The Money Maze

Finding money for college is always a challenge. The Money Maze - College Financial Aid page is designed to address the major issues facing students and parents as they pursue all types of financial aid programs. Regular updates to this page will address topics of interest at specific times during the school year.

STUDENT AID ACCOUNTS ONLINE

A program to allow students to monitor and control their federal financial-aid accounts over the Web is entering a pilot period. Announced by Vice President Gore, 'Access America for Students' is a new program to be offered as a pilot at a minimum of five colleges in 1999. Thirteen colleges from across the country have been invited to participate, including Washington State's Bellevue Community College.

'Access America for Students' will provide participating students with an account on the Web. Students can apply for aid and be alerted electronically regarding eligibility. A debit card would be issued to the student to access their account to allow for payment of academic and room and board expenses. In addition, students could use their accounts to choose courses, buy books, file tax returns, and learn about jobs and internships.

This new program ties to an earlier effort called 'Easy Access for Students and Institutions' (EASI) that has combined all federal aid programs into one computer database and provided an online version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Critics say that EASI has moved too slow and note that the FAFSA online still requires a signature page to be printed and mailed when the Internet is used to apply for federal aid. A means of allowing electronic signatures is now being designed.

The goal by Fall of 1999 is to have 50 colleges participating in 'Access America for Students.' According to Vice President Gore, this is an initial step in creating "a new kind of government."

According to recent surveys, over 95 percent of high school and college age students are using the Internet on a regular basis through home, school or work. 18-24 year old individuals lead the nation in use of the Internet.