Last-minute applications and financial aid heroics
An Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter called me for assistance in identifying students and parents for a story about “drop offs” - students brought to campus to register just before fall semester begins without securing housing, financial aid, or taking any of the necessary steps to begin school on the right foot. For a moment, I wanted no part of this assignment, but as I honed in on the premise, I saw an opportunity to tell the real story behind what HBCUs like FVSU do to usher students into college.
FVSU meets a need that major institutions don’t – one that they don’t have patience to deliver: personal, individualized service to first-generation college students trying to navigate the maze of the financial aid process, most times without the help of parents. This week I’ve seen the patience and true character of the financial aid staff and FVSU family as they walked students from one office to the next, helping them complete FAFSA forms and loan applications.
I talked to freshman Sekema Tannahill, who shared her story. Admittedly she missed the deadlines for filing paperwork and arrived on campus a week before the start of school. Her mother walked the student through the process the first semester but refused to do it the second time around, after she didn’t make acceptable grades.
For every student who dragged his or her feet in submitting verification forms, FAFSAs and the required tax documents from parents, others filed on time. However in some cases, parents didn’t qualify for loans or couldn’t pick up the slack where financial aid left off. Anticipating the money gap, FVSU’s Office of External Affairs, directed by the president, mailed 12,000 letters to alumni asking for donations to help students pay tuition, living expenses and books.
I received a call from a parent trying to reach the financial aid office. Four people live in the household on a meager sum. The mother was making sure she signed all the paperwork to get financial aid for her son, who is now on campus. Attending college is his one-way ticket out of the cycle of poverty.
Scholarship funds from community groups and alumni are trickling in. Flint Energies Foundation gave $5,000. The Peach County Development Authority wrote a check for $8,000. Zellner’s Chapel, a small, under-50-member church located across from the campus’s main entrance donated $24,000 to help students like this.
From showing students how to properly fill out forms and offering advice about classes to digging, scratching, fighting and finagling for scholarship funds, I am amazed at the miracles worked every day on this campus to get students into school. I have a renewed appreciation for FVSU as it seeks to fulfill its mission.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution decided not to go ahead with the story. Even so, I’m glad the reporter asked for my help. I got the chance to step away from the hustle and bustle of my office to witness firsthand the nurturing work that occurs in Wildcat Country. Not every student our counselors reach out to help can cut it in college, but for every one who does, God bless ‘em - the effort is well worth it.
Vickie Oldham is Director of Marketing & Communications at Fort Valley State University.
Posted: August 26th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Tags: Vickie Oldham
Comments
Comment from sha
Time August 28, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Honestly, i can’t agree that FVSU is doing their best. When i call all lines are busy, i have to wait in a long line to get anything accomplished. Point is i am a paying customer just like anyone else and I Don’t feel like i should be pushed aside to accommodate freshman and there is no way my position on that will change. If it hadn’t been so late i would transfer out.
Comment from Misty
Time August 28, 2008 at 4:05 pm
You’re right about the lines being busy. We’ll be upgrading the calling system before the crunch for next semester. Sorry about any inconvenience.
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u must upgrading the calling system before the crunch for next semester.
i wait another post.
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Time August 12, 2010 at 2:28 pm
My daughter has been trying to work with the financial support for a couple of weeks and we’re in financial straits. I have two daughters at FVSU and without any extra help I do not know how my daughter is going to be. She has received work study before, but was told it had to be put on the waiting list because most of the seats were occupied by freshmen.
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Time August 17, 2010 at 1:43 am
or a couple of weeks and we’re in financial straits. I have two daughters at FVSU and without any extra help I do not know how my daughter is going to be.
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Time August 25, 2010 at 10:12 am
Frankly I do not agree that FVSU is doing their best. When I call all lines are busy, I have to wait in a long line to get something done. The point is that I am a paying customer like everyone else and I do not feel I should be set aside to accommodate freshmen and there is no way my position will change. If it were not so late I would transfer out. I heard you would be doing at least 10 concerts throughout the year. Why there are only so few here? Aren’t the dates been confirmed yet?
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Comment from Anonymous
Time August 27, 2008 at 8:41 am
My daughter has been trying to work with financial aid for a couple of weeks and we too are financially strapped. I have two daughters at FVSU and without some form of additional aid I just don’t know how my daughter is going to stay. She has received work study previously but was told she had to be put on a waiting list because most of the positions were filled by freshmen. There were other loans offered to her and we accepted them but now all of a sudden the offer was rescinded. I do believe FVSU is doing the very best it can but there are still students that are slipping through the cracks and/or pushed aside. I myself never attended college. I have two kids who are proud to be attending FVSU but are feeling kinda let down.