BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Ferris State University says it will help cut through delays with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by announcing aid awards to its prospective students this month.
Frustrations with FAFSA have been building as a new streamlined process for the government program has been dogged by system glitches that have either caused delays or inaccurate information be sent to colleges.
Those delays have prevented families from planning for financial aid needs and in some cases even selecting which universities their students will attend.
The same issues with FAFSA that are leading to anxiety for families are frustrating college administrators as well.
"This has been a main focus in our office, especially so this year, with the delayed rollout of the application process for students filing the FAFSA," said Becky Grooters, Director of Financial Aid for Ferris State University. "Add to that, some of the difficulties that we've had with the data coming from Department of Education, where we're learning that there are some inconsistencies in that data being provided to the schools and the vendors that service the schools."
The university plans to make those announcements beginning April 15 by sending out letters and by updating its online portal.
The awards will be based on information on hand by the university, which it hopes help give students and their families some ideas of what to expect.
“Students want to decide on where to go to college. We are ready to ease the anxiety that many are experiencing and help them come to Ferris State to transform their lives,” said Kristen Salomonson, Ferris State’s dean of Enrollment Services.
Ferris State says that while FAFSA completion rates are down by 11 percent across Michigan due to the problems, Ferris State is faring better; the university has seen a 4-percent increase.
If you have questions, Ferris State says it has teams ready to help guide students personally.
“We know that our students and their families need this information to make an informed decision, and we are going to provide it to them," Salomonson said.
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