With the use of technology the financial aid office is becoming more transparent, according to lead financial aid counselor Josh Menefee.
Menefee said, “There are changes in financial aid and these are things people need to know.”
The first step to getting awarded is to complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA before the March 15 deadline. Menefee said, “Financial Aid awards on a first come, first served basis. We give until we have no more. Usually the students who always get awarded first aren’t the upperclassmen, but the incoming freshmen.” He added that it is important for students to get their FAFSA in as soon as possible and the opportune time is when parents file their taxes.
The financial aid office is no longer sending award letters through the mail to residences, instead they will be delivered through e-mail.
Therefore, a student can know instantly instead of waiting for the mail to come. Menefee urged students to keep their e-mail inboxes clear.
Menefee said, “We send e-mails to whatever e-mail address you put down on your financial aid documents. When Facebook and MySpace messages flood your inbox, you won’t be able to receive important messages that you need. When we send an e-mail and your mailbox is full, the e-mail bounces back to us, and that’s where a problem comes into play. That’s when students have to do their part and keep their mailbox clear.”
Another issue that affects financial aid is when a student claims to be independent. What makes one independent is if you’re a graduate student, married, and have children who receive more than half of their support from you. These rules will apply all the way until June 2009.
Menefee said, “The old system wasn’t a problem, it was just keeping up with technology. We are still in the early stage, and our main goal is to have financial aid more streamlined. We want to minimize the crowds, headaches, and panic rush that comes from the first weeks of school. In order to facilitate this we need the students to do their part by getting things done and turned in on time. Don’t sit on your hands, because poor planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on our part. We have federal rules and guidelines we have to follow as well.”
Students can go to pvamu.edu/faid or go to pvamu.edu, click on quick links, and then click on financial aid.
Menefee said, “Everything you want to know about financial aid is available on the Web site. It has endless information, private scholarship search engines, loans, Americorps, loan repayment programs, grants, information on loan consolidation, etc. The information is very up-to-date. When it comes down to the fall, we don’t want the students to be in the same situation. You can also go to pvamu.financialaidtv.com, which is something like a Youtube for financial aid if you don’t want to read about financial aid.”
With the recent signing of the stimulus plan, Pell grants have been increased from $4,731 a year to $5,350 a year for students with no expected family contribution.
Menefee said, “Financial aid has nothing to hide, we want to be transparent.”