as Sales Director, responsible for identifying and supporting additional opportunities within the State of TX. Cutrone spent the past 10 years working in Texas state government. Most recently, Chris was a Communications Specialist with the Texas Education Agency. Previously, Chris served as Deputy Press Secretary in the Texas Governor's office as well as the Texas House of Representatives and the State's Attorney General's office.

Founded in 2002, ConnectEDU has shown rapid growth in the education technology space in recent months, signing partnerships with school districts, states and government entities. ConnectEDU’s network (“The Connect! Community”) has grown to include 5 million high school and college aged students, 2,500 high schools, 450 colleges, and nearly 50 employers. The company’s technology, including its SuperAPP college application completion resource, is currently available in hundreds of high schools, including major urban districts such as Baltimore Public Schools, Miami-Dade, and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

The Boston-based ConnectEDU also currently operates a regional office and servicing center in Amherst, New York.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.: (www.connectedu.com)
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU & Zinch Partner to Make the College Admission Process More Efficient for Students & Colleges

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:38:00 +0000

(BOSTON, MA) January 25, 2011 -- ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) the market leader in developing online college and career planning tools and platforms, today announced a strategic partnership with Zinch (www.zinch.com), the social network connecting students with colleges and scholarships. The new deal is designed to streamline the college application and acceptance process for thousands of students applying to schools later this year and beyond, by making ConnectEDU’s SuperAPP tool – a free, web-based, comprehensive application completion resource – available to Zinch users.

At Zinch, students can search for colleges and create online profiles showcasing themselves as more than test scores to be recruited by colleges. Nearly 3 million students and over 850 colleges and universities connected online at Zinch.com. However, up until now, users haven’t been able to apply to schools via the Zinch website. The ConnectEDU and Zinch partnership will enable students to apply electronically to over 100 colleges and universities during college application season by using SuperAPP, the fastest and easiest way for students to complete college applications. ConnectEDU will add more colleges as electronic partners over time, giving Zinch students even more options for filing online applications.

Here’s how it works: Students search for colleges on Zinch.com and build a list of schools they wish to apply to. Next, they can manage their application using ConnectEDU’s free SuperAPP resource. SuperAPP creates one single questionnaire from all of the college applications, eliminating duplicates while including all of the unique questions from each of the college applications. Once students complete all of the interview questions, SuperAPP uses their answers to populate multiple college applications. In one sitting, students can complete multiple applications simultaneously. Students can also use SuperAPP to pay the application fee for each college using PayPal, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

“We’re delighted to partner with a firm that shares our student-centric approach to improving access to higher education,” said Craig Powell, ConnectEDU CEO. “This deal brings SuperAPP to all the students on Zinch, thereby improving our market share and helping more students apply to colleges via SuperAPP.”

“Zinch gives students an edge in finding the right college, getting in and paying for it, while helping colleges recruit students more effectively,” explained Anne Dwane, Zinch President & CEO. “This partnership furthers that mission, streamlining the application process and providing colleges applications from qualified students interested in attending.”

About ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. Founded in 2002, the company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

Today, ConnectEDU’s network (“The Connect! Community”) has grown to include 5 million high school and college aged students, 2,500 high schools, 450 colleges, and nearly 50 employers. For more information, please visit www.connectedu.com.

About Zinch
Zinch.com is the network connecting students with opportunities: colleges, scholarships, graduate programs and study abroad programs. At Zinch.com, nearly 3 million students have created profiles to showcase themselves as more than test scores and to be matched with relevant schools and scholarships. Zinch.com profiles 6,000 undergraduate and graduate programs, and lists $2 billion in scholarships. Admissions Officers trust Zinch.com to help them recruit students who would fit well at their institutions. Visit the company at www.Zinch.com.

ConnectEDU Becomes a Blackboard Signature Partner™

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:06:00 +0000

CoursEval™ Survey Software plans closer connection to Blackboard’s Learn™ platform

(BOSTON, MA) December 13, 2010 -- ConnectEDU, Inc., the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education and launch their career, today announced it has joined the Blackboard Alliance Program ^TM as a Blackboard Signature Partner.^TM

ConnectEDU acquired the CoursEval™ product line from Academic Management Systems (AMS) in September, 2010.

CoursEval™ is a web-based survey system that makes course and instructor evaluation easier, smarter, and less expensive for colleges, universities and health profession schools. The partnership will allow students in the Blackboard Learn platform to easily access and anonymously complete course evaluations via the MyCoursEval™ Remote Portal Interface.

“Course evaluations are a vital part of every institution’s cycle of education. As more and more institutions are taking learning online, so too are they taking their course evaluations online. The ability to report and track institution-wide goals and objectives allows institutions to look at performance at a macro and micro level and improve their instruction both online and in the classroom,” said Matt Small, Blackboard’s Chief Business Officer.

“ConnectEDU’s solutions sit at the intersection point between students, teachers, and administrators. CoursEval™ provides data-driven course and instructor evaluations which are key to a continuous improvement process in the education industry,” commented Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer of ConnectEDU. “Partnering with Blackboard through CoursEval allows us to extend that educational strategy.”

ConnectEDU has also announced its intention to provide a similar interface for the Blackboard Learn, ANGEL Edition product, and the ANGEL Learning Management Suite.

About ConnectEDU, Inc. (www.connectedu.com)

ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

About Blackboard Inc. (www.blackboard.com)

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day.

SuperAPP™ Helps Time-Pressed Students Securely Meet Fast Approaching College Application Deadlines

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:04:00 +0000

With Early December Deadlines Looming, Seamless Online Resource Lets Students Quickly & Efficiently Apply to Multiple Colleges Simultaneously

(BOSTON, MA) November 19, 2010 -- For time-pressed students with higher education on their minds, deadlines for applying to their preferred colleges are fast approaching. Indeed, the vast majority of college applications are due by December 1st. Needless to say, completing the required forms and essays, gathering the necessary transcripts and recommendation letters and then getting them all in on time can weigh heavily on students this time of year.

ConnectEDU makes the college application process infinitely easier with SuperAPP. SuperAPP is a web-based, comprehensive application completion tool that enables students to efficiently manage their data from a single, secure location. In one sitting, students can complete multiple applications simultaneously.
Here’s how it works: Students select the schools they would like to apply to from a list of 1,500 institutions. SuperAPP then creates a single set of interview questions, eliminating duplicates while including all of the unique questions from each of the college applications. Once a student has completed the interview questions, SuperAPP takes his or her answers and then populates each college’s actual application in exact format for submission to the school. Students can also use SuperAPP to pay the application fee for each college using PayPal, Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

“SuperAPP is the fastest and easiest way to apply to college. It eliminates repetition and lets students, parents and guidance counselors track each application, once it’s submitted,” explained Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. “Perhaps best of all, SuperAPP helps students make informed choices about where they’re going to go to college by expanding their options as well as by presenting scholarship and financial aid opportunities and reminders.”

SuperAPP is a free service, made available to students through a public portal as well as through ConnectEDU’s Connect! platform, which empowers schools to electronically send official transcripts directly to colleges and universities.

High schools are rapidly adopting SuperAPP as the standard for facilitating their students’ college applications. Students connected to high schools adopting SuperAPP have the ability to have transcripts and recommendations uploaded and sent in through the system. SuperAPP also provides early planning information, including details on the GPA needed to get into a specific college program as well as which scholarships are available from each school and how to apply to them. For those students who do not attend school in a district utilizing SuperAPP, a streamlined version is available and still empowers those students to efficiently manage their application process.

SuperAPP is also accessible via websites like YOUniversityTV.com and Zinch.com. SuperAPP is currently available in hundreds of high schools, including several major urban districts such as Baltimore Public Schools, Detroit Public Schools and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. ConnectEDU also recently inked deals with Miami-Dade School District, as well as Massachusetts, Michigan and Texas to develop statewide college and career planning portals.

“While ConnectEDU was created to allow students to apply to colleges in a fast, secure and efficient manner, we also wanted to provide a way for students to plan ahead, learn about their options and begin thinking about the courses they need to take in high school and what GPA they will need to maintain in order to achieve their dreams,” reiterates Craig Powell, CEO of ConnectEDU. “We also focus on educating students, counselors and parents on the many scholarship and financial aid options that exist but aren’t always easy to find. The bottom line is that it’s about planning for the success and future of each and every student.”

