The FAFSA Simplification Act has resulted in the most significant change to how a student’s financial aid eligibility is determined since the implementation of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Congressional Research Service, 2022). Many of these changes become effective with the 2024-25 award year and include an overhaul of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For example, the FAFSA now has fewer questions and contributors (a student’s parent, a parent’s spouse, or a student’s spouse) who filed 2022 taxes will import their tax information into the application via a direct data exchange with the IRS (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.). In addition to the FAFSA updates, the U.S. Department of Education was required to overhaul the systems used to award federal student aid (n.d.). (a student’s parent, a parent’s spouse, or a student’s spouse) who filed 2022 taxes will import their tax information into the application via a direct data exchange with the IRS (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.). In addition to the FAFSA updates, the U.S. Department of Education was required to overhaul the systems used to award federal student aid (n.d.).
The rollout of the newly overhauled FAFSA and processing systems has been fraught with challenges and delays. For example, the FAFSA typically opens on Oct. 1. This year, the opening was pushed to the end of December. On Jan. 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education announced that schools would not begin receiving FAFSA files for processing until at least mid-March (U.S. Department of Education, 2024). Without access to application files, institutions are unable to confirm a student’s FAFSA submission status or generate aid offers.
As one can imagine, these delays have caused, and continue to cause, a significant amount of stress to students, their families and financial aid offices alike across the country. Within the CCSNH system, the Financial Aid Offices are diligently preparing to generate aid offer notifications in a timely manner once data becomes available. The RVCC Student Financial Services (SFS) Office encourages both current and prospective students to reach out with questions on the aid application process. The SFS Office is also open to working with families on submitting their 2024-25 FAFSA regardless of their student status. To reach the office, please send an email to [email protected] or call 603-542-7744 and select option 3.
Shannon Carroll
Director of Financial Aid
River Valley Community College
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