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A&M to provide aid to counter tuition increase
Officials say they're working to meet the demand of students receiving loans, scholarships and grants
By: Kristin Leveille
Issue date: 7/11/07 Section: News
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Delisa Falks, acting director for the student financial aid office, said the financial aid department dispenses $420 million in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans every year. Federal and student loans make up the highest percentage of aid, with two out of every five students using loans.
"With the tuition increase we have been getting mandated funds to help students financially," Falks said. "Over the past couple of years we have also seen an increase in the number of scholarships and grants."
Seventy-nine percent of students enrolled in the University receive some kind of financial aid assistance, two out of five students have scholarships, and one out of four receive grant money, Falks said.
Falks said she has seen an increase in stipends for the Federal Pell Grant and the TEXAS Grant, both of which are need-based grants with eligibility determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Debra Robertson, associate director at the Department of Student Financial Aid, said that there has been an increase for the TEXAS grant program.
All students who wish to receive any type of financial aid through the University must fill out the FAFSA form. Falks said this helps the financial aid office determine a student's eligibility for a loan, scholarship or grant.
Robertson said she encourages students to fill out the FAFSA because they may not realize they could qualify for financial aid.
"All the questions on the FAFSA - income, personal assets, what state you live in and more all play into a formula in order to receive financial aid," Robertson said.
In 2003, tuition deregulation went into effect after Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 3015, which allowed the governing boards at Texas universities to set tuition rates. Included in the bill was a mandate for universities to set aside a designated amount of money from resident undergraduate and graduate student tuition.
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