Financial aid office move pays off

Amarillo College’s financial aid office on the Washington Street Campus has moved in order to give students more privacy. The office moved during the summer from the first floor of the Student Service Center to the second floor. The move provides employees with offices instead of cubicles, said Gina Davis, a financial aid assistant who has worked in the department more than two years. “Having offices gives more privacy for the students and the assistants,” Davis said. The financial aid office is a starting point for some students and a helpful guide for others, Davis said. Students get help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and advice on which classes are required for their degrees. The financial aid staff also gives students encouragement and support with all aspects of education, according to Davis. “There have been a lot of times when students just happen to find themselves in here, and we give them encouraging words to help them get where they need to be, or we will be helping them with their financial aid and in the process help them to discover their career paths,” Davis said. Matthew Moon, a fire protection technology major, said the new location is easy to find with signs that clearly point the way to the office. “It is important to know where the financial aid office is so students can get the help they need,” Moon said. Pre-nursing major Adriana Vargas said that although she has not visited the office yet, she has heard positive comments. “I have heard about it being much bigger and more spacious, with furniture for students to wait comfortably,” Vargas said. Davis, Moon and Vargas all said the change has had a positive impact on students. “The students seem to enjoy the space and furniture a lot better,” Davis said.