Pennsylvania Higher Assistance Agency
Communications Office
1200 North Seventh Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102-1444
www.pheaa.org

PHEAA Launches New Internet Project to Assist
 Prospective Postsecondary Students

HARRISBURG (January 4, 2000) — The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) today announced that it is developing a new Website that will make it easier for students to plan for higher education and apply to postsecondary schools throughout the Commonwealth.

The PHEAAMentor Website will be a free interactive system that helps students plan their careers, search for schools, apply for admission, and apply for financial aid. When fully operational next fall, the site will offer total online access to information and admission applications for Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities, as well as other degree-granting postsecondary schools.

The PHEAAMentor system will take prospective students on multimedia campus tours, help them match their needs and interests with specific institutions, establish direct e-mail communication with campus representatives, perform scholarship searches, and provide a host of other features, including a comprehensive section on financial aid.

According to PHEAA President and C.E.O. Michael H. Hershock, once students have narrowed down their campus choices and decide to apply for admission, they will then be able to use the site to complete online admissions and financial aid applications quickly and conveniently.

“PHEAAMentor will benefit our students and their families by making it easier for them to find the best postsecondary schools to fit their needs and to apply for admission and financial aid in a hassle-free manner,” Hershock said. “Best of all, this system will be accessible on any computer that has an Internet connection and will be offered free of charge.”

This innovative Internet system is designed and maintained by California-based XAP Corporation and made available through planning support and funding from PHEAA at no expense to taxpayers.

A specific URL web address for the PHEAAMentor site will be announced at a later date.

Additional information about the Mentor project can be obtained by visiting similar Mentor systems that are already operational elsewhere in the nation. Although PHEAAMentor will be the most comprehensive Mentor system available, browsers can check out the following sites: www.csumentor.edu , www.nymentor.org , www.massmentor.edu   and www.texasmentor.org .

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for information about this release 
Contact: Keith New or Stephanie Suran (717) 720-2509