TxCAN Blog

Online TASFA Coming Soon!

In addition to the paper TASFA, the new Online TASFA application will be available to submit 100% electronically in the coming financial aid cycle. Read this blog to learn more about the Online TASFA and be better prepared to support students in completing the application.

November 2022

Application Season: Resources for All

College application season is upon us and TxCAN shares resources to make this season a little bit easier. Make sure to share, save, and bookmark!

October 2022

FAFSA Season Opens October 1 – Here’s How to Prepare

October marks the beginning of FAFSA season. Learn from Caroline Doglio, Program Associate at the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), as she shares financial aid resources from NCAN.

September 2022

Financial Aid Updates You Should Know About

Financial aid season is right around the corner. In this blog, TxCAN shares FAFSA and TASFA updates shared by UAspire and Texas OnCourse in their most recent financial aid trainings.

August 2022

Tools, Tips, and Resources for the New Year

School is in Session, and it is time to get to work! In this blog, TxCAN shares some tech tools, tricks, and resources that can make the lives of practitioners a little bit easier this year.

August 2022

Key Questions to Ask Before the School Year Starts

August is a time for rest and relaxation, but also readiness. Learn from Bill DeBaun, Senior Director of Data and Strategic Initiatives at the National College Attainment Network, as he shares four questions to ponder and prepare as you turn toward the start of the 2022-23 academic year and some key resources to help answer those questions.

July 2022

A New Way to Look at First Generation Students

We tend to assume that all first-generation students fit the same mold, but in a study conducted by the National Science Foundation we have found that is not always the case. This post will showcase how the National Science Foundation defines the varying levels of first-generationness and how the differentiation can be used to enhance college advising practices. Read to learn how you can intentionally plan out your college access activities this year to support all levels of first-generation students.

July 2022

Use Fit and Match to Increase Students’ Success

Learn from Bill DeBaun, Senior Director of Data and Strategic Initiatives at the National College Attainment Network as he shares how you can dive into the concepts of “fit” and “match” and share resources for districts, schools, and community organizations who want to increase or improve how they put these concepts to work for students.

May 2022

Summer Transitions

Even after acceptance letters have been received and college decisions have been made, there is plenty left to do before the first day of classes in the Fall. To shed more light on this transition, Future Focused TX invited guest speaker Ann Marano to share more about summer transitions and ways college access professionals can keep students engaged.

May 2022

Advising Students: Aspiring College Athletes

Working with students who aspire to be college student-athletes can be uncharted territory for many college access professionals. Outlined below is a list of need-to-know information along with resources to help you best serve your students.

April 2022

Digital TASFA Launching Fall 2022

Beginning in October 2022, the TASFA application will be available to complete and submit 100% online.

March 2022

Advising Students: Balancing Financial Obligations & Educational Aspirations

Students, for a variety of reasons, may need to seek employment during or before starting college. This post will provide some resources on how to best advise these students as they seek to balance their dreams as well as their financial obligations.

March 2022

College Scorecards

Learn about The College Scorecard and Texas CREWS, both free scorecard tools that easily allow college access professionals, students, and families to look up and compare institutions.

March 2022

Understanding Student Aid Reports and Verification

Student Aid Reports and Financial Aid Verification are key aspects of the financial aid process. uAspire helped to explain key aspects of these processes in their recent training, and a summarized version of their presentation has been brought to you by the TxCAN team.

February 2022

Celebrating Texas’ HBCUs

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting Texas’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their rich history in providing affordable access to higher education to Texas students. Read to learn more about the nine HBCUs in Texas, and access resources to help make HBCUs another option in a student’s postsecondary plan.

January 2022

Serving and Supporting Undocumented Youth

Guest speaker Ann Marano joined Future Focused TX to discuss ways to serve and support undocumented youth in Texas. Read and obtain key takeaways from her presentation and access resources to support undocumented students in their postsecondary journey.

January 2022

Resource Roadmap to Senior Year

Conversations and planning done during Junior year can have a huge impact on a student’s postsecondary plans and lay the foundation for a great Senior year. Learn about resources available to counselors and advisors that can facilitate these conversations.

January 2022

Getting Interactive with Financial Literacy

Drawing upon the Trellis Student Financial Wellness Survey Results, learn why it is so important to engage with financial literacy to prepare students for access and persistence in postsecondary education.

November 2021

What You Need To Know: TSIA2 Updates & Resources

Learn about the changes made to the TSIA2 and important resources to help students succeed