Monday, April 12, 2010
Utah Statesman The
Campus Voice since 1902
Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com
Students encouraged to file financial aid forms early By CHELSEY GENSEL news senior writer
Applying for any kind of federal aid to help pay for school just got easier. Getting it, on the other hand, may be a little harder, with both admissions applications and enrollment numbers on the rise. Director of Admissions Jen Putnam said in the wake of the national economic downturn, not only are more people applying to college, but they are applying to more colleges. She said application numbers are up across the state, and the number of those applicants hoping for some kind of assistance in paying for their education is also up. That aid can come from a variety of sources, including federal or state aid from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, Pell Grants, merit-based and other scholarships, and loans. Changes have been made to the FAFSA form, which is due May 15 for those entering college fall semester 2010 as part of a government campaign to simplify the form. The initial changes largely affect the online version of the form, which will now automatically eliminate unnecessary questions based on previous answers. USU Financial Aid Director Steve Sharp said there is also a new option on the form to fill in information from a person’s tax form, if it has already been filed. “You can just check a box and fill in information from the IRS,” Sharp said. He said the changes aren’t huge, but should begin to eliminate some of the intimidation factor the form has had. Another change is in the eligibility rules for Pell Grants, which are federal grants based on need to students that meet certain income requirements. Up until now, a student was eligible for two Pell Grants per year – one for each semester. Under the new rules, Sharp said eligibility will extend to a third semester, enabling students who want to attend school year-round to apply for Pell Grants each semester. Sharp said the change was enacted to help students finish school more quickly. The only different in the requirements for the third semester grant is that students will need to be enrolled at least part time, which means six credits or more for USU students. Sharp said the third major change in federal funding for students is that instead of choosing a lender for a loan offered through an approved FAFSA form, all of the loans will be through the federal government. He said the interest rates, amounts and terms of the loans will generally
BRITTNEY CLARK, freshman studying fisheries and aquatic sciences, receives information from the Financial Aid Office. Jen Putnam, director of Admissions, said students shouldn’t procrastinate when making financial arrangements for their education. STEVE SELLERS photo
be the same, but there will be a new repayment plan for students who don’t earn much. Additionally, students who already have loans but want to take out more money will need to sign a new promissory note. Sharp said private lenders will still be able to offer private loans, but it will take a lot of private lenders “out of the game,” leaving credit unions and the state agency UHEAA (Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority). Sharp said he is hoping the State Board of Regents, part of UHEAA, will still be able to provide loan services because it has done so well in the past. Sharp said it had the lowest default rate on loan repayment in the country for the last year, based on the standards the federal government uses to measure repayment rates. “It remains to be seen whether they will get a contract,” Sharp said, “but I hope they’ll still have a role to play. They do an outstanding job.”
He said that the changes to the FAFSA as well as to Pell Grant and loan procedures will involve more work from the financial aid office, but will “definitely help a lot of students.” However, he said if applications for all forms of financial assistance don’t get turned in early, students “don’t have much of a shot at it” because of the increase in applicants. Putnam said that increase for USU translates to about 1,000 more enrolled than last year. In the past, merit-based scholarships have automatically been awarded to students as they were admitted to USU. If they met certain requirements, they were sent an award letter. This year, however, there was a priority scholarship deadline of Dec. 1, 2009, and a final scholarship deadline of Feb. 1, 2010. Putnam said more people applied by the December deadline than had applied by February the previous year, so no merit-based scholarships have been awarded
so far to anyone who applied between Dec. 1 and Feb. 1. For the first time, a waiting list was implemented and grew to 170 students within 10 days, Putnam said. After the May 1 deadline to accept admittance to USU, any scholarships not used will be given to those on the waiting list. Putnam said the numbers “shed light on the importance of education.” The old adage, “When all else fails, go back to school,” is still a prevalent attitude in this country, Putnam said, so the economic situation has prompted many to not only seek out additional schooling but to seek alternative ways of funding it. “If we had money to give everyone, we would, because we love all our students,” she said.
- See MONEY, page 3
Dean Carol Strong to retire after 37 years at USU “We have great faculty who attract great students,” she said. USU community members have high thoughts of Strong, too. USU President Stan Albrecht said, “Dr. Strong has been a respected voice among faculty and administrators for many years After 37 years of working at USU, Carol Strong, dean of the now. She is equally well-loved and respected by all of the students Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services in her college. She has always been deeply passionate about her (CEHS), is retiring. role as mentor and teacher to many students, even as one of our Strong graduated from USU in 1971, with senior administrators. She knows their trials a bachelor’s degree in speech-language patholand triumphs.” ogy. She then went to the University of Illinois Erik Wynn, CEHS senator, said, “She is equally to earn a master’s degree, before returning to “Dean Strong lives up well to her last name. well-loved and teach at USU in 1973. She is a strong leader who leads with author Strong taught in the department of comrespected by all of ity and respect.” municative disorders and deaf education. the students in her Strong has big plans for her retireAfter a few years, she became the supervisor ment. Strong and her husband, Bill, who college.” in the COMD clinic on campus. retired earlier this year, plan to travel around Strong said she got into teaching because and be with family. Her mother lives in she loves working with people. Another reason – Stan Albrecht, Portland, Ore. and she wants to spend more was the schedule of a teacher. USU president time with her. “I had little kids at the time,” she said, “so “I’m lucky to still have my mother having summers off was very appealing.” with me,” she said, “so I want to take advan Thirty-seven years later, she said she still tage of it while I can.” loves it. Strong said her family will continue to live in Logan. Strong has been the dean of the college since 2004. “There is so much to take advantage of here,” she said. “We have a wonderful college,” she said. “We are consistently “Between the cultural events, athletics and the beauty of the valin the top 2 percent of nearly 1,200 education programs around ley, this is just a wonderful environment.” the country.” In her time at USU, she has received many awards. Last fall, Strong also praised the faculty. she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from By MEGAN ALLEN staff writer
Inside This Issue
4/12/10 Borel and Smith shine as the football team suits up for its first public scrimmage for the spring. Page 8
Program to teach student athletes study skills as well as how to organize. Page 5
the Northern Utah Curriculum Consortium. In 1998, she received USU’s Professor of the Year Award. In 2000, she received the College of Education Researcher of the Year Award, and in 2001 she was named a Trustee Professor of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, USU’s highest academic honor. “This past year was an awesome one, being able to work with her and learn from her example,” Wynn said. “In this year’s CEHS awards ceremony, there was a solemn feeling in the auditorium as we recognized the amazing dean that is retiring and the wonderful friend who is leaving.” Strong said, “It has been a real privilege and honor to serve this college.” As her parting words of wisdom to students, Strong said, “Stay in school and get CAROL STRONG done. It is an investment in your future and in your children’s future.” “To the new dean,” Wynn said, “you have a lot to live up to. Good luck!” – megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu
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