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News
10.29.2020
The Communicator
Students struggle to receive financial aid ment status,” said Keith G.P. Sayles, VP of Student Affairs. Hopefully this takes some stress away from students and parents knowing that they are not alone in this. Everyone’s needs will eventually be met, it’s just taking a little longer than usual. For other students like Kiah Gary, it was an easy process. This is probably because she got it in before the late rush of students. “Financial aid was actually super easy because I went through it with my sister when she did hers, so when I did mine I did my part easily and had my mom do the rest,” Gary said.
Drop box outside financial aid office
Students worry as the backlog of f inancial aid applications grows Kalyn Sande The Communicator
As if the financial aid process isn’t complicated enough, throw in a pandemic and an overflow of last minute applications and things are bound to get backed up. It has been a crazy ride for SFCC students and staff. “Financial Aid is seeing a high volume of students who submitted late aid applications in August and September, and staff are processing in order of receipt,” said Vice President, Keith G.P. Sayles in an email dated October 7th, to SFCC students. There have been many complications with students receiving financial aid for the fall quarter, and it’s mainly COVID’s fault. It’s been hard to know what to do during this time and there have been many changes to how things are being done and the decisions being made. Some students have chosen to take the year off, while
She says she completed hers at the beginning of August. If she had done it later, it might not have been so easy. The financial aid office is asking that everyone remains patient. They are working to make sure students are awarded as soon as possible. Team members are working to complete all aid packaging and will be in touch with students as soon as their package is complete. Student success is the highest priority at SFCC, and COVID can’t ruin that.
Corbin Willmorth | The Communicator
others have had trouble deciding what school they should go to. Many students who planned to attend universities switched to the falls last minute due to online classes. “I decided to go to the falls instead of WSU because of COVID and being online. Spending all that money at a university for online school didn’t seem like a smart choice,” said student Elise Moore. This played a major factor in the financial aid office having their hands full with the overflow of new students who need late aid. There has been some frustration because it has been hard to get into contact with financial aid services via phone, email, and Zoom. This makes it difficult for any help to be given, questions to be answered, and making sure that FAFSA gets completed with enough time. The office is also not taking appointments or walk-ins either. Staff are helping students remain in their classes while aid disbursement is pending. “We will be communicating to all pending students in the coming week to provide updates on their processing and disburse-
We will be communicating to all pending students in the coming week to provide updates on their processing and disbursement status. Keith G.P. Sayles, VP of Student Affairs
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