DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> STUDENTS APPLYING FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ARE ABOUT TO ENTER UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID OR FAFSA FORM IS UNDERGOING ITS FIRST MAJOR OVERHAUL SINCE THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THE NEW STREAMLINED FORM WILL ALLOW MORE THAN 600,000 NEW STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RECEIVE PELL GRANTS.

IT ALSO SAYS 1.5 MILLION MORE STUDENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MAXIMUM PELL GRANT IN ILLINOIS.

THAT WOULD MEAN NEARLY 22,000 NEW PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS AND ALMOST 53,000 MORE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR THE MAXIMUM.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THESE CHANGES ARE RICH HAYS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO AND MAKE A BATES MANAGING DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE ACCESS CHICAGO START SCHOLARS WHICH SUPPORT STUDENTS AS THEY APPLY FOR AND ENTER COLLEGE PREPARE FOR FUTURE CAREERS.

THANKS YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO OF COURSE, WE JUST HEARD WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS WILL BE THE BENEFITS AND THE IMPACT OF THESE CHANGES, PARTICULARLY WITH PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS.

BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY CHANGES BEYOND SIMPLY SIMPLIFYING THE FACTS OF BACKS UP, WHICH IS HARD FOR EVERYONE TO THAT APPLICATION ITSELF.

RICH, LET'S START WITH YOU, SOME OF THE KEY CHANGES THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

FIRST, A CHANGE IN FCS.

HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TO FAMILY COURT EXPECTED INTERVIEW SHUN THE CHANGING IT TO SAI WHICH TODAY INDEX.

>> AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THEY CAN EXPAND THE NET OF STUDENTS THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PELL GRANTS AND FEDERAL AID ALTOGETHER.

SO ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES IN DOING SO.

THAT MEANS THAT THE CHANGE UP THE WHOLE METHODOLOGY OF HOW THEY CALCULATE THAT NUMBER.

AND SO THIS NEW APPLICATION IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE WAY LESS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS NOW, THAT'S WHAT A MORTGAGE APPLICATION THE SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN TO.

46 WITH DYNAMIC, WHICH MEANS THAT BASED ON HOW THE STUDENT RESPOND SUPPOSED TO BE A LOT QUICKER TO GET THROUGH THAT MODIFICATION.

MAKE US IN QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU NOTICE?

FOR US.

IT'S THE DATE SO USED OCTOBER.

1ST.

>> WE HAVE AN ENTIRE CURRICULUM THAT IS DESIGNED AROUND THAT DATE.

THEREFORE, OF COURSE, THAT WAS OUR FIRST SHIFT.

WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY.

WE THINK OUR CURRICULUM SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE THAT DATE CHANGES IT.

TYPICALLY STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS THE FACTS, BUT IMPLICATION ON OCTOBER.

1ST DEPARTMENT OF IT IS SAYING THAT IT WILL BE READY NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31ST, WHICH IS A FULL 2 MONTHS LATER.

YES, IT'S NEW YEAR'S EVE AND K WE COULD GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WHAT KIND OF ANXIETY OR STUDENTS AND WHAT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IS THAT DELAY GOING TO HAVE ON THE STUDENTS THAT YOU WORK WITH?

>> OH, WELL, WERE NOTIFIED EARLY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS A HEADS UP.

SO I THINK THE FACT THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE IMPACTED BY THIS IS HELPFUL WAY.

IT'S LIKE THEY'RE NOT IN THIS THEY KNOW EVERYONE IS WAITING.

AND I THINK FOR STUDENTS AS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT THEY GOT IN THIS WITH THOSE I THINK.

>> FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ABOUT THE UNKNOWN.

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FORM IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE KEEP SAYING IT IS COMING ON OUR RIGHT?

>> IT'S STUDENTS, OUR HIGH-PERFORMING.

THEY'RE ENGAGED.

IT'S OF COURSE THEY ARE.

THIS IS TOP OF FOR THEY'RE EXCITED.

IMPORTANT TO THEM.

OF RICH, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR OFFICE AND THE STUDENTS WE WORK WITH?

WE HAVE HIGH STRAIGHT ACROSS THE NATION HAVE HIGH ANXIETY WE JUST THROUGH FEDERAL SOON.

A CONFERENCE AND WE DIDN'T GET MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US IS BECAUSE ANY TIME A NEW YEAR COMES IN.

>> WE HAVE TO TEST TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WORKING PROPERLY TO MAKE SURE STU PACKAGE WITH THE RIGHT THAT MEANS THAT OUR WINDOW TO TEST IS NOW SHRUNK TO A VERY SMALL WINDOW AND THEN ALSO MEANS THAT AWARD LETTERS, FINANCIALLY NOTIFICATIONS IS GOING TO GO OUT A LOT LATER.

THEN THEY SHOULD.

SO WE PLAN OUR ENTIRE YEAR BASED ON WHAT WE PUT OUT OUR NOTIFICATIONS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.

SO NOW STUDENTS THAT COME AND SEE US, WE HAVE TO MOVE, DO TAKES UP AND WE HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THOSE FINANCIALLY NOTIFICATIONS A WHOLE LOT LATER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE AWARD LETTERS A LITTLE BIT.

THEY DEBATE.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THOSE BUT ONCE THE STUDENT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTED, FAMILY CONTRIBUTION OR NOW THEIR STUDENT AID INDEX, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, WHAT THAT IS.

>> THAT HELPS SCHOOLS DETERMINE HOW MUCH STUDENTS ARE MAYBE PLANS AROUND EXACTLY.

THAT COULD BE THAT COULD BE A YES OR NO.

DEPENDING WHO GETS THE FEDERAL A NOTIFICATION OUT.

