Changes to financial aid process coming at ESCC

The Enterprise State Community College Financial Aid Office staff announces that ESCC is offering a free financial aid workshop to be held on the ESCC campus, February 28, 6pm – 8pm in the Lolley Gymnasium.  Students and parents are encouraged to attend.

“Students should apply for financial aid early, just as soon as their 2011 federal income tax returns are filed,” said Dr. Chip Quisenberry, Director of Financial Aid. “Changes to the application process this year could cause problems for students and parents, but if they’re prepared and apply early, we can help them through the Financial Aid application process with ease.”

Changes in the 2012-2013 verification process will require some ESCC students and parents to provide a tax transcript from the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  This document must be requested by the student or parent and delivered to the College.  In past years, families could provide a signed copy of their federal tax returns, but now the IRS transcript will be required. 

“There is, however, one way to avoid having to request a tax transcript,” continued Dr. Quisenberry. “Students can opt to pull data from their federal tax returns directly into the FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) when completing the application online.”

Students are required to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov. During this process, applicants are given the option to pull their income tax information from the IRS and insert it into the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Taking this option is highly desirable, as students then no longer face the daunting task of requesting a tax transcript from the IRS. Taking the online IRS option is secure and accurate, and helps students complete the application process more quickly.

“The biggest thing we want students and parents to realize is that they should file their tax returns right away. As soon as they have done that they can complete the FAFSA online. All of the financial data necessary for the application process can be pulled directly into the application,” said Dr. Quisenberry.

The financial aid workshop will educate families about the application process to apply for 2012-2013 and fill out a worksheet for the FAFSA. This will help students and parents feel prepared for the application process.

For more information, contact Nikki Hall in the ESCC Financial Aid Department at (334) 347-2623.

ESCC is located at 600 Plaza Drive in Enterprise, AL. Stay connected: escc.edu, facebook.com/weevils or on twitter, @EnterpriseState.