EvCC joins SwiftStudent - New Free Digital Tool Helps Students Request Additional Financial Aid

Press Release

Release Date: April 15, 2020

EVERETT, Wash. - Everett Community College is partnering with the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation in the launch of SwiftStudent, a free digital tool for college students to learn about the financial aid appeals process and help students who need to adjust their financial aid.

SwiftStudent walks students through common financial aid appeal scenarios, such as the need for a childcare allowance, new financial issues not included in the FAFSA, and disability-related expenses.

As the country contends with the COVID-19 pandemic, college students and their families everywhere face mounting challenges. A free tool powered by FormSwift, SwiftStudent guides college students through the formal process of requesting additional financial aid when their economic circumstances have changed: https://formswift.com/swift-student.

Through SwiftStudent, students can also learn about the financial aid appeal process, review eligibility requirements, and customize free template appeal letters to submit to their college financial aid office.

SwiftStudent is available to all students receiving federal aid, free to use, and does not share or sell personal data. SwiftStudent offers templates that address over 14 types of appeals, accompanied by an extensive resource guide.

“Economic hardship and job loss related to COVID-19 have begun hitting college students and their families, but most submitted their financial aid applications before the pandemic,” said Abigail Seldin, CEO of the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation. “Many students will now need more financial aid to continue higher education, but too few know that financial aid appeals are possible. Thanks to our deep collaboration with 17 leading higher education organizations, we now have SwiftStudent. It’s a free, simple tool designed to help students learn about financial aid appeals and to start the process if is right for them.”

SwiftStudent Partners 

  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
  • Achieving the Dream
  • Everett Community College
  • Generation Hope
  • Higher Learning Advocates
  • Hope Center for College, Community and Justice
  • Indian River Community College
  • Institute for Women’s Policy Research 
  • Montgomery College 
  • Montgomery Community College
  • National College Attainment Network 
  • National Student Legal Defense Network;
  • New America
  • Northwest Florida State College
  • Reach Higher at the Common App
  • uAspire
  • Young Invincibles

About Seldin/Harding-Smith Foundation
Established by Abigail Seldin and Whitney Haring-Smith in 2019, the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation funds seed stage public interest projects and collaborates with leading technology companies to build self-sustaining tools for the new college majority: students struggling with basic needs, students with children, students who have stopped out of college, and students with debt. In 2020, SHSF is launching SwiftStudent, a free digital tool that provides financial aid appeal guidance and letter templates for students, with the cloud-based software company FormSwift and a coalition of 17 leading higher education organizations. SHSF’s partnership with Getty Images will produce a forthcoming photo series featuring professional stock photos of the new college majority, which is underrepresented in existing online collections. SHSF also makes external grants and operates and interdisciplinary research fellows program.

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