Aid programs exist at both the federal and state levels, and much work has been done over decades to ensure these programs work together. This has included streamlining state application processes to use the FAFSA form, with the intent of reducing application burden on students and encouraging a focus on need-based state aid programs. However, as FSA has undergone significant staffing cuts and reorganization, the durability of this alignment is in jeopardy. As state aid programs seek avenues to insulate themselves from volatility within ED, they will need strategies to maintain ease of student access.
Through this project, NCHEMS will uncover which aspects of federal aid processing form the backbone of state processes. NCHEMS will also convene state financial aid leaders to learn more about actions they are taking or considering, and to brainstorm innovative strategies to ensure predictability and consistency in state aid processing even amid uncertainty at the federal level.