Miguel Carranza | Associate Dean of Student
Financial Services
South Texas College
Tania Chavez| Special Projects Coordinator
La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE)
Denise Davis, Ed.D. | Associate Program Officer
Educate Texas | Communities Foundation of Texas

 How TASFA Toolkit Evolved
 How to Use the TASFA Toolkit

Collective Impact Initiative
In 2012, RGV FOCUS was launched to transform college readiness,
access, and completion across the four counties of Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr, and
Willacy.
RGV FOCUS – A Collective
Impact initiative established by a cross-sector group of leaders, the “Leadership
Team”, meet regularly to:
• identify assets and needs in the RGV,
• adopt a common vision, establish shared goals, strategies, and metrics

VISION: All RGV learners will achieve a degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career.
http:// rgvfocus.org
/

Over 40 Organizations and 100+ Individuals are
Currently Working Together with the RGV FOCUS
Collective Impact Effort

 In 2001 State law approved H.B. 1403
 S.B. 1528-ppdated law in 2005
 No formal process was put forward –only affidavit of support
 TASFA Form was first released in 2006-2007 award year
 IHE are not require to use it
 Each institution of Higher Education had their own processes for Financial
Aid
 School Districts were having to keep up with the different FAFSA or TASFA applications and forms required at each College or University
 RGV FOCUS – Culture of Attending College (CAC) worked with the 5
IHE’s and the school districts to come up with a solutions where all 5 IHE’s agreed on a common process

How to Use the Toolkit
The TASFA Counselors’ Toolkit includes the following elements:
 RGV Institution of Higher Education Contacts
 RGV TASFA Checklist
 TASFA English 2015-16 School Year and Instructions
 TASFA Spanish 2015-16 School Year and Instructions
 2015-16 Income Verification (Parent/English)
 2015-16 Income Verification (Parent/Spanish)
 2015-16 Income Verification (Student)
 Worksheet 1: Confirmation of Eligibility Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) and Texas Grant
 Additional Resources for Undocumented Students
 American Immigration Council – Navigating College Applications with Undocumented
Students http://rgvfocus.org/resources/toolkits/tasfa-toolkit-resource-page/

RGV Institution of Higher Education Contacts
South Texas College
Yesenia Garcia
Coordinator State & 3rd Party
Programs
Phone: 956-872-2669 ymgarcia@southtexascollege.edu
Texas State Technical College
Denise Eliserio
Assistant Financial Aid Officer
Phone: 956-364-4339 denise.eliserio@tstc.edu
`
Texas Southmost College
Marisol Gutierrez
Financail Aid Specialist
Phone: 956-295-3623 marisol.gutierrez@tsc.edu
UT RGV – Brownsville
Daniel Yarritu
Financial Aid Coordinator
Phone: 956-882-7890 daniel.yarritu1@utb.edu
UT RGV – Edinburg
Jael Garcia
Associate Director of Financial
Aid
Outreach & Customer Service
Phone: 956-665-2958 jgarcia57@utpa.edu

RGV TASFA Documents
Checklist
English Application
Spanish Application

Parent Income
Verification
(English)
Parent Income
Verification
(Spanish)
Student Income
Verification

Worksheet 1: Confirmation of Eligibility Texas
Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) and Texas
Grant

Additional Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j94zx8ojbic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ElCSJemYI

 HB1403/SB1528
 State Law
 In-State Tuition & Free State
Financial Aid
 Attending college is a requirement
 TASFA Application cost $0
 It will allow students to pay for college only (with state financial aid)
 School Counselors & Financial Aid
Advisors can help fill-out application
 DACA (Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals)
 Federal Program (Not a law)
 3 yr work permit & Protection from
Deportation
 High School Diploma is the highest education requirement
 USCIS Application Cost $465
 It will allow students to pay for college out-of-pocket and be eligible to work after graduation
 Only Immigration Attorneys or
USCIS Accredited Representatives should fill-out applications

#TASFAToolkit erodriguez@cftexas.org