Chancellor Cigarroa on the U.S. Department of Education’s College Cost ‘Shopping Sheet’

AUSTIN – University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., issued the following statement today (July 27) regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s new initiative to better explain and inform college students and families about costs of attending college and financial aid options.

Statement from Chancellor Cigarroa:

“University of Texas System institutions have been working diligently over the past year to provide clear and concise information regarding the net costs to attend college and the various financial aid and grant opportunities available to students and their families,” Cigarroa said. “The UT System supports the U.S. Department of Education’s “shopping sheet" financial aid form, and I express our gratitude to our campus officials who have been instrumental in developing the form. The “shopping sheet” also allows UT institutions to include relevant portions of our Dashboard business intelligence system in the information that we provide to students. Providing such information is yet another example of the UT System’s commitment to transparency and is aligned with the ‘Framework for Advancing Excellence Throughout the University of Texas System,’” Cigarroa added.

Cigarroa was one of ten leaders of colleges and universities invited to the White House in June to participate in a roundtable discussion regarding college costs and financial aid. The meeting was hosted by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray. The new form will be distributed along with financial aid award letters beginning this fall.

Background Materials

U.S. Department of Education 'Shopping Sheet' form

Unraveling the Mystery of College Costs news release (U.S. Department of Education, July 24, 2012)