|
Leaves are changing color, temperatures are starting to drop, and pumpkins are showing up on front porches which means it must be financial aid season. This month our newsletter features helpful information about the Oregon Promise Grant and resources for supporting Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) completion and highlighting the recent changes to our website- www.OregonStudentAid.Gov.
Oregon Student Aid Website
A new look for OregonStudentAid.Gov
 If you visited the Office of Student Access and Completion’s (OSAC) website recently you may have noticed that it looks a little different and is now titled the Oregon Student Aid site. Over the summer staff made updates to www.OregonStudentAid.gov creating a more user-friendly resource for Oregonians to access financial aid and college and career information. While the address is the same, the new website name of Oregon Student Aid (OregonStudentAid.gov) gives audiences an easy-to-remember parallel with the FederalStudentAid.gov site that is the primary site for federal financial aid.
The new website was built to help visitors quickly find the information they are looking for. The website hosts information about OSAC administered grants- including grant descriptions and deadlines, information about the OSAC Scholarship- including resources and tools to help students apply, FAFSA/ORSAA information, career and college access resources from other offices of The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), and more. By accessing the Resources and Outreach section of the website visitors can order posters and brochures for free, request speakers to come to their organization to talk about college and career readiness or financial aid and see a list of upcoming webinars and training opportunities. The resources, tools, and tips from the ASPIRE website have migrated into the new OSAC website as well meaning that for the first time all of OSAC’s college and career readiness information is in one place.
The website features a new mobile friendly design which allows the site to be viewed on tablets, phones, and computers. Other changes to the site include increased compatibility with screen readers and other adaptive technology and the website can also be translated into ten different languages using Google translate.
With over 72 pages containing information on everything from apprenticeships to scholarships to webinars we hope visitors will find what they are looking for.
Oregon Promise Grant
Application is now open
The Oregon Promise Grant application is now open. This application is for students who will graduate between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
Because the application launch was delayed, there will be an automatic extension for high school students who will graduate between July 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022 to apply for Winter Cohort of Oregon Promise. The deadline will change from November 1, 2022 to November 15, 2022. Please email OregonPromise@hecc.oregon.gov with any questions or application assistance.
|
FAFSA/ORSAA Resources
FAFSA/ ORSAA opens October 1st
Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is the first step to access financial aid. Both the 2023-24 FAFSA and ORSAA opened on October 1, 2022. The FAFSA/ORSAA is used to determine eligibility for financial aid opportunities including Oregon financial aid programs like the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise Grant, and many need-based OSAC scholarships. Many colleges and universities also use the FAFSA or ORSAA to determine eligibility for financial aid opportunities.
- The FAFSA is required for all federal financial aid opportunities including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study
- The ORSAA is required for undocumented, DACA, and TPS students in Oregon to be considered for state grants and scholarships. OSAC administers the ORSAA application -- please contact ORSAAHelp@hecc.oregon.gov with any questions or account/application assistance needs
- Students are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1 each year for the best chance at qualifying for financial aid
If students are not sure if they need to submit the FAFSA or ORSAA, OSAC has a great FAFSA/ORSAA Filter Tool to help students determine which application they are eligible to complete. Please have students contact PublicPrograms@hecc.oregon.gov if they have questions.
Individuals who need help completing a FAFSA/ORSAA are encouraged to attend a College Goal Oregon event. College Goal Oregon are free events to help college-bound students and their families complete their FAFSA or ORSAA. College Goal Oregon events are open to high school seniors, college students, and adults interested in college. Find an event near you.
|
PARTNER NEWS:
Student Loan Help for Oregonians
Interested in student loan relief? Having issues with your student loan servicer? Go to the Student Loan Help for Oregonians web page here. Oregon now has a Student Loan Ombuds located in the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Oregon's Student Loan Ombuds can help borrowers resolve disputes with their loan servicer and make sure loan servicers are in compliance with the law. The Student Loan Help web page also includes links to recent news and resources related to student loan forgiveness.
-
Deadline for Expanded Loan Forgiveness Opportunity That May Help Government and Nonprofit Employees is October 31, 2022: Are you a public, tribal government, or non-profit employee with student loans? The deadline is coming up soon to apply for a temporary expansion of a student loan forgiveness program meant to help borrowers who work in the public and nonprofit sectors. The deadline for this time-limited opportunity, which is part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), is October 31, 2022. Read more in the recent article here.
-
Sign up for Information on One-time Federal Student Loan Relief: In August, 2022, the Biden administration announced one-time student loan relief of up to $20,000 for some borrowers. Get details about one-time student loan relief on the Federal Student Aid website here. To be notified when the process has officially opened, sign up at the Department of Education subscription page here. The Federal Student Aid site notes that individuals will have until December 31, 2023 to apply.
|
|
