Universal Application, Online Tools to Better Match Arkansas Students to Scholarships
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas citizens seeking education beyond high school will now find the scholarship application process more user-friendly than ever before, thanks to the Universal Scholarship Application, developed by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. The online version of the Universal Scholarship Application, launched on January 1, matches students to potential scholarships in a matter of minutes.
“This application will make it easier for Arkansans to find the financial aid they need to obtain a degree,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “Inadequate financial resources prevent many Arkansans from finishing college. This application will help remove some of those obstacles and give our people a better shot at completing higher-education programs.”
By answering a few simple questions about age, grade-point average, ACT or SAT scores, and income level, applicants will be matched with the financial-aid programs they may qualify for, along with an estimated amount of financial aid they might expect in an academic year.
“Once that is done, the student goes through a few more steps to create an account, and this one application can be submitted to the ADHE Financial Aid Division to start the process,” said Dr. Jim Purcell, director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. “The student can then log into his or her account to check the status of the application. A lot of work has gone into the development of this software application, and we’re proud to say that we have greatly simplified what was a pretty complicated process.”
In early 2009, Gov. Beebe directed ADHE to put into place a simplified system for financial-aid applications, removing the barriers presented by a complex system of paperwork that placed the responsibility on the student in calculating the financial-aid programs that suited them best. Several months of work ensued, as ADHE worked with Information Systems of Arkansas to create a secure and simple application process.
“This is the result,” said ADHE Financial Aid Coordinator Tara Smith. “From the perspective of the student, we’ve ended the paper chase and put into place an uncomplicated process that gives all students greater access to the money available to send them to college.”
Students can access the Web application by logging onto www.adhe.edu and clicking on the YOUniversal Arkansas Financial Aid System link on the left side of the page.
“From that point, the process is very user-friendly and makes applying for financial aid easier than ever before,” said Dr. Purcell. “This is truly a giant step in Gov. Beebe’s and the department’s goal of making higher education more accessible to more Arkansans.”
ADHE has also been working with the Arkansas Department of Education, Department of Workforce Services, and the State Library System to make computers available at high schools, libraries, and workforce centers for those who do not have internet access. A paper application is also being developed to assist those with limited computer skills or access in finding the financial aid they may qualify for.
For more information about the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, visit www.adhe.edu or call (800) 54STUDY.