Bob Spieldenner
bobspieldenner@schev.edu
(804) 718-9443 (cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2025

SCHEV launches Financial Aid Help Desk to support FAFSA completion in Virginia

RICHMOND — The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) today launched a Financial Aid Help Desk to support Virginia students and families with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students can text “uAspire” to 434-478-4003 and receive answers to their financial aid questions from an expert within 24 business hours. The service is available at no cost to Virginia students and is part of SCHEV’s efforts to ensure that no student leaves financial aid funding on the table.

As of March 28, 2025, only 42.7% of Virginia’s high school seniors have completed the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year, ranking the Commonwealth 18th nationally, according to the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) FAFSA Tracker. Historically, about 58% of seniors in Virginia high schools complete the FAFSA each year.

“We want to remove barriers that keep students from pursuing their academic dreams,” said Scott Fleming, SCHEV director. “The Financial Aid Help Desk is an innovative resource that will help students and their families navigate the financial aid process and secure available funding.”

Completing the FAFSA is a critical first step in accessing grants, scholarships and other forms of financial aid that helps students afford postsecondary education. Holding a postsecondary credential is essential for many 21st-century careers. Research consistently shows that individuals with a college degree experience higher lifetime earnings, better health outcomes, increased job security and greater civic engagement.

The Help Desk is part of SCHEV’s Level Up initiative to increase postsecondary readiness, enrollment and completion for all students in the Commonwealth. Funding for the initiative comes from SCHEV’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative, funded by a federal grant. The mission of GEAR UP is to increase significantly the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

###