Checklist for Parents
In order to help you and your student through the financial aid process, we have created this link to list the steps necessary to completing the financial aid process at UTSA and to explain why we cannot offer some types of information to you, regardless of whether or not you are paying for any part of your student’s educational expenses. We also have created a checklist so you may easily keep track of the items that have been completed and any items that may still need attention.
Before UTSA can award your student financial aid, the FAFSA must have been completed and submitted with the UTSA school code: 010115. If you would like a forecast for your approximate financial aid award provided by the Department of Education, please visit www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov. We suggest the FAFSA be completed and submitted to UTSA by March 31st of every year. More information regarding the FAFSA can be found at the FAFSA website and in our FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions. Please note that if your student is asked to pay to have the FAFSA submitted with a FEE, you are being scammed. The FAFSA is a FREE process. Only use the fafsa.ed.gov site. The .org site should not be used.
Has Your Student Completed the Following Financial Aid Checklist?
- Completed 2007-2008 FAFSA with UTSA’s School Code 010115.
- Received and read the UTSA Financial Aid Award Notification.
- Logged onto ASAP and accepted the financial aid awards he/she wants to receive.
- Completed and submitted the Student Information Form.
If he/she plans to receive Stafford Loans (subsidized and/or unsubsidized), has he/she:
- Completed the Stafford Loan Counseling for the Stafford Loan
- Chosen a Lender at TG Loans by Web
- Completed a Master Promissory Note with the lender
If he/she plans to receive the Parent Plus Loan, the parents must have:
- Completed and submitted the Parent PLUS Request Form
- Chosen a lender and applied for the loan
- Submitted notification to UTSA from their lender of Pre-approval status
- Submitted a Master Promissory Note to the lender
If he/she plans to receive an Alternative Loan, has he/she:
- Chosen a lender and applied for the loan
- Followed any other directions sent by the lender
If he/she plans to receive a Perkins Loan, has he/she:
- Completed the Stafford Loan Counseling for the Perkins Loan
- Signed the Master Promissory Note
- If your student received scholarships, he/she may need to complete other requirements as indicated by the Scholarship Office.
- If your son or daughter was selected for Verification, the process must be completed before any financial aid can be received.
- Any other Special Circumstances.
Other useful and helpful tips for parents:
- Students do not receive grades in the mail. All grades are accessed online through the students ASAP account. Please note that this is the student’s account and UTSA cannot and will not give parents access to this account. If you want to know your child’s grades, you must get those from your student.
- Parents cannot request student transcripts. Only students can request their transcripts and this is completed through their ASAP account.
- Please understand that UTSA follows federal guidelines concerning student information. We may have to ask you for personal information (tax information, W2s, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, etc.) in order to verify identity and accurate information. If these documents are not submitted, your child’s financial aid will not be applied to their account.
Other forms that might be beneficial for parents and financial aid include the Parent Loss of Income Form and the Parent Additional Expense Request Form.
**For detailed checklist information please refer to our Detailed Checklist for Parents.
Important ‘Release of Information’ Notification:
According to FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, which is a Federal regulation) guidelines, the Financial Aid & Enrollment Services staff is only allowed to discuss the financial information with the parents of dependent students. Please note the sharing of this information it limited to the financial information relevant to financial aid only and in no way indicates that we can discuss enrollment information or grades with parents, even if the student is a dependent. Also, the sharing of financial aid information is limited to the parents or guardians whose financial information is indicated on the FAFSA.
Information we are allowed to discuss includes the following: the completion of forms, deadlines, and financial aid requirements only necessary for financial aid processing. We are not allowed and will not discuss items such as the following which include GPA, specific credit hours, parking tickets, account balances, dismissals from the University, specific courses, ID numbers or passwords, or academic holds, etc.
Please note, if you call in to the Enrollment Services Call Center pretending to be the student in order to gain information, we will revoke your student’s rights to access his or her account through the call center.
The only way a parent may have access to information other than direct financial aid information is if the student completes the Student Authorization to Release Information Form found at the Enrollment Services Counter. The student must come to Enrollment Services and complete the form. Please note the student must complete a separate form for each parent authorized to receive information. As the person receiving the authorization, you must know both the student’s security question and answer. We will not provide you the question when you call in or visit. As an added security measure, you must give us both the question and answer. Please note there is information we still may not be able to provide you if you call in to the Enrollment Services Call Center, we cannot release GPA, semester schedule, ID numbers, passwords or information regarding the dismissal of a student.
We take protecting students’ information very seriously. Please contact us with any additional questions.