FREDERICK, Md., June 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year more
than a thousand University of Houston
students who are not eligible for federal financial aid instead
apply for state and university assistance through the Texas
Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA). Filing for TASFA
has been a cumbersome process for both the student and the
university. A new tool, the Regent Access "eTASFA," will help
expedite financial aid awards for these students and improve
university efficiency in processing the applications.
Unlike the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA), applying for TASFA requires the student to download,
print, complete and submit an eight-page paper application, which
includes important information about family income and sensitive
documents such as tax returns. The UH Office of Scholarships and
Financial Aid then processes the application to determine how much
state aid the student is eligible to receive. It is a
time-consuming process that creates barriers for these
students—undocumented students and applicants covered by the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) federal policy.
State law, which requires universities to process all
applications, provides latitude to implement more efficient
processes.
The Regent Access "eTASFA" automates and streamlines the process
with an experience similar to that of the FAFSA. By offering
a robust online application, the University of
Houston will minimize the time and resources required to
process state financial aid applications for these students,
putting them one step closer to attaining higher education
degrees.
"Regent Education is proud to provide a financial aid automation
solution that eases the application and awarding processes for both
University of Houston students and the
institution. We are excited about the alignment of our
mission – to empower aspiring students and the institutions who
serve them – with the University of
Houston's vision," said Jim
Hermens, CEO of Regent Education.
Certain undocumented immigrants are eligible to pay in-state
tuition at Texas public colleges
and universities. In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill
1528, which codifies the eligibility of these students to apply for
state grants through TASFA.
"We strive to make the TASFA process as straightforward as
possible, but it still creates challenges for the students and
university," said Briget Jans,
Executive Director of Student Financial Aid at UH, who notes that
UH follows guidelines outlined by the state in processing the
applications. "Our mission is to offer a nationally-competitive
education to qualified students. This new tool helps us do
that."
The University of Houston will be
implementing the electronic TASFA for the 2019-2020 aid year.
About the University of
Houston
The University of Houston is a
Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized
with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate
education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing
world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry
partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one
of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the
country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and
Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than
46,000 students.
About Regent Education
Regent Education is a leading provider of SaaS solutions that
simplify the financial aid process for higher education
institutions offering traditional and nontraditional enrollment
models. Regent offers a suite of solutions encompassing the
automation of financial aid management, verification processes,
student financial planning and state financial aid application.
Regent's financial aid management solutions offer institutions an
unprecedented ability to automate the financial aid process to
increase efficiency, mitigate compliance risks, expand enrollment,
improve the student experience and enhance financial management and
financial aid lifecycle visibility. For more information, visit
www.regenteducation.com.
Contact
Regent Education
Diane Eves, Marketing Director
(301) 662-5592 or marketing@regenteducation.com
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SOURCE Regent Education