West Virginia University students interested in learning more about student assistance programs are encouraged to bring their questions to the fourth annual Financial Aid Awareness Week Monday, Jan. 28, through Friday, Feb. 1.

Financial aid experts will be on hand each day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Mountainlair Commons to answer questions, help students complete essential paperwork and provide information about the numerous options available to them.

Most critical for students planning to apply for any federal, state or institutional aid is submission of a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by March 1. After March 1, some options may not be available.

The earlier the better,said Kaye Widney, director of financial aid and scholarships at WVU .It can sometimes take longer than expected to gather the information that is needed to complete the necessary forms. Students and parents will need information from their federal tax returns and W-2 forms as well as bank records showing savings and asset information, so we encourage them to start early.

Additionally, the federal government has instituted changes in the process this year that will impact how most students can obtain the FAFSA form.

The government is no longer providing paper FAFSAs to schools,Widney said.Students are being encouraged to file online this year, and we have worksheets that will help gather the required information. Our staff will help students navigate through the application process.

Paper FAFSAs are available by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 orhttp://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov. A PDF version of the form is also available for download at the site.

If students are unable to participate in Financial Aid Awareness Week, they are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid Office on the second floor of the Mountainlair or go tohttp://www.finaid.wvu.edu/.