2017 College Goal Sunday on February 12 at IUPUC

by Belinda Allen
January 25, 2017

As part of College Goal Sunday, a national outreach program, the financial aid staff from Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) is hosting an event on Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m. at the Columbus Learning Center. The established program assists, without fee, college-bound students in completing and filing their 2017-18 application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

“College Goal Sunday is an event for high school seniors and other Indiana students who qualify for admission to a college or technical school and need financial aid. In addition to the IUPUC volunteers from Ivy Tech and Harrison College will walk students and their parents through the financial aid process,” shared Jennifer Chandler, the director of scholarships at IUPUC.

Chandler explains, “Students often include those who are first-generation college students and students living in single-parent families. Within the state of Indiana, nearly half of all college students qualify for state aid.”

In addition to her responsibilities at IUPUC, Chandler is the College Goal Sunday site coordinator for Columbus. “Forty-one Indiana cities, including Bloomington, Evansville, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, South Bend, Richmond, and Vincennes host events. For the past 29 years, the College Goal Sunday event has been sponsored by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association,” said Chandler.

Eligibility for state aid requires applying students, or their parent(s) to complete all FAFSA forms accurately and submit by March 10, 2017. During the JUST for Juniors event, volunteers will work independently with students and families to ensure each section of the online form is properly completed and to answer any questions regarding financial aid options.

Students, 24 years of age or older may attend without parents. However, all students must bring the following list of items to the event:

  • Bring (or know) your social security number
  • Bring your FSA identification (FSA id) number required when submitting the forms. Students or their parents should apply online for an FSA id at www.FAFSA.gov before the event.
  • Bring parents and the family’s completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax returns
  • W-2 forms
  • Other 2015 income and benefits documents, required by state and federal financial aid regulations.
  • Students employed on a part-time or full-time basis in 2016, should bring their own tax return and W-2 forms.

The Indiana Student Financial Aid Association, of which Chandler is also a member, also operates a toll-free helpline during February’s Financial Aid Awareness Month. The helpline number is 800.992.2076. 

Chandler concludes, “If we can give students a better chance at completing a college degree, we are fulfilling our mission.”

For more information about financial aid and scholarships at IUPUC, please go to www.iupuc.edu/FinancialAidandScholarships or call 812.348.7231.