Northeast Tennessee students who need information on how to obtain financial aid for college can find that information, along with practical, hands-on help, for free at Tusculum College this Sunday, Feb. 10, whether they plan to attend Tusculum or some other college or university.
Tusculum College is again welcoming Northeast Tennessee students and prospective students to College Goal Sunday for free, on-site professional assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA completion is a prerequisite to receiving financial aid at any college or university. Financial aid professionals will also be present to talk about financial aid resources and how to apply for them.
The event at Tusculum College will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the computer lab located in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the campus. That building stands on the corner of Shiloh Road and the Erwin Highway in the town of Tusculum.
College Goal Sunday is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Tennessee families applying for financial assistance for higher education. College Goal Sunday mobilizes financial aid professionals from Tennessee colleges, universities, career colleges, and technology centers to help families of college-bound students complete the FAFSA, the federally required form for students seeking financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, throughout the nation.
Tennessee’s College Goal Sunday Programs will take place on Febuary 10, 2008 at 2 p.m. at locations around the state, including Tusculum College.
Students and families in low-income and minority communities who need help applying for financial aid to attend college should not miss College Goal Sunday. All students and their families are encouraged to attend.
This one-day event will help families of college-bound students take the first step in applying for college by going through a two-hour moderated session that leads to a completed financial aid form for the student, ready to file electronically on-line.
Students and their parents should bring:
- completed 2007 IRS 1040 tax returns
- W-2 statements and other 2007 income and benefits information
- current bank statements
- untaxed income records for the previous year (Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records)
- driver’s license (if any)
- alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen).
This information is helpful to complete the FAFSA. Those lacking some of the above items and information may still attend and benefit from College Goal Sunday, however.
Anyone interested in learning more about College Goal Sunday may call 800-342-1663 or email CollegeGoal.SundayInfo@state.tn.us. Web information is available at http://www.collegegoalsundaytn.org.
Students are asked to register using the online Student Registration form accessible at the web site listed above.
Those in the Northeast Tennessee area may also contact Tusculum College Admission Counselor Stephen Thompson at sthompson@tusculum.edu for more information. Students and families who need additional assistance in completing the FAFSA or who are looking for more resources on financial aid may visit www.collegepaystn.com or contact the Financial Aid office at any college, university, career college, or technical school.
Even those who are unsure whether they plan to attend college are encouraged to participate in College Goal Sunday. By filling out the FAFSA no obligation to attend college is created; however, by completing the FAFSA form critical deadlines will not be missed if the student decides to apply to college later in the year.
College Goal Sunday is supported and administered by a joint partnership between the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and volunteers comprised of members of the Tennessee Association of Financial Aid Administrator, as well as members of Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Tennessee Association of Special Programs-TRIO.
Funding for this program comes from Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation that strives to expand access and success in education beyond high school.