A521.1.4.RB Stories in your organization

Most any university or college that a student is thinking of attending may require the use of financial aid in order to achieve their dreams of earning a degree.  Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)—Worldwide is no different.  A majority of our students are working adults who are employed for companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, major airlines, or active duty soldiers currently serving in the military and the need for a degree will help promote all of these students to the next level within their organization.

A common story for ERAU is that many of our students receive some form of financial aid in order to pay for their classes.  With over 150 campuses worldwide our students have received over $113 million in financial aid funding this year (ERAU website).  Without one of these types of funding many of our students may not be able to afford to achieve their dreams.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to all students regardless of how much money they make or what their credit score might be.

The FAFSA will let the student know if they are eligible for the Pell Grant (which the student is not required to pay back) as well as what type of government backed Stafford loans they qualify for (subsidized and unsubsidized). 

There are several types of aid available to help pay for a student’s education at ERAU:

• Federal Pell Grant (for undergraduates)
• Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program (subsidized and unsubsidized)
• Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) for dependent students
• Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
• Federal Veterans Educational Benefits
• State programs
• Institutional programs

In addition to this, our military students may be able to utilize their military tuition assistance to cover the cost of their classes.  This common story definitely helps promote the goals and ideals of ERAU since our goals are to recruit, enroll, retain, and graduate our students to reach the next level. Financial aid helps to do this for our students.  Without some type of financial aid many of our students would not be able to takes classes through one of our 150 campuses or online.  I have had students call that are frustrated and desperate and even at the point of wanting to quit school because they either can’t get the financial aid they need or they can’t get their campus to help them.

One student in particular stands out for me in regards to the common story and financial aid.  This student was beyond frustrated with financial aid and the campus overall because no one took the time to explain how financial aid worked and he was ready to quit ERAU and attend another university. He relied on this funding not only for tuition but to pay his rent and other living expenses.  I could hear the level of frustration in his voice and I knew if I didn’t do something he was going to leave the school.

I kept a positive attitude throughout our conversation and took my time to make sure he understood how our tracks work, how it would disburse and when he would receive his funding.   At the end of the conversation he was not only happy but also started to call me “Wonder Woman” because he felt I went above and beyond the call of duty in helping him.  He said that I made him feel like a person and not just a number that “my experience at ER would not be the same without having her as my mentor, as most likely I would not be attending ER”.  This student not only finished his undergrad degree with ERAU he is now a grad student here.  This is a big part of the goals and ideals for ERAU, being able to use financial aid to achieve that dream by attracting, enrolling, retaining and graduating students.