Financial Aid Awareness Month

With W2s, taxes and FAFSA renewals fresh on students' minds, the financial aid office will host Financial Aid Awareness month, which informs students of upcoming financial aid changes and general information through several sessions throughout the month.

"There are not a whole lot of students on campus that don't get financial aid, but there are some, and there's more that don't file the FAFSA or get federal or state financial aid," Cathleen Wright, director of financial aid, said. "The whole purpose of what we try to do in February is make sure everyone is aware of financial aid and what they need to do for the next year and also what changes are coming about. February is like our announcement month of what changes for the next year."

Starting Feb. 2 through 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., financial aid information booths will be set up in the ASC with information on the new direct loan process, scholarships, campus jobs and more.

"In the past we've done things like we've taken a week and just had some tables in the ASC and put out some information and just kind of get out where the students are and try to get information to them. But we've added more activities to our financial aid awareness month, so it's actually a full month worth of stuff now," Christi Quintanilla, financial aid counselor, said.

According to Wright, the Feb. 9 session on loan and aid repayment is recommended for 2010 graduating seniors. Matt Siegel of USA Funds will provide attendees information on loan consolidation. The session will take place at 4 p.m. in Tschoepe Hall 201 (Valero Room).

Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. an informational session, "Money Management 101," featuring Joe Braxton of Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation will take place in Dunne Conference Center located in Tschoepe Hall.

Students are encouraged to drop off any questions for the financial aid department in the suggestion box that will be provided at the information booth. Wright will speak and address the questions at the Q and A session Tuesday Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. in Dunne Conference Center.

Students should note that there are major changes to how loan repayments work and changes to updating your FAFSA. FAFSA reminder postcards and a financial aid newsletter will be sent out to students and dependent students' parents in the near future to notify of any changes that were made.

"My hope is that the more we do this, the more students will realize who we are and come out and interact with us," Wright said.