FYI.  Great info.  Be in the KNOW!
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Michele Scott" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 5:49:36 PM
Subject: [WESTOP] Fwd: Simplifying the FAFSA

FYI- This information was shared with me from a colleague
on campus.

Michele



Sent on behalf of the Office of Communications & Outreach,
U.S. Department of Education: News and Information - Jan.
8, 2010
  
  
**************************************
U.S. Department of Education
Hispanic Outreach & Resources
January 8, 2010
**************************************
  
  
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
  
Great News! As many of you have heard, Department has been
working on simplifying the FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid). The day has arrived! Read on for
details...
  
Earlier this week, Secretary Duncan and Dr. Jill Biden,
the wife of Vice President Joe Biden and a long-time
educator, joined students at Washington, D.C.’s Benjamin
Banneker Senior High School as they worked with counselors
to complete the new, streamlined Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The 2010-11 FAFSA-on-the-Web
has been redesigned to be shorter, simpler, and more
user-friendly.  Questions are now asked only if relevant
to the applicant; low-income students, for example, are no
longer asked for asset information, and only returning
students are asked about prior drug convictions because
the question does not apply to first-year students.  Also,
immediately after submitting the FAFSA, applicants will
now receive a confirmation email message which indicates
Pell Grant eligibility and links to information about the
schools they are applying to, such as graduation and
transfer rates and a detailed breakdown of costs and
expected expenses associated with the schools.
  
Most higher education institutions began receiving updates
and tutorials on the new application in early December
(via training, the Federal Student Aid conference,
webinars and www.ifap.ed.gov).
  
Later this month, those applying for aid in the spring
semester using the 2009-10 FAFSA will be able to retrieve
and import their tax data from the Internal Revenue
Services (IRS).  And, in summer 2010, those applying for
aid in the 2010-11 a year will also be able to access the
IRS web site to retrieve income information to complete
the FAFSA.
  
President Obama has challenged the nation to have the
world’s highest percentage of college graduates by 2020.
 Simplifying the federal student aid application process
supports that goal by making it easier for students to
access financial support for postsecondary studies.
 Students could begin filing FAFSAs for the 2010-11
academic year on January 1.
  
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
  
PLEASE GO TO
http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2010/01/a-simpler-application-for-student-aid/.
  
NOTE: It is available in Spanish, just go to the link on
the upper right hand corner at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.
  
Check out the attachment to get a feel for the changes.
  
  
Warm regards to you all,
  
Ida R Eblinger Kelley
Director, Hispanic Outreach & Communications
Office of Communications & Outreach ½ U.S. Department of
Education
  
  

  Attachment: FAFSA Jan 2010 update 2 (2).docx (851Kbytes)
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