FAFSA updates (8/5/24)

On July 30, the Department of Education (DOE) unexpectedly changed course regarding batch processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) corrections for students enrolling in 2024-25. This was just the latest example of greater challenges we have experienced due to a compressed timeline and a product that was not fully ready for implementation from the Federal Government. 

Because the DOE will not implement the batch correction process for the 2024-25 FAFSA, it places the responsibility on Financial Aid staff at institutions to log into a federal system and make corrections individually versus using our university system and sending corrections in batches. There is nothing that JMU could have done differently to prevent this from happening, as the DOE controls this process. 

Despite the significance of this challenge, JMU is already working through the details and will continue to make progress. We have been monitoring the FAFSA changes closely and will continue to do so with careful attention. The Financial Aid team understands the importance of the work they do and are diligently processing FAFSA’s and financial aid as quickly as possible for our students. 

Below are sources that explain what happened and the response from Financial Aid leaders: 

Letter from DOE

Chronicle of HIgher Education article

NPR (Richmond) news story on this issue

Press release (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

In an effort to further support our students, together with the Division of Administration and Finance at JMU, bills will now be delayed and due on Aug. 30. 

In the midst of all of these challenges, FAFSA applications have been processed and financial aid awarded for thousands of JMU students. Our Financial Aid team has assisted all of these students as we prepare for the 2024-25 school year, and they will continue to support those impacted by these FAFSA challenges.

For additional information, please follow up with JMU Financial Aid.