TEXAS St. Edward’s University developed a workaround with the help of Human Capital Research Corporation, a finan- cial aid consultant, which created a website for students that functioned like the FAFSA. The form asked fami- lies to pull information straight from line items on their tax return for the most accurate financial information possible. Human Capital then cre- ated a preliminary offer for prospec- tive St. Edward’s University students who filed the FAFSA simulation. The preliminary offer looks just like the school’s regular offer, though the preliminary offer may change once the university receives complete data from the federal government. “It took students about 20 min- utes to complete. It’s been a really great way to serve families who have had technical glitches with the FAFSA and still cannot complete it,” said Tracy Manier, vice president for enroll- ment management at St. Edward’s. “The answers aren’t instantaneous, but it gives us some insight into stu- dent behavior and their engagement with the university.” In time, all students will receive an official, stated offer, said Manier, who added that the drop in FAFSA-filers It’s just a frustrating process for everyone to know that this was three-plus years in the planning, and this was the best thing we could come up with. Mike Campanelli School Counselor Urban Assembly Green Careers High School (NY)
across the country — 40 percent fewer students — is staggering to her. OREGON Jon Boeckenstadt, vice provost for enrollment management at Oregon State University, lives by a simple motto: “You’ll never go wrong when you keep students and parents first.” Boeckenstadt’s team emails every applicant and parent, and he answers some families himself. He and his team have relied on traditional and social media, the Department of Education website, and almost daily discussions with the university’s director of financial aid to stay on top of what’s happening with the FAFSA. Boeckenstadt acknowledges that there are changes and challenges in every admission cycle but said his team has had to roll with the punches more than usual this year — just like everyone else. “We’ve always had the FAFSA deadline at the end of February; we moved that to March. We always had a deadline of May 1 for tuition depos- its, and we have moved that to June 1,” Boeckenstadt said. The institution made changes to its orientation days, too. Students ENROLLMENT DEADLINES DIRECTORY Due to FAFSA delays, some colleges and universities changed their enrollment deadlines and financial aid priority dates for students planning to enroll in the fall of 2024. To help school counselors and students,
attend private schools and most rely on financial aid to foot the bill. He applauds colleges that have pushed back their deadlines and hopes they will remain flexible over the next phase. “These are the kinds of partner- ships we all need as a gesture of compassion and understanding in the face of so much uncertainty,” O’Hara said. Looking ahead, he can’t tell if it’ll be any better for the class of 2025. He’s looking forward to announce- ments over the summer about when the FAFSA will be ready to launch in October. However, he wonders what’s going to move the needle. “Is it communication from school counselors? Petitions out there reach- ing out to congressmen? Maybe we need to write to members of Congress to make this a high, high priority, to make sure it’s ready in advance of Oct. 1. Grassroots efforts may move the needle a little bit,” he said. There is one silver lining: “When my student and I sat down and did the FAFSA profile together, I found the FAFSA actually really easy to complete, if we’re looking for any upside to this,” O’Hara said.
NACAC created a public directory of fall 2024 enrollment commitment deadlines submitted by nearly 500 member institutions.
SPRING 2024 • 23
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator