“New” means change but that should deter students and their parents from seeking financial assistance for college education.

What’s new is what the Federal Student Aid Office touts as a simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA for graduating high school students and their families. The form is key to unlocking financial aid for college.

According to Stacy Crooks, Director of the College Planning Center and Community Engagement at the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority in Warwick, the FAFSA process that typically starts on October 1 was delayed this year due to the provisions of the FUTURE Act and the FAFSA Simplification Act.

College Planning Center personnel are gearing up for appointments beginning in January.

FAFSA is the gateway for accessing federal financial aid such as the Pell Grant work study and even Federal Direct Student Loans. As an example of possible aid, the maximum Pell Grant award for the current academic year was $7,395. Many colleges also use FAFSA information in the awarding of their own need-based aid, and completing the FAFSA is one of the requirements in order for students to receive free tuition at the Community College of RI.

"We estimate that every year Rhode Island students leave on the table millions of dollars in Pell Grants, simply because they did not complete the FAFSA," said Crooks. "Our job is to make sure that doesn't happen again this upcoming FAFSA season, and importantly, this is where the free services of RISLA’s College Planning Center (CPC) come in."

For 25 years, RISLA’s College Planning Center has helped students and parents at no cost with college selection, admissions, and the financial aid process. Last year, the Center helped approximately 4,000 students and families submit their FAFSA. According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) RI has the 13th highest FAFSA completion rate in the country, even ahead of Massachusetts. The College Planning Center continues to collaborate with other groups and municipalities to increase FAFSA completion, especially among underserved communities.

The College Planning Center and their counselors will be available starting in early January to help students and parents over the phone or in person at its new College Planning Center location at 1000 Chapel View Blvd, Suite 132 in Cranston. The CPC has retained and trained additional staff to assist Rhode Islanders during this condensed FAFSA season this year. Additionally, the CPC will offer extended hours during the season to help as many families as possible. New hours will be Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to  6 p.m.

To book an appointment online, please visit our website at www.collegeplanningcenter.org