The Griffon News

Remembering to file for financial aid is a hassle, but students who miss the deadline become frustrated when they can’t pay for classes. 

“Incoming students don’t really know what to expect, they don’t know what a FAFSA is, they don’t know what deadlines are, they don’t know how important deadlines are,” said Angie Beam, assistant director of financial aid.

According to Western financial aid office, only 177 students currently receive money through assistance with financial aid programs such as the Charles Gallagher and Missouri
College Guarantee. But if proposed Missouri Legislation is passed, more than 2,800 Western students are expected to qualify for more aid this fall.

However, students must complete the FAFSA by April 1 to be eligible.

“Deadlines are everything,” said Cindy Spotts-Conrad, institution and campus-based aid senior coordinator. “Students miss out on aid opportunities, especially need-based aid because they don’t get their information processed by the deadline.”

For Western scholarship applications, federal work-study programs, Federal SEOG Grants and Federal Perkins loans opportunities, students are encouraged to apply online before the March 1 deadline. Lisa Siudym, Director of Financial Aid, says that this works out well for current students.

“If a current student goes online and applies for ‘07-‘08, the information from ‘06-‘07 is brought forward,” Siudym said. “So a lot of the things you initially had to put – general stuff on the FAFSA; name, address, birth-date those sort of things – that’s already there.”

Siudym also mentioned that they are hoping to have award letters for ‘07-‘08 online. The financial aid department would send out emails and post cards to students, and then they would have the choice to accept of decline their aid.

A new federal aid program was passed, so beginning July 1, 2007, loan maximums are going up, said Amy Parnell, coordinator for Federal Pell Grants and Loans.

“Freshmen are able to receive additional amounts, as well as sophomores,” Parnell said. “Freshmen will be allowed to borrow $3,500 verses $2,625, and sophomores instead of $3,500 will be able to borrow $4,500. Junior and senior grade levels stays the same at $5,500.”

Now with the new application process One Stop set up by administrator Tyson Schank, for better and faster service to students, the scholarship portion is simpler. Students can go online to the admissions site and type in all their information, and then that matches the scholarships that the student qualifies for.

“This new program is awesome,” Parnell said “It’s slick.”

Freshman Nikeda Carter said that One Stop was awesome for her and that all her financial aid was taken care of.

“It worked out real well for me,” Carter said. “I think this new program will be great.”