Cleveland school district’s chief academic officer, Eric Gordon, was quoted in a New York Times article describing how SuperAPP has relieved some of the burden off of his counselors. “Previously,” he says, “counselors didn’t know what colleges students applied to, and if they didn’t report grades and recommendations in a timely way, the application didn’t get completed.”

SuperAPP™ supports students who use the most popular application formats including: the Common Application®, Universal College Application™, as well as unique applications from 1,500 colleges. SuperAPP also streamlines the application process for college admissions officers by delivering a full electronic student application to colleges in a single integrated data feed in the preferred format of each college.

ConnectEDU is also poised to debut additional SuperAPP capabilities designed to simplify the process of completing and filing FAFSA and other financial aid forms. The new SuperAPP Financial Aid capability will be available in early 2011. This application will also help keep students on track to re-apply for financial aid at the right time each year to avoid losing their financial support.

To view a demonstration video on how SuperAPP works, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32V7ywgeibk.

To see what a difference SuperAPP can make within a specific school district and how students feel about it, please visit http://www.connectedu.com/detroit.html.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.: (www.connectedu.com)
ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

Online College & Career Planning Platform Creator, ConnectEDU, Closes $7M Equity Offering Led By Allen & Co.

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:50:00 +0000

New Funds Will Fuel Accelerated Growth & Expansion of Regional Service Centers to Support Roll-Out of State-Wide Initiatives, High School, University & Employer Adoption

(BOSTON, MA) November 15, 2010 –ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) the Boston-based leader in developing online college and career planning tools and platforms, today announced that it has successfully closed a $7 million equity offering, as led by Allen & Co., with the support of the company’s initial group of investors from the education, private equity and Internet industries.

As part of the funding event, Margaret Spellings, former Secretary of Education under the administration of President George W. Bush, has joined ConnectEDU’s Board of Directors along H. Jay Sarles, Operating Advisor to Nautic Partners, LLC and former Vice Chairman of Bank of America.

With this new capital, ConnectEDU plans to leverage the company’s extraordinary growth with regional service centers around the country to support the roll-out of state-wide initiatives and continue to serve existing high school, college and employer partners. The company will also continue to invest in the tools that promote the success of each student, and further build partnerships with education decision-makers at colleges, high schools and at the state level.

“We are empowered by our investors’ continued commitment to our business, as demonstrated by their on-going financial support of our growth. As we have achieved each milestone, our investors’ have continued to fund our efforts to empower students, families and those who serve them in their college and career pursuits,” said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. “The funds raised today will enable us to meet the growing demand for ConnectEDU to be the standard for states, high schools and colleges committed to the success of their students and those who serve them. ConnectEDU can now accelerate the expansion of its regional service centers across the country. We will also invest further in the growth of CoursEval, our data-driven evaluation and assessment system, as well as SuperAPP, our online college admissions form completion system.”

Using $8.2 million in capital previously raised in 2009 during a Series C funding round led by Allen & Co and the same group of individual investors, ConnectEDU has secured a leadership position in the market as a student planning resource focused on high school completion as well as creating a college and/or career plan. To do this, ConnectEDU has developed and implemented technology that has helped thousands of students – typically from the most underserved populations - successfully create high school completion pathways, and manage their post-secondary education plans with the goal of launching a successful career path. All of ConnectEDU’s products integrate with the Connect! platform and user community, which allows students, counselors, admission officers, career advisors, academic advisors and employers to interact, advise and purposefully network with students throughout the college and career planning process. ConnectEDU is the only company to fully integrate with high school student information systems to use actual student data to benchmark progress against a high school completion, college and career plan.

In the past year, ConnectEDU has seen rapid growth with high schools adopting the Connect! High School Suite, including SuperAPP, as the standard for facilitating their students’ college application submissions. SuperAPP is currently available in hundreds of high schools, including several major urban districts such as Baltimore Public Schools, Detroit Public Schools and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. ConnectEDU also recently inked deals with Miami-Dade School District, as well as the States of Massachusetts, Michigan and Texas to develop statewide college and career planning portals. In the past year, ConnectEDU’s network (“The Connect! Community”) has grown to include 5 million high school and college aged students, 2,500 high schools, 450 colleges, and nearly 50 employers.

