FAFSa & tasfa presentation

1. FAFSa & tasfa presentation Office of Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services

2. Why complete a fafsa? • Why Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)? • This is how a student’s eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid is determined • Completing a FAFSA is FREE • How early can you complete a FAFSA? • January 1, 2013 for 2013-2014 school year • Do you have to have filed your tax return or received your W2s to fill out the FAFSA? • NO. You can estimate using a last pay stub and make an update once you have filed (updates must be made through the IRS Match Feature on the FAFSA)

3. COST OF ATTENDANCE

4. The first step… • Apply for PIN @ www.pin.ed.gov • Fill out your FAFSA @ www.fafsa.ed.gov • Fill out beginning January 1st • UTSA FAFSA Priority Deadline: March 15th

5. Required documents • Social Security Number • Driver's License Number (if you have one) • Alien Registration Receipt Card (if applicable) • W-2 Forms and other records of money earned • Income Tax Return; Records of Untaxed Income • Knowledge of Federal Benefits received, such as Supplemental Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Welfare

6. Required documents • Records of child support paid • Records of taxable earnings from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs • Records of student grant, scholarship, and fellowship aid, including AmeriCorps awards, that was included in your (or your parent[s]) Adjusted Gross Income • Stock, bond, and other investment records • Business and farm records

7. Business and farm worth • What exactly has to be reported? • If the parent/student owns a business that employs over 100 employees, they must report all assets; if not, nothing is to be reported • If the parent/student owns a farm and does not live on it, they must report all assets and land value; if the family owns the farm and lives on it (it’s their primary residence), they do not report these values • For cash/savings, a student should report what is in their checking/savings after bills are paid

8. Independency status • Born before January 1, 1989? • As of today, are you married? • As of Fall 2013, will you be a Graduate Student? • Currently serving in U.S. Armed Forces? • Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? • Children who live with you that you will support 51% in 2013-2014 • Dependents who live with you that you supported 51% in 2012-2013

9. Independency status • Since age 13, was the student in Foster Care, Orphan or Ward of the Court • Emancipated Minor determined by a Court • Legal Guardianship determined by a Court • Unaccompanied Youth who was Homeless • High School or School District Homeless Liaison • Director of an Emergency Shelter or Transitional Housing • Director of a Runaway or Homeless Youth Basic Center or Transitional Living Program

10. Independency status • If the student answered no to all of the questions, then the student is dependent • This is regardless if the student is self-supporting or if the parents refuse to contribute to their education • Students who say no to all of these questions must fill out the FAFSA and include parental information and income • Students with extenuating family circumstances (abuse, non-existent relationship) can file a Request for Independent Status through their school

11. What is a dependency override? • Gives financial aid administrator authority to allow otherwise dependent applicant to apply as independent applicant due to unusual circumstances • Parent abuse, abandonment, incarceration, etc. • Not used simply because student lives outside parent household after age 18 or parents object to provide data • Must be supported by documentation by professionals outside the family • Student should contact Financial Aid Office for instructions after submitting the FAFSA without parental data

12. Who is considered a “parent”? • U.S. Department of Education’s definition of parent is limited to: • Biological parents • Stepparent legally married to biological parent • Adoptive parents • A “parent” cannot be • A legal guardian • Grandparent / aunt / uncle, etc, whom the student lives with

13. Signing the fafsa • If the student is dependent • Student and 1 parent must sign • If the student is independent • Only the student must sign

14. After fafsa submission • After receiving completed application, the Department's processor will analyze FAFSA information and, using a formula established into law by Congress, calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) • The results of application, the Student Aid Report, will be sent to the student and schools listed on application • It is important for students to read the SAR carefully since if the SAR has a rejection, the FAFSA will not process until a correction is made

15. After fafsa submission • The student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine unmet financial need. Cost of Attendance = $21,721 - Expected Family Contribution= 0 Unmet Financial Need = $21,721

16. After fafsa submission • The school will notify student of financial aid package by sending an award letter • The award package is also placed on ASAP • School may ask for additional information • Student accepts/declines awards either by signature on award letter or on ASAP • Student must complete additional requirements for each award type

17. Scholarships • Apply for General Scholarships with the General Scholarship Application • Freshmen -www.applytexas.org • Continuing Students – www.utsa.edu/scholarships • Check with your college/department for other scholarships • Utilize Outside Donors • Surf the Net (www.fastweb.com) • Check companies and community organizations • UTSA Outside Scholarship Form

18. UTSAccess • Available to first-time Freshmen, who are Texas residents • Annual family income and wages of $30,000 or less • Any assets must be worth less than $50,000 • Guaranteed grants and / or scholarships to cover tuition and mandatory fees for 4 years • Must complete the FAFSA and be admitted to UTSA by the March 15th Priority Deadline • Must complete 24 credit hours per academic year (at least 12 credit hours in Fall and Spring) • Must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA

19. Noriega law – hb1403 / sb1528 • HB1403 is an historic law passed in 2001 that granted certain non-immigrant students, including undocumented students, the ability to be classified as Texas Residents, which results in two benefits: • Pay in-state tuition at a Texas public university • Qualify for state financial aid. • In 2005, SB1528 amended the provisions of HB1403 so that they applied to all individuals who had lived in Texas a significant part of their lives. Citizens, permanent residents, and certain non-immigrant students could also establish a claim to residency following this provision.

20. Who is eligible? • Students are eligible to submit the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) if they: • Are not a US Citizen or Permanent Resident • Graduated from a Texas public or private high school or received a GED • Resided in Texas for three consecutive years leading to graduation or receipt of a GED

21. Who is eligible? • Provide their institutions a signed affidavit indicating intent to apply for permanent residency as soon as possible • Have registered as a new entering student at an institution of higher education not earlier than the Fall 2001 semester • Have resided in Texas for the twelve months prior to enrollment

22. How do students submit tasfa? • The student must submit a paper TASFA to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services • The Texas Application for State Financial Aid can be accessed at www.collegeforalltexans.com • Students with a family income less than $6500 must submit documentation of how expenses are paid • Males must register with the Selective Service and provide proof that they have registered or are not required to register

23. How are students awarded? • Awards are based on financial need and offered on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted • Awards are for tuition and fees only; awarding is in July • Only awarded students will be notified • The program is not available in Summer terms • The student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

24. Scholarships for HB1403 students • The following websites offer scholarships for HB 1403 students: • www.maldef.org • www.getreadyforcollege.org

25. Satisfactory academic progress • Must maintain a 2.0 Cumulative GPA • 67% completion rate of attempted hours • i.e. Fall = 12 hours / Spring = 12 hours • Total Attempted = 24 hours • Must complete 17 hours • Maximum hours attempted must not exceed 1 ½ times the required number of hours necessary to earn degree • i.e. Undergraduate Program = 120 hours x 1.5 = 180 hours

26. Contact information University of Texas at San Antonio Office of Student Financial Aid and Enrollment Services One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 458-8000 1-800-669-0919 financialaid@utsa.edu www.utsa.edu/financialaid