Higher education has long been viewed as a social elevator. The path to a higher education credential, however, is complicated for students from low-income and/or minoritized communities. This report provides a snapshot of digital tools designed to help students with college exploration, college admissions, and financial planning. To set the…

Boston College's student public-access record-keeping system provides students access to their own academic, account, and financial aid information. The system was first made available on computer terminals and then on a Consumer Transaction Terminal. (MSE)

Describes the computer assisted system in use at Washington State University. It controls and reports funds requested by students, offered to students, and disbursed to students, writes financial aid checks, prepares fiscal year-end statements and performs loan collection processes according to federal government regulations, and provides internal…

Results of a national survey of financial aid officers provides information on current computer capabilities and the status of technological innovation in financial aid office administration. Obstacles to innovation and reasons to innovate were also investigated. (MSE)

A study of staffing averages at institutions categorized by numbers of financial aid applicants provides a gauge by which institutions may evaluate staffing levels. The data are intended to be useful to financial aid administrators in evaluating the adequacy of the numbers and types of their staff. (MLW)

The INFAMOUS financial aid data system which has five participants--registrar, undergraduate admissions, graduate admissions, academic information reporting, and financial aid--is described. Sample letters to financial aid applicants are included. (MLW)

The role of institutional research in policy analysis regarding the operation of a computer model for delivery of financial aid to disadvantaged students is considered. A student financial aid model at Arizona State University is designed to develop a profile of late appliers for aid funds and also those who file inaccurate or incomplete…

Findings of a California committee that investigated computer-based student aid search services are examined. In mid-1982, over 40 computer search organizations had been identified. A survey of the organizations found that almost all were private-for-profit firms. Only four of the respondents that offer a direct service to students maintain their…

Several financial aid management software programs are now being marketed and many institutions are seriously contemplating purchase of one of them. Careful analysis of any proposal is essential. The experiences of the University of Oklahoma are described. Personnel preparation should receive considerable attention during the planning and…

Ohio University's use of computer programing for the need analysis and internal accounting functions in financial aid is described. A substantial improvement of services resulted, with 6,000-10,000 students and the offices of financial aid, bursar, registration, student records, housing, admissions, and controller assisted in the process. Costs…

A survey of financial aid officers in 50 state universities concerning information dissemination about graduate student scholarships is reported. Specific suggestions are given, e.g., establishing a computerized or microfiche system to organize information for individual or printout access, increasing publicity by a variety of means, and getting…

A test of a reputable scholarship search service using a fictitious student and characteristics revealed that the aid source information obtained was only fair in relevance and response rate to follow-up inquiry. Students are advised to concentrate on more productive sources of information: colleges, personal contacts, and publications. (MSE)

A two-part study was conducted by the San Diego Community College District to assess the post-automation impact of the Student Information System (SIS) on the cost of providing student services. The study first determined the service areas most affected by the SIS and then assessed the savings potential of automation by: (1) interviewing personnel…

The level and composition of student financial aid for undergraduate students were estimated, with attention to estimated number of aid recipients, the total amount they received, the distribution of aided students by their families' income level, the composition of their aid packages, and the use of computers in the administration of aid. In…

This catalog provides information on software for counselors and student services personnel, arranged according to counseling and student development topics. The areas covered by the catalog include administrative aids, athletics, career development, counseling, financial aid, health services, statistical programs, student activities, and testing.…