KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

Nearly four months after the delayed rollout of an updated federal financial aid form, Arkansas colleges and universities continue to face challenges in accessing accurate information needed to award funding to students.

Although implementation of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form has been less than ideal, college officials agreed difficulties were to be expected and the changes will create an easier application process once the system is working efficiently.

The FAFSA form, which is being updated as a result of congressional action, is used to award federal aid like Pell Grants, as well as state scholarships, like the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Arkansas education officials announced in January they would grant conditional approval of state scholarship applications as the federal government addressed issues associated with the FAFSA revamp.

Federal financial aid stress continues for Arkansas universities, students