FROM GRAYSON COUNTY COLLEGE

For some students, college tuition is affordable with the help of student loans. With those loans, however, comes the responsibility of repayment. Students also must undergo mandatory exit counseling as a condition of accepting loan monies.

Grayson County College's Office of Financial Aid hosts exit counseling sessions that cover financial literacy topics to help students meet that condition. While several 45-minute sessions are offered on two GCC campuses, students must attend only one session to comply. Those who fail to comply are not eligible for future loans.

"Exit counseling impresses upon students the importance of repaying their loans, how to handle loan repayment, and what to do if difficulties arise," said Donna King, director of financial aid at GCC.

Advisers and counselors from GCC's Office of Financial Aid and representatives from the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation are on hand to guide students. Parents are welcome to attend as well.

"We want to equip students to make good decisions because defaulting on student loans can seriously affect one's financial future," King said. "If a student fails to repay a loan, the government can garnish wages, income tax refunds and stimulus checks."

GCC's South Campus in Van Alstyne is the site of two sessions on Nov. 10. The first begins at 11 a.m. and the last begins at 12:30 p.m.

GCC's Main Campus in Denison is the site of five sessions over two days. On Nov. 18, sessions meet at 12:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Nov. 19, sessions meet at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. All sessions take place in the GCC Center for Workplace Learning's auditorium.

For more information about exit counseling, contact the GCC Office of Financial Aid at 903-463-8794.