ATLANTA — The University System of Georgia's (USG) Chancellor addressed ongoing FAFSA issues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education on Friday.
11Alive obtained a copy of the letter from USG Chancellor Dr. Sonny Perdue to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
In the letter, Perdue wrote on behalf of more than 344,000 students attending 26 USG colleges and universities. Perdue asked the Department of Education to affirm the 2025-2026 FAFSA dates and to consider finalizing an audit guide for the 2024-2025 FAFSA-- when a revamped FAFSA form was launched.
"By almost all accounts, the launch of the simplified FAFSA can only be categorized as an abject failure. It has had unprecedented levels of ongoing and new issues that will delay aid and negatively impact students and campuses in ways we do not yet fully know," Perdue wrote in the letter.
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Perdue said USG's staff has been working to serve as many students as possible, but it's still not enough.
"What upsets me most, however, is the impact this failure is having on thousands of students here in Georgia and across the nation who have done absolutely nothing wrong. We’re now at that time of year when students should be ready for fall classes. This year's federal college financial aid process was supposed to be easier. Instead, students trying to go to college, many for the first time, are stuck," Perdue added in the letter.
Perdue's letter comes after hundreds of thousands of students were impacted by a calculation error in March with their student financial aid applications. According to an Associated Press report, a vendor working for the federal government incorrectly calculated a formula for financial assistance.
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"To close and to be clear, I commend the actions of Congress to simplify the financial aid process for students. This is a worthy endeavor and one that is long overdue. However, given the issues with the launch, to expect institutions to continue to operate, serve students and families and fulfill their core mission in this environment is unreasonable, unfair and wrong," Perdue concluded.
Read Perdue's full letter to the Department of Education below: