Goddard Riverside Options Institute Launches Online College Access Training

January 12, 2023

Options Institute, Goddard Riverside’s college access training organization, is releasing its hallmark Foundations Course.

The courses are part of a multi modal, resource-rich, online learning system created specifically for school and Community Based Organization counselors.

This asynchronous course allows learners to access it anytime, anywhere and includes video and animation to aid learning and retention. “We hope that we’ve provided a compass, and at the end of this training counselors will feel so much more comfortable supporting their students,” says Deborah Fuller, Deputy Director, Options Center, Director of Training of Options Institute.  

The Options Institute is New York City’s leading provider of professional development for practitioners working with underrepresented students on their postsecondary pathways. Based on Options in-person workshops, the asynchronous course is a new way for counselors supporting students through the complex process of applying to college to access our gold standard workshops. Learners can choose either the comprehensive College Access Training course or the Financial Aid course. The courses can be accessed and repeated more than once for up to 90 days. 

Ms. Fuller and Program Coordinator Irlene Charestin collaborated with Extension Engine’s course design and development team to create a comprehensive online curriculum, blending new and existing knowledge to enhance ways counselors guide their students. Learners will feel they’ve deepened their knowledge and skills every time they engage with the content and will be inspired to work more efficiently to help students achieve their goals.  

Course Information 

  • College Access Training – cost $395
    • Courses – Assessing Postsecondary Readiness, Researching and Evaluating Students’ Postsecondary Choices, Strong College Applications, Financial Aid Process and Financial Aid: Packages, Loans and Gap 
  • Financial Aid Training – cost $250
    • Courses – Financial Aid Process and Financial Aid: Packages, Loans and Gap 

Some Key Topics 


  • What’s most important when supporting students to make a well-developed college list 
  • What you most need to know to support students to complete the FAFSA 
  • How to introduce career when choosing a postsecondary option 
  • How to advocate for students and supporting students to advocate for themselves 

In 2005, Options Center launched the Options Institute, a professional development center, to train school and CBO counselors with the skills and knowledge to provide college access services. The Institute trains between 800 and 1,000 individuals per year in person. In 2012-2015 Options Institute contracted with the New York City Department of Education to train school counselors from nearly all city high schools. Other Options Institute clients include Chicago Public Schools, iMentor, New York Cares, CUNY College Advising Corp., Destination: College and Brooklyn Library. 

Funded by The Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc., and Robin Hood Foundation with additional consultation by Deloitte and Capital One 

For more information and to register: www.collegeaccesstraining.org 
For further information contact: OptionsCAT@goddard.org 

Photo credit: Source.


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