Greater Demand for Financial Aid and Scholarships at WSU

Cassidy Gardner

With the current economic downturn more Washington State University students are applying for scholarships and financial aid than in previous years.

WSU Scholarship Services are accepting scholarship applications until Jan. 31, but they are already experiencing an increase of 10 percent in scholarship applications compared to last year.

Patty Winder, the assistant director of WSU Scholarship Services, said there is a larger applicant pool this year, but the scholarship availability has not increased.

According to WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Services there has also been an increase in the number of received FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications.

In the 2008-2009 school year there were 2,255 more FAFSA applications received at WSU than the previous school year. This is approximately a 9 percent increase. FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year have just began to be filed.

Oscar Verduzco, client services coordinator of WSU Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Services, said he is anticipating an increase in FAFSA applications for the 2009-2010 school year because of the state of the economy.

He also said he is hopeful financial aid funding for the 2009-2010 school year will be at least equal to that of the 2008-2009 school year.

“In this economic downturn there have been changes made in financial aid. For instance, the Stafford Loan has been increased by $2,000. And due to the outcry of parents the PLUS loan repayment has been deferred to post graduation,” Verduzco said.

“The financial aid department may lose a counselor or two and we are going to be
moving publications on-line to reduce costs, but funding for students should be the same,” Verduzco said.

He went on to say, “Institutional grants are supported by tuition funds. So as long as tuition stays up those funds should be there.”

Rachel McElwee, a junior at WSU, said she is feeling heightened pressure to get extra scholarships and funding so she can return in the fall to complete her degree.

“Even though President Floyd said he doesn’t want these budget cuts to be put on the backs of students, I still feel a lot of pressure because this economic crisis impacts families like my own. Now all of a sudden I have to come up with extra money and this is the worst economy to do it in,” McElwee said.

Verduzco said he has observed an increase in worry and questions from students about financial aid.

University Budget Committee Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly said in an e-mail, “One thing is for sure, neither the president nor I want students to be impacted at all if we can avoid it, and if it is unavoidable, then we want the impact to be as minor as possible. Clearly this is a tall task, especially as the situation seems to grow bleaker each week.”


Sources:

Provost Warwick Bayly:
509-335-5581

Patty Winder:
509-335-1004

Oscar Verduzco:
509-335-9722


Rachel McElwee:
360-509-3890