UWM Chancellor Mark Mone joined leaders from the M3 (pronounced M-Cubed) partnership and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson to encourage high school students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during a Monday morning news conference at Washington High School. It’s a message that carries extra importance this year because of FAFSA changes at the national level.
FAFSA is the first step for students and their families to determine if they’re eligible for most state and federal financial aid. Universities use the information provided through FAFSA to help build financial aid packages for students.
This year, the Department of Education began using a new FAFSA form, one that’s significantly shorter and asks far fewer questions, which means students and families will spend less time completing it. However, there were delays at the national level in implementing the changes. Now that the form is available, students are encouraged to fill it out as soon as possible.
The new form better incorporates existing data, making it easier to fill out. And there’s more transparency about Pell Grant eligibility, so that students and their families can better understand the program.
M3 is a partnership among Milwaukee’s three largest public education institutions – Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and UWM – that’s dedicated to transforming the future of Milwaukee through education. MPS Superintendent Keith Posley, MATC President Vicki Martin and MPS alumna Kimora Jefferson joined Mone and Johnson to emphasize the important role FAFSA plays for prospective college students.
