USAC Financial Aid Fair to offer monetary advice to students

In an effort to educate students about financial aid resources on campus, the Financial Support Commission of the undergraduate student government will host its second annual Financial Aid Fair on Monday.

The fair is designed to provide financial aid information and resources to students on campus, said Andrea Hester, Financial Support Commissioner for the Undergraduate Students Association Council.

The event is being held just before the March 2 deadline to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

“This event will provide students with resources that can aid students in financing their education,” said Hester, a fourth-year global studies student.

The fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers are hoping to attract 400 students ““ twice the amount that attended the previous year, Hester said.

Campus organizations and offices, such as the International Education Office and the Financial Aid Office, will be on hand to provide students with information on grants, scholarships and loans, along with counseling on the process of applying for work-study programs.

The Financial Support Commission will host its own booth at the event where its members will give information about the textbook loan library, which was recently moved to the Student Activities Center, and the office’s textbook scholarship, which is available to all UCLA undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or residents.

The fair can also help students find ways to manage their money to pay for tuition and housing, especially with increasing budget cuts, said Steven Sterrett, co-director of programming in the financial support commission and a fourth-year Spanish and global studies student.

This year’s event has been marketed more aggressively on Bruin Walk and on the Hill to reach the organizers’ attendance goal, said Matthew Bunnett, co-director of the programming in the financial support commission and a fourth-year political science student.

The office hopes students will come and learn how to take advantage of the resources available to finance their education, and leave the event knowing how to fill out their FAFSA, Bunnett said.