SCC says now is the time to apply for college financial aid, will host FAFSA event

Brad Vidmar, The Hawk Eye
·3 min read

Southeastern Community College will be offering assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Aid at it's FAFSA Ready Iowa event next month.

The event will take place at both the West Burlington and Keokuk campuses from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 9. The West Burlington event will be held in Room 192, 1500 West Agency Road, and the Keokuk event will be located in room 419, 335 Messenger Road.

The event is free and open to students of any age or income, regardless of which college they plan to attend. There is no need to pre-register. Attendees will be assisted throughout the afternoon and evening on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Staff members from the SCC Financial Aid Office, Educational Opportunity Center, and other college departments will be on-hand to guide students through the FAFSA process and answer questions about financial aid.

“Filing for financial aid can be intimidating for students of any age and their families,” Sheri Knipe, SCC's financial aid director, said in a statement. “We help people through the process so they know it is right the first time.”

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Knipe is encouraging anyone planning to attend college to file the forms as soon as they can.

“The event is a great way to complete the FAFSA in a timely manner without interruptions,” Knipe said. “Submitting it now gives students a better chance to receive more state and institutional aid.”

Knipe also recommends that students under age 24 attend with at least one parent or guardian.

“Most traditional college-age students are required to include parental information on their FAFSA, so it’s helpful if both the student and at least one parent can attend," she said.

To complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA, students and parents should each bring the following:

  • Social Security number, driver’s license number and date of birth;

  • 2021 federal and state tax returns, complete with all schedules and worksheets;

  • W-2 forms or other records of income earned in 2021;

  • Current bank statements and investment records;

  • Records of untaxed income received last year;

  • and an A-Number if not a U.S. citizen.

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A list of frequently asked questions, including a link to a complete list of required information and documents, can be found at https://www.icansucceed.org/financial-aid/financial-aid-process/fafsa.

Students and parents may register in advance for an FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA and make future changes. Visit https://studentaid.gov/help/create-fsa-id to create an FSA ID or retrieve a forgotten FSA ID.

Students who are unable to attend this event are encouraged to contact the Educational Opportunity Center located at SCC. Appointments are available year-round to provide assistance with filing the FAFSA.

For more information, call 319-208-5026.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: SCC helping with FAFSA applications for Iowans during Nov. 9 workshop