With the FAFSA season underway, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) released presentations and screen shots of the 2020-2021 FAFSA website and mobile application as a reference tool for financial aid offices and counselors. Updates to the FAFSA can be reviewed in our earlier post, Department of Education Updates FAFSA and Mobile App for 2020-2021. In addition to the FAFSA presentations, sample versions of the Student Aid Report (SAR) and SAR Acknowledgment were provided in the beginning of October. This information can be used for training as well as at high school financial aid night presentations and FAFSA workshops.
In an effort to encourage students currently enrolled in college to complete the FAFSA earlier, the FSA will begin a FAFSA email campaign between now and late November. In January, students who are renewal eligible but still have not submitted a 2020–21 FAFSA form will receive another email reminder. This campaign should be in conjunction with the communication sent from an institution’s office. Students and parents who have downloaded the myFAFSA app will receive push notifications if they have enables notifications.
The FSA emails will share a variety of information, including when the FAFSA launches, why it is important to file early, reminders about state and institutional deadlines, tax information, and a push for the mobile myFAFSA app. The exact language is available below:
Sources:
IFAP Announcement: 2020–21 FAFSA® Email Campaign Launch
IFAP Announcement: 2020–21 fafsa.gov and myFAFSA Preview Presentations
IFAP Announcement: 2020–21 SAR and SAR Acknowledgement Mock-Ups