Colleges Partner to Host 'FAFSA Night'
Attendees to Receive Assistance in Applying for Financial Aid
Aiken, SC (10/15/2019) — The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to determine a student's eligibility to receive federal financial aid such as grants, work-study, and student loans to pay for college. In some cases, it is also needed to determine eligibility for state and local funding.
But, for many families, starting that process can be overwhelming.
Aiken Technical College (ATC), University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken), and the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) have collaborated to host a Fall FAFSA Night to help area families navigate the federal aid application process.
The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the 700 building on the ATC campus. Financial aid staff from ATC and USC Aiken will be available to assist with completion of the FAFSA and answer questions.
Students and their families are welcome to attend, regardless of where they plan to go to college.
"We all know that financing a college education is challenging and applying for financial aid can be a daunting process," said Melissa Johnson, ATC director of recruitment and student experience. "FAFSA Night is designed to remove these barriers by connecting students and their parents with financial aid professionals who can help them begin the process of applying for funding."
Daniel Robb, USC Aiken associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, echoed the importance of the partnership.
"The University of South Carolina Aiken is excited to work collaboratively with the Commission on Higher Education and Aiken Technical College to host a FAFSA night this fall. The teamwork involved in producing this event will result in helpful insight and information for those students and families who attend," said Robb.
During the event, attendees can complete the 2020-21 FAFSA, which covers semesters from fall 2020 through summer 2021. By completing the FAFSA early, it positions families to better plan as their student prepares to start college, said Sue Sims, ATC director of financial aid.
"The FAFSA is a vital requirement for most college students who plan to pay for college with the assistance of most federal, state and institutional financial aid," said Sims. "Students who apply for aid early and complete the process with the college of their choice promptly, receive first consideration for available financial aid."
Attendees will need the below information to complete the FAFSA. (Those who are dependent students will need to bring information for their parent(s)/guardian(s) as well.)
- FSA ID to sign electronically (Create your FSA ID: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid)
- Social Security number
- Driver's license number (if you have one)
- Alien Registration number (if not a U.S. citizen)
- 2018 federal tax information or tax returns such as:W-2 informationIRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZForeign tax returnTax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
- W-2 information
- IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ
- Foreign tax return
- Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
- Records of any untaxed income such as:Child supportInterest incomeVeterans non-education benefits
- Child support
- Interest income
- Veterans non-education benefits
- Information on other assets such as:CashSavings and checking account balancesInvestments, including stocks, bonds and real estate (not including the home in which you live)Business and farm assets
- Cash
- Savings and checking account balances
- Investments, including stocks, bonds and real estate (not including the home in which you live)
- Business and farm assets
FAFSA Nights are an outgrowth of the CHE College Goal initiative. The October 29 event is the first of three local FAFSA nights planned for the 2019-20 academic year.
Media Attachments
Aiken Technical College (ATC), University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken), and the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) have collaborated to host a Fall FAFSA Night to help area families navigate the federal aid application process. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the 700 building on the ATC campus. Financial aid staff from ATC and USC Aiken will be available to assist with completion of the FAFSA and answer questions.
Aiken Technical College (ATC), University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken), and the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) have collaborated to host a Fall FAFSA Night to help area families navigate the federal aid application process. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the 700 building on the ATC campus. Financial aid staff from ATC and USC Aiken will be available to assist with completion of the FAFSA and answer questions.