“While ConnectEDU was created to allow student’s to plan ahead, learn about their options and begin thinking of the courses they need to take in high school and what curriculum they need to pursue in order to achieve the dream of maximizing their career choice, we are also focused on eliminating the processing hurdles associated with students moving from high school to college by making the college application form completion process informative, fast, secure and efficient for all parties involved,” said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. “As part of
this effort we are also very focused on educating students, counselors and parents on the many scholarships and financial aid options that exist but aren’t always easy to find or easy to apply for.”

ConnectEDU is poised to debut additional SuperAPP capabilities designed to simplify the process of completing and filing FAFSA and other financial aid forms. The new SuperAPP Financial Aid capability will be available in early 2011, in time for the financial aid season. This application will also help keep students on track to re-apply for financial aid at the right time each year to avoid losing their financial support.

To see what a difference SuperAPP can make within a school district and how students, counselors, admissions officers and policy makers feel about it, please visit http://www.connectedu.com/detroit.html.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.: (www.connectedu.com)

ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education. The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the
country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

ConnectEDU Acquires CoursEval™ and Academic Management Systems

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:35:00 +0000

Best-Of-Breed Industry Leader in Course Assessment Complements ConnectEDU’s College Suite

(BOSTON, MA) September 14, 2010 -- ConnectEDU, Inc., the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education and launch their career, announced the acquisition of Academic Management Systems (AMS) and its flagship product CoursEval. ConnectEDU will continue to support, enhance and grow the CoursEval higher education and health professions client base as well as extending the solution into the ConnectEDU K-12 clientbase.

“We are excited about the potential of the acquisition and plan to continue the great work of the CoursEval team. This is consistent with our servicing the intersection point between students, teachers and administrators,” commented Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer of ConnectEDU. “We look forward to leveraging the underlying technology of CoursEval to extend ConnectEDU's evaluation and assessment capabilities as well as making course evaluations available to our K-12 clientbase.”

In addition to acquiring CoursEval and its loyal clients, ConnectEDU has retained the entire CoursEval support, development and sales team. The team will remain in Buffalo at ConnectEDU’s latest regional office.

“ConnectEDU and Academic Management Systems share a common mission of using real data to drive informed decisions for both students and educators,” remarked AMS Founder and Vice President, Dr. John Eisner. “Our combined organization will benefit our current and future users and we are excited to be part of the ConnectEDU enterprise.” Dr. Eisner will serve in an advisory role for the next three years and continue to be closely involved with the CoursEval product.

Other AMS products that are not core to the ConnectEDU product strategy (including ClinicEval™, SiteAssign™, AdMIT™, WebAdMIT™ and GrAdMIT™) were migrated to a separate entity prior to the acquisition.

For more information about ConnectEDU visit www.connectedu.com. For more information on CoursEval visit www.academicmanagement.com.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.
ConnectEDU is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their career. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU’s approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

Kevin Barney Joins ConnectEDU as Senior Vice President of College Channel Sales and Operations

noreply@blogger.com (ConnectEDU, Inc.) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:27:00 +0000

(Boston, MA) September 22, 2010 - ConnectEDU, (www.connectedu.com), the web-based leader in using data to connect students with colleges and employers through the nation’s largest college and career planning network, is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin Barney as Senior Vice President of College Channel Sales and Operations. Kevin brings over 20 years of experience serving the education marketplace to the ConnectEDU senior management team.

“ConnectEDU’s unwavering commitment to help students manage their education and careers more effectively will benefit colleges, universities, and employers as they seek to ensure that they are making the best possible decisions on selecting and supporting their students and employees,” said Barney. “ConnectEDU is a game changer, and I am excited about the opportunity to help colleges and universities leverage ConnectEDU’s capabilities.”

Prior to joining ConnectEDU, Kevin was the Senior Vice President of Sales, Service, & Marketing for Tuition Management Systems, which became the leading provider of billing and payment processing services in Higher Education during his tenure with a reputation as the highest quality provider in the industry. Kevin also was the Vice President of Scholastic Sales for American Achievement Corporation, a leading manufacturer of education recognition products.

“Kevin is an accomplished executive who brings a wealth of experience working with colleges to resolve the critical issues along the pathway of achieving their strategic goals," said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectEDU. “We are delighted to have Kevin join our senior leadership team and are confident he will make an immediate impact on our college sales and operations.”

Kevin is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey with B.A., in Economics with a minor in Political Science.