FIRST, BY WHAT I WILL TELL STUDENTS IS TO BE PATIENT BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET CERTAIN CERTAIN JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING A LATE NOTIFICATION.

IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU WANT TO PICK THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOU, BUT THAT'S EVERY SCHOOL IS AFFECTED WITH THIS DEADLINE THAT'S COMING OUT.

BUT THOSE FINANCIALLY NOTIFICATIONS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE NOW THEY EVEN FOR GRADUATION IS A REQUIREMENT.

AND SO IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT PUSHES THE TIMELINE FOR SAY CPS STUDENTS AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL.

LOW INCOME STUDENTS WERE LOOKING AT AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO ARE GREATLY IMPACTED.

THAT GET A NOTIFICATION YOUR FIRST GEN STUDENTS.

YES YOU KNOW, UNDER THIS NEW SYSTEM TO MAKE A FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED WITH THE IRS.

WHAT IS WHAT'S THE CONCERN THERE?

THE CONCERN IS THAT WE OFTEN TIMES STRUGGLE WITH GETTING TAX DOCUMENTATION.

>> DOCUMENTATION FROM FIRST GENERATION, LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

THERE'S JUST A GENERAL CONCERN ABOUT HOW USING THIS INFORMATION.

WHERE IS IT GOING?

WE WORK WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

THEREFORE, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES ARE WITH, YOU KNOW, GETTING THAT INFORMATION IS.

SO I THINK THE AUTOMATIC UPLOAD IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE IN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS?

ARE THAT THE IMPACTS THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK STUDENTS?

I WOULD I KIND OF CONTINUAL WITH THAT.

THAT PERSPECTIVE OF HOW GETTING THE WORD LETTER LATER IMPACTS THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS, RIGHT.

SO WE KNOW THAT FROM OUR CURRICULUM PER PARTICULARLY WE AS SOON AS OUR STUDENTS FINISH THEIR APPLICATIONS, WE START WORKING ON SCHOLARSHIPS.

ALL OF THAT IS YOU KNOW, RICH MENTIONED IS BEING PUSHED BACK.

IT IS ALSO CAUSING OUR STUDENTS WILL PLATFORM OR SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.

SO THAT WILL ITS MORE RIGHT.

ALL OF THOSE ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO DECOMPRESS A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF LET IT GO.

EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT WE TYPICALLY ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO TO TURN THIS TIME IS, YOU KNOW, WE WE TAKE THAT TO A RIGOROUS ON SITE EXPERIENCE THAT MAYBE FEE AND OCTOBER.

AND SO THIS IS USUALLY.

>> THEY'RE KIND OK, WE DID THAT.

AND NOW WE'RE READY TO GO.

BUT BACK AND WAIT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WEALTH AT WERE RICH.

THE OTHER THING IS EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN FSA OR FEDERAL STUDENT AID ID VERSUS USING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN THIS APPLICATION.

WHAT IMPACT YOU THINK THAT WILL HAVE?

SO THE FSA IDEA SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

BUT WHEN I CAME UP, THE SCHOOL HAD A PIN NUMBER AS A FOOT JAPAN WITH A WHOLE LOT EASIER, RIGHT.

BUT NOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS MUST HAVE FSA ID AS WELL.

>> AND NOW TO INTRODUCE A NEW TERM CALL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAST APPLICATION.

AND THAT MEANS THAT ANYBODY THAT HAS TO SUBMIT INFORMATION, THEY MUST HAVE FSA ID AS WELL.

SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS IT'S A BUTTON.

YOU CLICK WITHIN THE FASTBALL.

THIS IS THAT A PARENT DOESN'T HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AD, THEIR ADDRESS, BUT FOR UNDOCUMENTED PARENT STILL GOING TO MAKE THEM ALL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT GETTING IT DONE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING INFORMATION.

IT'S IT'S A SOME TYPE OF FEDERAL SYSTEM AND THEN FROM FTA STANDPOINT, WHAT YOU SAID, IT'S A REQUIREMENT.

IF THEY DECLINE, THEY HAVE TO EVERY CONTRIBUTOR HAS TO CONSENT ON THAT FAST.

BUT IF THEY DECLINED IT.

>> SAY THAT THEY'RE INELIGIBLE FINANCIALLY.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT BY HAVING EVERYONE ELSE SORT OF JOIN YOUR APPLICATION, YOU'RE THEN RELIANT ON OTHER FOLKS IN THE FAMILY.

>> EXACT TO GET IT DONE AND THEY MAY BE WORKING IT.

JUST LIKE A REASONABLE THEY LIKE A WORKFLOW NOW.

SO BEFORE THE STUDENT WOULD DO IT FOR BOTH, THERE MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED SALES.

THEY CAN JUST GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE APPLICATION.

NOW THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR SECTION.

THE COUNTRY HAS TO COME INTO THEIR SECTION AND BUT YOU CAN'T DO EACH OF THE SECTION.

SO NOW IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME TYPE OF DELAY FORCED TO DO TO ACTUALLY GET THAT DONE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEER WHO MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT.

WE'VE GOT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOU'RE GIVING STUDENTS RIGHT NOW.

DON'T FEEL THE CHANGE THERE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH THIS.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AROUND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, COLLEGES IN UNIVERSITIES.

SO I ADVICE IS JUST TO ASK FOR HELP.

DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO IT BY YOURSELF.

JUST BECAUSE YOU KEEP HEARING IT'S EASY.

EASY, EASY HERE.

TRUST IT'S GOOD.

THEY'RE GOING SO BE PATIENT FOLKS LIKE RICH ARE GOING TO BE LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

HIM AND