Legislative Column for Aug. 2, 2013
Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
With the month of August here, families are getting ready to send their children back to school and are beginning their preparations for the new academic year. As a parent, I know the adults are probably more eager for the school year than their children, as they enjoy the last weeks of their summer vacations. For some of our older children — now young adults — they are entering their final year of high school and are starting to prepare to enter college or other higher learning institutions. This is a big step in life for our kids; their higher learning years will help shape their goals and dreams for their future and will help them attain the skills they need for their upcoming careers.

As our loved ones prepare for the next chapter in their lives, many will be faced with the hard reality that higher learning can be expensive. For young people who are transitioning into adulthood, seeing those dollar signs for their education can be very intimidating. To provide some help, Missouri offers its Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. This program can help make higher learning more attainable for those seeking an education. This legislative column is geared toward Missouri high school seniors and their families, as they prepare for their college years ahead.

The Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program is a needs-based program designed to increase access to a student’s schools of choice. Financial eligibility is determined by a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will need to have a FAFSA on file to be considered for assistance, which is due by April 1 of each year. Among other requirements, you need to be an undergraduate student enrolled full time at a participating Missouri school and have an EFC of $12,000 or less. I’d like to point out that your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will obtain. It is a number used by your institution to determine the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive. The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) notes that there is no paper Access Missouri application to fill out — MDHE retrieves FAFSA records for Missouri residents directly from the federal government.

Award amounts are based on your EFC and the type of institution you are attending when you receive the award. The MDHE doesn’t provide notice to students of eligibility; you will need to contact your school or the MDHE for your eligibility status. You will, however, be notified if you provided conflicting information on your FAFSA. The institution you attend will certify your eligibility each semester. If the school determines you are eligible, the MDHE will distribute your award within three to five business days of the certification.

To the soon-to-be high school seniors in our community, I hope you enjoy this last year and cherish the memories you will make. This is the time to think about your future and what you might like to do for a career. Don’t stress too much, as goals and dreams can change for many, but start coming up with ideas for your future profession and tour some colleges or other higher learning institutions in our state. Missouri has many great options for higher learning, which will help put you on a path to a successful and rewarding career.

If you’d like more information about the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, visit dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php. You can also learn more about higher education resources by visiting the MDHE website at dhe.mo.gov.