SUNY extends campaign encouraging its students to pursue financial aid

ALBANY, N.Y. — SUNY says it’s extending its campaign to encourage its students to apply for financial aid.

The effort will continue through the end of September, SUNY said in its Tuesday announcement.

SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. said the system has contacted more than 122,000 new and continuing SUNY students to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

It was part of SUNY’s expanded FAFSA Completion Campaign to “connect students with the financial aid they are entitled to,” SUNY said.

As a result of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, SUNY partnered with Trellis — a national nonprofit service provider — on a FAFSA completion campaign to reach the 122,000 SUNY students through text, calls, and/or postcards to encourage them to complete the FAFSA and provide general instructions on the form.

“Filling out the FAFSA is a vital step in unlocking the opportunities that higher education offers,” Debra Chromy, CEO of Trellis, said in the SUNY announcement. “Our partnership with SUNY in this campaign is a testament to our shared commitment to helping students navigate the complexities of financial aid, ensuring that every eligible student can secure the support they need to pursue higher education.”

Due to delays in the federal release of the new FAFSA and “federal technical glitches, year over year,” FAFSA submission rates are down 11.6 percent.

SUNY cited an analysis by the National College Attainment Network, which indicated the high school class of 2023 left more than $4 billion in Pell Grants nationwide unclaimed by not completing the FAFSA. In New York state, nearly $226 million was left unclaimed.