The Austin Chamber of Commerce, along with partners from the education and business community, announced today that the Financial Aid Federal Student Application (FAFSA) strategy for 2008 to help keep college affordable by improving access to available financial aid. Because FAFSA is so cumbersome and because college costs have been accelerating, there is a high correlation between completion of FAFSA and enrollment in post-secondary education, especially for low-income students.

“It is imperative that the business community support public and private education,” said Roger Mitchell, 2007 Chair of the Austin Chamber and President of Texas Gas Service. “The partnership between education, community and business leaders to close the gaps and increase college readiness will help the region for years to come.”

The purpose of the Financial Aid Saturdays is to assist students preparing to enroll in college this for fall semester 2008 in completing their FAFSA by March 31 or earlier. Many opportunities for free, professional assistance in FAFSA completion will be available in seven of the region’s school district in February and March. Unless a student completes the FAFSA, they are not eligible for the billions in available subsidized loans, work-study, and federal and state grants.

“Austin ISD has focused on FAFSA completion for last five years, thanks to Project Advance and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation,” said Austin ISD Superintendent Pat Forgione. “ Our goal is to increase Metro Austin's higher education enrollment from 67,000 in 2005 to 87,000 in 2010.”

There will be 19 joint Financial Aid Saturday events over 12 weeks with the following:

• Free tax filing assistance and free FAFSA completion assistance through Foundation Communities
• Austin Chamber phone bank calling high school seniors
• College Enrollment Managers at high schools additional services
• ACC College Connections assistance at high schools
• Project Advance assistance at high schools

Financial Aid Saturday partners include:
K12
Austin, Bastrop, Del Valle, Hays, Manor, Pflugerville, Round Rock
Higher Education
Austin Community College, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University-Round Rock, Texas A&M College Station, St. Edward’s University, Concordia University-Texas, University of Phoenix-Austin, Huston Tillotson, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Community
Austin Chamber of Commerce, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, Austin Partners in Education, Skillpoint Alliance, Austin Interfaith, Ready by 21 Coalition, College Forward, Foundation Communities, COSTEP, North Texas Higher Education Authority, Education Finance Partners, Princeton Review, Hispanic Scholarship Fund