The University of North Carolina Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College are teaming up to offer workshops to teach parents about the financial aid process.

All students, who want to be considered for all federal aid and most state financial aid must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid  (FAFSA) form. The first workshop, FAFSA Day, is on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, on the first floor of UNCW’s Bear Hall. Students can receive work study and federal grants from FAFSA.

“The reason that we are having workshops is to introduce students and parents to FAFSA,” said Judy Carter, UNCW financial aid counselor.

Financial aid counselors from UNCW, CFCC and Coastal Carolina University will help parents fill out a worksheet for the FAFSA and help them submit it electronically on FAFSA Day. Parents will also be able to have one-on-one consultations with financial aid counselors.

Students do not need to know what college they are planning on attending, when they go to the workshop. Parents need to bring their federal 1040 tax forms for 2009 and their student’s forms as well. They are also encouraged to obtain at Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the Department of Education website, www.pin.ed.gov/, before FAFSA Day.

The College Maze workshops will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon also on the first floor of UNCW’s Bear Hall. This workshop will help educate students in grades eight through 12 and their families about financial aid. The College Maze is split into 20-minute workshops that cover applying for student loans, federal grants, work study and information on N.C. state grants.

Instructors will address the pros and cons of attending a four-year institution or a community college, the financial impact of living at home as opposed to on-campus housing or off-campus away from home and how to seek scholarships. “If parents know what is expected then they aren’t as stressed when the time comes to apply,” Carter said.

A representative from UNCW’s admissions office will answer questions about applying to college.