University Offers Free Electronic Financial Aid Processing Mar. 19

The Texas A&M International University Office of Financial Aid, in cooperation with the Council for South Texas Economic Progress and NETmobile, will offer a free service Wednesday, March 19 which will allow students to have their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) processed and transmitted electronically.

Students who have not submitted their FAFSA and will attend A&M International or any other college or university in 1996-97 may schedule an appointment to use the FAFSA Electronic Transmissions service by calling the University's Office of Financial Aid at 326-2225.

Students who wish to apply for federal or state subsidized financial aid programs must submit a FAFSA to the Federal Central Processor.

The FAFSA Electronic Transmissions process automatically edits applicant data before transmitting, resulting in better data and fewer application rejections by the Central Processor. The process also reduces the six to eight weeks waiting period by about two weeks.

To use the FAFSA Electronic Transmissions service, a student must provide a copy of their completed Federal Student Aid application or provide all the information required for completing the Federal Student Aid application. Federal Student Aid applications are available at the A&M International Office of Financial Aid located in Canseco Hall Room 302.

Araceli S. Rangel, Director of Financial Aid at A&M International, said students who do not complete their FAFSA applications prior to using the FAFSA Electronic Transmissions service should bring their 1996 tax returns or their parents' tax returns with them since the information on the returns is required for processing.

"It is very important that students have all of the required information with them because the FAFSA cannot be transmitted if data is missing. Any termination of data entry terminates the whole process and deletes the record," she explained.

After transmission of the FAFSA, students will be provided with a pre-addressed envelope for a signature page which must be signed and mailed directly to the Central Processor. Students should receive their Student Aid Report (SAR) in about two weeks.

For more information on the free FAFSA Electronic Transmissions service available at A&M International March 19, call the University's Office of Financial Aid at 326 2225. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday and 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Additional information on the University may also be secured by email at enroll@tamiu.edu or by visiting TAMIU's Home Page, http://www.tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu