Wednesday, 18 March, 2009
University staff working hard to retain students
With the economic recession in full swing and Drury's increase for both tuition and housing fees, students and their families may begin to feel the strain on their bank accounts. However, in an email sent out by enrollment management at Drury, Angie Geosling, the executive office assistant for enrollment management, expressed that the financial aid staff is working hard to retain current students who may find that finances next semester are an issue.
Students seeking extra help with regards to financial assistance in order to afford the rising cost of attendance are urged to make an appointment with Geosling or a financial aid advisor to discuss how best to address these difficulties. Extra funds can be dispersed based on need. With that, need is based on results derived from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is filed each year.
"When we package financial aid we look at the FAFSA, and based on the cost of attendance we subtract the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), the remaining number is a student's need," financial aid advisor, Donna Smith, said. "If the given aid is not meeting a student's need, then more money can sometimes be given."
According to Reva Brown, Drury's loan coordinator, when extra funds are unavailable the financial aid office will help to find a suitable student loan program. Students have several loan options to choose from, the federal loans which are based on FAFSA and alternative student loans that can be applied for through private lenders. However, due to the economy, a few lenders have withdrawn their student loan programs, but Brown assures students that there are still plenty of lenders still providing aid.
Returning students should receive their financial aid packages for review in June. This is the opportune time to schedule a specific meeting with a financial aid advisor; however, students are encouraged to meet with someone in financial id if there are any concerns about affordability. Admitted prospective students will be receiving their packages within the month in order to see if Drury will financially be a viable choice when looking for a school to attend.
This doesn't mean that current students should be worried about new students taking anything away from them," Assistant Director of Admission, Becky Roy, said. "If a prospective student is concerned about paying for Drury, we work hard to help them, but sometimes it just comes down to getting a loan." If students have questions or have concerns regarding financial assistance for the 2009-2010 year need to contact financial aid as soon as possible to set up an appointment. "Students just have to take the initiative to respond to the email and seek us out," Smith said. "Students will get whatever assistance we can provide."
Source: http://media.www.drurymirror.com/