Of Interest?

D.

D. R. Biggs, MA AMLS

MeL & Library Outreach Coordinator

Library of Michigan/Michigan Department of Education

517-373-4466

From: Michigan Department of Treasury [mailto:MITreasury@govsubscriptions.michigan.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 2:35 PM
To: Biggs, Deb Renee (MDE) <BiggsD@michigan.gov>
Subject: MI Student Aid Newsletter - January Edition

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MI Student Aid Michigan Department of Treasury Student Financial Services Bureau www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid 1-888-4-GRANTS (888-447-2687) mistudentaid@michigan.gov Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid

Information on Financial Aid and College Access

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It's Time to File Your 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Hear what former All-Pro football player, Herman Moore has to say about the FAFSA!

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Filling out the FAFSA can be a straightforward and easy process. The FAFSA (fafsa.gov) will guide you through the application; click on the “Start A New FAFSA” button on the home page, and just follow the directions.

Here you will find tips to help you along the way!

*Source:  Federal Student Aid

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High School Counselors, New MiSSG Web Portal!

Student Scholarships and Grants (SSG) has created a Web portal, MiSSG, for high school counselors.  In MiSSG, users will be able to view records for students currently attending their high school. 

Users with access can view who has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Also, in previous years, you received a roster of seniors who achieved the qualifying ACT score to be considered for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS).  With the new Web portal, users will have readily available information that will list each student’s name along with their ACT score.  Using the ACT Search Tool, Data Receiver Designees can view high school students at their school who took the ACT.  If a SSN was not reported, the Designee may update each students’ record and report their SSN.

Coming soon, users will also be able to view students eligible for the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) which will include the status of their TIP application.

For high school counselors to have access to MiSSG, their principal must complete a NEW Data Use Agreement and Data Receiver Designee Form.  For more information on accessing MiSSG, please watch this short video. 

• Data Use Agreement:  This form needs to be completed/signed by the high school principal and returned to SSG each academic year.
• Data Receiver Designee Form:  This form need to be completed/signed by the high school principal and returned to SSG each academic year.
• Secondary Security Access Form: This form grants permission from the high school principal to allow a partner(s) to view MiSSG reports.

If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact our office at 1-888-4-GRANTS, or 1-888-447-2687, email ssg@michigan.gov, or visit us on the Web at www.michigan.gov/ssg.

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MI College Goal

MI Student Aid is proud to be a sponsor of MI College Goal, coming February 2016. We encourage students and families to attend a MI College Goal event where an expert can help in filling out the FAFSA.  Assistance is available for free at over 30 locations throughout the State. For information on MI College Goal and locations/dates, please visit www.micollegegoal.org. For information on State of Michigan aid programs, please visit www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid.

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MI Student Story

Check out the latest
MI Student Story...

Paying for college often times is a barrier for students and families. Finding resources and information can be difficult if you’ve never gone through the process. Rachel Nicks, a mother of three boys, found that putting a first child through college was difficult, especially shortly after the death of her husband, Fred...read more.

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Saving for College

Most people want to save for their child’s college education, but many don’t know how to begin. According to a recent survey by T. Rowe Price, nearly half of parents surveyed are using a regular savings account to save for college, 31% said they were using a 529 account and 28% said they did not know what a 529 plan was.

The average price of tuition and fees at a public four-year university in the United States in 2014 was $9,139 per year. In 1971 those costs added up to less than $500 (in current dollars) according to the College Board. That increase is outpacing the rate of inflation.

Michigan’s three 529 plans (Michigan Education Trust (MET), Michigan Education Savings Plan (MESP), and Michigan Advisor Plan (MAP)) offer parents and grandparents a variety of options to start saving for college.  MET is offering a new “Pay-As-You-Go” payment option this year to help make it easier to start saving. In addition, MESP accounts can be opened with as little as $25.

Experts agree 529 accounts are a great way to save for education as your investments grow tax deferred and if used for college expenses the earnings won’t be taxed at the time of withdrawal. If you cannot afford to save the entire cost, any amount parents can contribute is beneficial for their child in the long term.

According to the College Savings Plans Network, Americans own more than 12 million 529 accounts which have more than $258 billion in assets.

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Looking for Scholarships?

You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out our information on how to avoid scams.

Try these free sources of information about scholarships:

• Financial aid office at a college or career school.
• High school or TRIO counselor.
• The U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool.
• Federal agencies.
• State agency.
• Library.
• Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups.
• Organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest.
• Ethnicity-based organizations.
• Your employer or your parents’ employers.

*Source:  Federal Student Aid

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Upcoming Events

January 20, 2016
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Livonia Civic Center Library
Making College Affordable
32777 Five Mile
Livonia, MI 48154

January 26, 2016
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Capital Area Career Center
Capital Area Career Center FAFSA Night
611 Hagadorn Road
Mason, MI 48854

January 26, 2016
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Novi Public Library
Financial Aid Preparing for College
45255 West 10 Mile Road
Novi, MI 48375

January 27, 2016
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Wayne Memorial High School
Fund Your Future
3001 Fourth Street
Wayne, MI 48184

February 11, 2016
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Warren Civic Center Library
College Scholarships and Grants
1 City Square
Warren, MI 48093

February 20, 2016
10:00am - 2:30pm
Oakland Schools Conference Center
Show Me The Money Day 2016
2111 Pontiac Lake Road
Waterford Township, MI 48328

February 25, 2016
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Portland High School
FAFSA Information Night
1100 Ionia Road
Portland, MI 48875

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