College students and their parents who need help to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) came to the annual College Goal Sunday workshop hosted by Naugatuck Valley Community College on Sunday, October 23.  For prospective students and parents who haven’t filled out the application before, it can prove a daunting and often confusing task, so the event is aimed at simplifying the process. 

Held this year at the College’s Technology Hall, the free program features financial aid professionals and community-based service providers who can offer assistance in completing the FAFSA. For anyone filling out the FAFSA for the 2017/2018 academic year, the Federal Government has changed the start day for when they begin accepting FAFSA applications to October 1, 2016. This provides an opportunity for all applicants to file earlier using their 2015 tax returns. By filing early, students can complete the FAFSA process and have their aid in place before registering for the Fall 2017 semester. 

At NVCC the Financial Aid and Student Services teams take great pride in hosting this event for the seventh year in a row. College Goal Sunday efforts in Connecticut are led by the Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA) and the Connecticut Association for Educational Opportunity Programs (CAEOP).

Cathy Hardy, Director of Financial Aid, reported that 70 students attended this year’s event.