Financial Aid ‘College Goal Sunday’ programs are Feb. 17

To better familiarize families with the higher education financial aid process, as well as help them complete the federal financial aid application, Purdue University Calumet is hosting College Goal Sunday at 2 p.m., Feb. 17.

The program will be offered at two Purdue Calumet locations: The Calumet Conference Center at the far south end of the Hammond campus off 173rd Street, and the University’s Academic Learning Center in Merrillville (9900 Connecticut Dr.), some two miles south of U.S. Highway 30, just east of Broadway Avenue, north of 101st Street.

This 19th annual College Goal Sunday initiative is being held at locations statewide.

At the free, Purdue Calumet-hosted programs, University staff members will lead participants step by step in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

First-time financial aid applicants, as well as current year recipients must complete and submit the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state and institutional types of financial assistance awarded for the 2007-08 academic year. Completed FAFSA forms must be received by the federal processor on or before March 10. Twenty-first Century Scholars must complete a FAFSA to claim their Twenty-first Century Scholarship.

Nearly 69 percent of Purdue Calumet students received more than $39 million in financial assistance during the 2006-07 academic year.

College Goal Sunday is for college entrants and students of all ages. The event targets low to middle income Indiana residents who:

• Could qualify for undergraduate admission to a college or technical school,
• Need financial assistance and
• Desire help filling out the FAFSA—copies of which will be provided at each College Goal Sunday site.

Students 23 or younger should attend with a parent(s) or guardian(s) and bring the family’s completed 2007 IRS 1040 tax return or a draft, W-2 statement(s) and any other 2007 income and benefits-related information.

Students 24 or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2007 IRS 1040 tax return/draft, W-2 statement(s) and any other 2007 income and benefits-related information.

Individuals may visit the College Goal Sunday web site at www.collegegoalsunday.org.

Additional, financial aid information may be obtained from Purdue Calumet by visiting the university’s financial aid web site at www.calumet.purdue.edu/finaid; e-mailing the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@calumet.purdue.edu; phoning the office at 219/989-2301 or 1-800/HI-PURDUE, ext. 2301 (toll free); or by visiting the office in the Enrollment Services Center on the first floor of Lawshe Hall.

College Goal Sunday is a cooperative effort of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA). The program is provided in cooperation with the Learn More Resource Center, the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana and the Twenty-first Century Scholars Program. College Goal Sunday is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., Lumina Foundation for Education and USA Funds.

News Release Date: February 11, 2008