Post on 27-Dec-2015
Lisa Blazer, PhDStudent Financial Aid
And Enrollment Services
Tuition and Fee CommitteeNovember 2009
Financial Aid AwardingFederal Awards
Grants – PELL, FSEOG, ACG, SMARTWork-StudyStudent Loans – Direct Loan ProgramParent Loans
State AwardsGrants – TEXAS Grant, Top 10%, SLEAP, LEAPWork-StudyCollege Access Loan – alternative
Institutional AwardsGrants – Set AsidesWork-Study – Set AsidesScholarships – Donor related and Set Asides
Institutional Financial Aid Awarding – Set AsidesStatutory Set-Asides
Texas Public Education GrantLimited pot of money to awardFirst-come, first-serve until funds are exhaustedLow to medium Expected Family Contributions
(Need-based)Typically awarded alongside federal and state
grantsUndergraduate Residents, Undergraduate Non-
Residents, Graduate Residents, Graduate Non-Residents
Institutional Financial Aid Awarding – Set AsidesDesignated Set- Asides
UTSA GrantNeed-basedFirst priority to students that are not receiving any
other grantsScholarships
Need-based (help for recruiting/admissions)Work-Study
Need-basedAdded several hundred positions during the summer
and increased total allocation and positions across campus $1.2 designated for 2009-10
Special Programs OfferedUTSAccess – tuition and fee guarantee for
students with loan income ($30K or less)Receiving grants/scholarships to cover tuition
and feesAdditional resources in collaboration with
Academic Affairs for tutoring, advisingWork-study awarded
Special Programs OfferedGraduation Incentive Grant – funds to
graduate on-timeWelcome Back Program – funds to return to
school and finishEducation Loan Forgiveness Program – 0%
interest loan that can be forgiven if working in high need, low income schools
Non-need based grant – middle income students – early applicants
Education and AccountabilityStudents
Education: We will continue to offer several different avenues for students to learn about the financial aid and enrollment services processes through – web, online forms, Facebook, Twitter, Chats, Outreach, Counseling, Correspondence
Accountability: As a result of the learning, students are accountable and responsible for ensuring paperwork is complete, deadlines are met, thus receiving better financial aid packages and getting paperwork completed on time
Education and AccountabilityStaff
Education: We continue to provide quality training to the staff that includes new regulations, policies, procedures, customer service, etc. so that they are knowledgeable
Accountability: We expect our staff to be accountable for the information that they have learned and to use it accordingly when working with students or when processing data and paperwork
Current Services Provided to StudentsEnrollment Services Call Center – 200,000 calls a
yearOpen 8:00-6:00 M-Th, 8:00-5:00 Fr, 1st Sat each
month 9-1Financial AidRegistrarAdmissionsFiscal Services (payments by phone and questions)
Enrollment Services Counters –Main 81,000 students served – DT 34,000 students servedOpen 8:00-6:00 M-Th, 8:00-5:00 FrFinancial AidRegistrarAdmissionsResponded to over 14,000 emails for financial aid and
registrar
Current Services Provided to StudentsFinancial Aid Processing
$180 Million in aid each year; 20,000 students receiving some form of aid
Compliance with federal and state regulations (constantly changing)
Special Circumstances for students experiencing hardship – loss of income, family situations, additional living costs, etc.
Current Services to StudentsBook/Cash Loans
Give out approximately 125-150 book loans at the beginning of each semester for $500 each
Mid-semester loans – students in extreme situations can borrow up to $500
Tuition and Fee Loans (Emergency Loans)Cover tuition and fees at the beginning of
semester90 Days to pay back (during given semester)Late financial aid applicants
Current Services to StudentsOutreach/Inreach
We have a team working with prospective and current students
Information to students about applying for aid, types of aid available, etc.
New InitiativesExpanding Outreach/Inreach
Financial Aid is on Facebook and TwitterResearching the possibility of chat roomsFall Financial Aid Round-up – focused on
specific type of FA applicationExpanding Financial Literacy
Students understanding consequences of additional loan borrowing – Special Circumstances and Cash Loans
Collaborating with Academic Affairs on several events and official Financial Literacy Plan
Default Prevention: additional contacts to students that are delinquent – beginning 2010
New InitiativesIntelliresponse
24/7 Frequently Asked Question ServiceKnowledge-based softwareFinancial Aid, Registrar and Fiscal ServicesShould be up and running before the end of
2009