By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Need-based financial aid for Bowling Green State University students, like their peers across the country, is in a holding pattern.
The snafu stems from two issues. The first, the Department of Education substantially revised the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – in response to a new legislation. That new online application, meant to be easier, has been plagued with glitches.
Then the Department of Education discovered that the system was miscalculating some data.
Now students and higher education admissions offices are facing a delay in receiving the FAFSA results. Those results are needed to calculate how much need-based financial aid students.
The FAFSA numbers are now expected in mid-March, Cecilia Castellano, the vice president for enrollment management, said Friday in a telephone interview.
“We are in the same boat as any other college or university in the country in that we have not received any student or family FAFSA data,” she said. “We are currently examining any dates or processes that may be affected by the delay.”
The university announced today (Feb. 12) that it is extending its FAFSA and scholarship priority deadline to Friday, March 15, for prospective students.
The FAFSA problems impact not just incoming students. All students receiving need-based aid must fill out the form every year.
The data are important because it lets students know if they qualify for a federal Pell grant, some state scholarships, work study, or other assistance.
None of this affects merit scholarships. These are awarded based on a student’s high school record and do not rely on the FAFSA. The awarding of those scholarships such as the Ribeau Leadership Academy and Presidential Scholarships is already underway.
Because BGSU uses a rolling enrollment system where students can commit through the cycle, it does not have to extend any admissions deadlines as many other colleges have.
Castellano said that they are advising families to complete the FAFSA. If they encounter any problems to reach out to the Department of Education for help. “Be persistent,” she said.
BGSU will have counselors on hand next Monday, Feb. 19, when it holds its Presidents Day Open House to assist students and families with any questions they have about the form and to provide step-by-step guidance in how to fill it out.
Castellano noted that some people have found the form easier to complete. “We’ve had positive comments that it is a lot easier experience,” she said. “The feedback been fairly good. I’m optimistic the form is easier.”
But, she added, “we do know there are some issues and bugs, so it’s not easier for everyone.”
BGSU will continue to closely monitor the situation. It follows the FAFSA website, and when a students application becomes available, they download the data and inform the student that they have received it.
“We’re just doing everything we can to communicate with our families and be as flexible as possible,” she said.
Another issue with the new FAFSA that has caused concern is the new requirement to report the value of family farms or businesses. Some are worried that this will result in those families qualifying for less aid.
Castellano said: “I can’t even theorize until we get the data and get a full picture.” Until then “we’ll have no idea what the impact would be.”
