Office finds financial help for a vast majority, smiling from behind their paper mountains The financial aid office is a place almost all students are familiar with; in fact, eightyfive percent ofHarding students received financial aid. But, as director Zearl Watson points out, a lot went on at the office that no one knows about. "We're always busy," Watson said. "We stay busy all year long." During preregistration for the fall and spring semesters, the eleven dedicated staff members commit themselves to the service of as many as 100 students and families per day. They may even work through the lunch hour or set up a special appointment time with a student who has a tight schedule. They know the process of applying for financial aid itself is time consuming. The federal applications for financial aid come out every year. Before a student can apply for aid, their income tax form must be completed. Initially, there are only two applications, but these 142 Campus Support may initiate a need for additional documents. Once these documents are returned, the financial aid office creates a computer file for each student with a data sheet. The information is sent to the federal government, where it takes about three or four weeks for processing. The student then receives a report form, and this information enables the office to begin considering what aid is available for the student. Finally, the office compares that form to what the family can contribute to the cost of the student's education, and the family receives an award letter telling them what help they can get. If the family accepts the aid, it is entered on the student's account. This is the ideal - but, as many students know, the process can be slowed. "What you can do for one student in 15 minutes could take two hours for another," Watson said. Senior Alison Holland asks Tish Elrod about her business account. Many students visited the business office almost weekly to cash checks. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. "Questions are usually more involved than people think." But Watson does not mind the tedious diggingfor answers. "I like staying busy," he said, and that's fortunate for him. The office processed about 3000 students and $30 million this year; that's an average of$7,000 per student. For every award, from the $100 cheerleader scholarship to the all-tuition Trustees' scholarship, the financial aid office works through each file of students who need help. "I enjoy helping the students meet their needs for paying for their education," Watson said. And despite the cyclic nature of the work and the huge responsibility, Watson and his staffkeep a positive outlook and greet their often harried patrons with a calm smile. "We understand the value of seeing a person face to face. We are always happy to work with our students," Watson said. - Sara VanRheenen
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