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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 1989)
Financial aid office clarifies maze of rules By Micki Halier Staff HapoiHt ■ Employees in the Office of Schol arships and Financial Aid can be stu dents’ best guide through the compli cated rules that govern financial aid. ‘ ‘We’ll do everything we possibly can to help them, within the rules and regulations,” said John Beacon, di rector of OS FA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “The federal regulations are very complicated,” Beacon said. ‘‘They’re very specific. We’re on the students’ side . . . but we’re also accountable to the auditors.” Changes in OSFA will make it easier for students to gel aid in 1989 90, Beacon said. Computer glitches that plagued last year’s awards have been corrected, he said, and physical revamping has made the office more inviting. “We want to become a paperless office as much as possible,” Beacon said. One thing OSFA has changed is its work-study program. Work-study students must look for jobs next fall instead of being matched to the work. “It’s going to make the students more likely to be happy in their work” because students will be more interested in a job they find on their own, Beacon said. During New Student Enrollment, Beacon will conduct sessions for parents about financial aid. The ses sions will explain how financial aid and OSFA works. "I see that as an opportunity to talk to parents," Beacon said. Financial aid is based on a stu dent’s need. The factors that deter mine need are student and parent income for the year prior to an aid request, student and parent assets, number in the household and number of family members in college. A student begins the financial aid process by completing a Financial Aid Form. Students can send the forms to the College Scholarship Service as early as Jan. 1. The priority deadline for CSS and UNL is March 1. Beacon said FAFs can be filed after March 1, but students miss 0{h portunities by filing later. Students still can get financial aid for next semester, even though they missed the priority deadline. But they probably will receive less aid than students who filed before the dead line. The major types of aid for UNL are the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, State Student Incentive Grant, Uni versity of Nebraska Award and Tui tion Waiver, College Work-Study Program, Perkins Loan and Stafford Loan. Supplemental loans for parents and students also are available. SEOG, SSIG, CWS and Perkins are all campus-based programs with limited funds, Beacon said. Students must file early to increase their chances of getting such aid, he said. After filing the FAF, the student will receive an acknowledgement. The student checks this for accuracy, then sends it back to College Scholar ship Service. The student will then receive the Student Aid Report. The student must 0 send the SAR to the financial aid office to receive any aid. The office then sends out award letters. OSFA has mailed 3,000 award letters this year, which is a month ahead of last year’s mailing, Beacon said. See OSFA on 12 Students relax and study in Nebraska Unions By Scott Cook Staff Reporter Finding a place to hang out can be a problem for students, whether they want to study, sleep or just relax and watch TV for a while. Although there is probably no place on campus that offers every thing a student needs, few places come closer than the Nebraska Un ions. The Unions offer a wide variety of services and conveniences that offi cials encourage students to use, said Daryl Swanson, director of Unions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Swanson said students come to the unions to eat, study, relax between classes and even to plan their respec tive careers. “The Career Planning and Place ment center down the hall is a big help to a lot of students who are looking for help with their careers,” he said. Aside from career planning, the Nebraska Union is a very diverse place that offers many conveniences, Swanson said. “I would say the bookstore is the biggest reason that students come in here (City Union),” Swanson said. Students also can use the copy center, mail services, watch TV, sleep on a couch and play pool or video games. The East Campus Union has sev eral lanes of bowling. 7 would say the bookstore is the biggest reason students come in here.’ -- Swanson Student government offices are located in the Nebraska Union. The office of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska is lo cated on first floor of the union. The Residence Hall Association office is on third floor. Swanson said food services are probably the second biggest attrac tion. . “We have the bakery, the Harvest Room and Burger King of course,” he said. Swanson said the Harvest Room’s business has not suffered since Bur ger King entered the Nebraska Union two years ago, as many people feared it would. Aside from the necessities of food and the convenience of services, stu dents may come to the Nebraska Union to take a study break, watch their favorite soap opera in front of the big-screen TVs upstairs and in the rec room downstairs. “There are pool tables and games that students can take advantage of, or they can relax in front of the TV between classes,” he said. Along with getting away from studying for a while, Swanson said students come to the Nebraska Union for the purpose of studying. “There are always a lot of stu dents studying in the Crib,” he said, referring to a large area adjacent to Burger King. Swanson said he encourages stu dents to take advantage of the serv ices that the unions offer. “That’s what we’re here for,” he said."' STUDENT LOANS IN THREE DAYS? TAKE A WALK! Take a walk to Havelock Bank at 14th and N street and you’ll find our handy Student Loan Center. No lines. No hassles. No long wait! If you need a great bank... Have at it! m ns Havelock Bank I 14th and N Streets - Downtown Lincoln 467-1161 l | MEMBER FDIC | Godfathers .. ,L”ge . Pizza. only $6.99 v Free Delivery I Ly Any Crust Available • Limited Areas No Coupon Necessary Offer Good Thru July 30,1989 12th and Q South 48th & Hwy. 2 N 48th & Vine 474-6000 483-4129 466-8264