Students needing financial aid can receive help from a national initiative called College Goal Sunday taking place on Sunday, Feb. 13, from 2-4 p.m. in Casa Grande.
The event is part of a national workshop designed to help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and will be held at the CAC Corporate Center, located at 540 N. Camino Mercado in Casa Grande, just off Florence Boulevard at I-10.
Computers and financial aid professionals will be available to help students, and their families, actually complete an online application that day. Spanish-language speakers also will be available to assist.
For more information on the College Goal Sunday program, check out the event’s website at http://www.collegegoalsunday.com/.
Completing financial aid and student loan forms can be an obstacle more challenging than driving in 18 inches of snow in Prescott, but Central Arizona College’s financial aid staff has assembled the tools making the task far less daunting.
And the best way to apply is over the Internet.
“Online is what we strongly encourage,” Elisa Juarez, Central Arizona College’s director of financial aid, explained. “College Goal Sunday is a terrific program where financial aid professionals help students and parents complete the federal student aid application process.”
While there is plenty of funding for higher education available, even the most meticulous individuals can be intimidated by the mounds of paperwork.
“Federal aid funds are still available for the spring and summer semesters,” Juarez explained. “It can be a tedious process, but once the data is received, the outcome is usually positive. We are here to help the students with that process.”
Students are encouraged to contact Central Arizona College by e-mail ([email protected]) or by phone (520-494-5425 / 800-237-9814 ext. 5429) for help in completing the forms. “We provide a lot of online counseling through e-mail,” Juarez said.
Financial aid and student loan options are federally assisted programs such as the Federal Pell Grant program, the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Federal Workstudy, the Federal Stafford Loan, and the Federal Plus Loan for parents.
Assistance is based upon financial need with all of the forms and guidelines available online (www.studentaid.ed.gov) or in paper form at any of CAC’s 10 campuses and centers.
If the financial aid forms are filled out correctly, funds are generally available within six weeks for an online submission. The funds are then dispersed directly into a student’s billing account to cover fees.
If the financial aid allocation exceeds the cost due to the institution, then the student will receive the extra money to use for other educational expenses.
To avoid the common frustrations experienced when completing financial aid forms, make sure the following is available before getting started:
• Any income information
• Federal tax returns
• W-2 forms
• Social Security card
• CAC’s Title IV School Code (007283)
Students applying for financial aid for 2011-12 must use their 2010 income information.
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