Bulldog Alert: Navigating FAFSA & Admissions as the Government Shutdown Drags On

Dean's Financial Aid Office. Photo Courtesy: James Smith

The current government shutdown is creating an escalating financial and administrative crisis far beyond the walls of Washington, D.C., which has a direct effect on students and institutions such as Dean College. With this dilemma still unfolding, the Department of Education raises another important concern about processing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is important since uncertainty now surrounds prospective and current students. This uncertainty may even delay awarding financial aid, influence enrollment options, and further complicate the overall admissions and student planning timeline for Dean College. This article explores the specific ways the shutdown is manifesting at Dean College and what students and families need to know to navigate.

The Dean College's Admissions team reports that, for the moment, internal operations related to applicant review and acceptance remain unaffected by the federal gridlock. Admissions representative Myra Traylor confirmed the current stability of their process, stating, "So far, the government shutdown has not directly affected admissions," and further clarifying that the shutdown "has not adversely affected us at this point."

However, the team acknowledges that the uncertainty of the federal situation has created understandable apprehension among families. The primary administrative impact centers on need-based assistance, as Traylor notes, "on the financial aid side, they have to deal with need-based aid, which is where the FAFSA does come into play." This dependence on a federal system for need-based aid is the root cause of the current anxiety.

Financial Aid and the FAFSA Timeline

Because FAFSA is fundamentally a federal program, students and parents are correctly identifying it as the major point of risk. Traylor expressed an understanding of the widespread concern. She said, "I would imagine, as it's a federal program, that folks are feeling apprehensive about that and not quite sure, you know, is there going to be a delay, am I going to get, you know, any aid whatsoever?"

Critically, for students awaiting final aid packages, the admissions department advises patience. Dean College is still early in its review cycle, meaning that financial aid offers would not have been issued regardless of the shutdown status. "It's kind of too soon to tell at this point because aid has not been awarded," Traylor cautioned. Admissions will only begin the process of awarding aid following the completion of application reviews in the coming weeks. Families are encouraged to continue monitoring official college communications for updates on aid distribution timelines.

Dean's Financial Aid Office. Photo Courtesy: James Smith

Students should certainly not hold off on completing their FAFSA due to the administrative backlog associated with the closure. The federal government is still accepting the applications electronically and is merely placing the applications in a queue with processing priority reflecting the date the application was received. Completing FAFSA now guarantees some level of queuing for process once the Federal operations return, and most importantly allows Dean College to develop your aid package as quickly as possible and minimize delays into your own financial timeline. The best guidelines are to continue to be proactive and consult with the Dean College Center for Student Financial Planning & Services:

1. Submit Your FAFSA: If you haven't already, submit your FAFSA immediately.

2. Contact Dean's Financial Aid Office: If you have questions about the status of your aid or need confirmation of your existing award, contact the Center for Student Financial Planning & Services directly. They are your primary point of contact and can offer specific guidance for institutional aid and emergency resources.

3. Gather Documents: Ensure you have all necessary supporting documentation (like tax transcripts or W-2s) readily available in case the college needs it to process your aid independently, as obtaining documents from federal agencies like the IRS can be slowed during a shutdown.

be slowed during a shutdown.