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Campus Review
January 10, 2012
A Clayton State Original, Dirk Morrell, Retires
by John Shiffert, University Relations
Important Changes Affecting
Financial Aid for 2012/2013
The Clayton State University Office of
Financial Aid would like all current and
future college students to know that there
will be important changes affecting finan-
cial aid for the 2012/2013 academic year.
These changes include the following:
FAFSA IRS Data Retrieval
The Department of Education strongly
recommends that students use the IRS
Data Retrieval option to download tax
information directly to the FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) from
the IRS when possible.
The number of FAFSA applications
selected for verification will be signifi-
cantly less for those who use the IRS Data
Retrieval option.
Tax data will be available through the IRS
Data Retrieval option within one to two
weeks after electronic submission of taxes
to the IRS, beginning Feb. 1, 2012.
Students Selected for Verification (only
applicable if selected for verification)
The only acceptable documentation for
verifying tax information will be IRS
Data Retrieval on the FAFSA or an offi-
cial tax transcript from the IRS for tax fil-
ers, and W2 forms for non-tax filers. A
copy of a federal tax return (Form 1040,
1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) will no longer be
accepted for 2012/2013. Please note that it
can take six to eight weeks to receive a tax
transcript from the IRS.
Documentation from the appropriate
agency verifying receipt of SNAP (food
stamps) will be required if applicable.
Documentation verifying the annual
amount paid in child support will be
required if applicable.
Financial Aid Deadlines for Complete
Files (to ensure an award prior to fee
payment)
Fall Semester 2012 – July 15, 2012
Spring Semester 2013 – Nov. 15, 2012
Summer Semester 2013 – Apr. 15, 2013
All students wishing to apply for financial
aid for the 2012/2013 academic year must
complete a 2012/2013 FAFSA Students
must complete a FAFSA (or a renewal
FAFSA) to receive aid for the 2012/2013
academic year which begins with fall
semester 2012 even if they are currently
receiving financial aid.
The Clayton State Office of Financial Aid
urges students and future students to check
the Financial Aid website, located at;
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/finan-
cialaid/, often for updates.
Every long-term institution has employees
that, over the years, define the institution.
At Clayton State University, one of those
individuals for the past 25 years has been
Dirk Morrell, who joined the staff at
Clayton State on Oct. 1, 1986, as a deliv-
ery clerk. This coming Friday, Dec. 23,
2011, Morrell will retire as the head of
Mail Services and Inventory Control, and
it is safe to say that Clayton State will
never be the same again.
You see, Morrell is one of a kind, a true
original with an original sense of humor
who is arguably one of the most mnemonic
individuals to favor the University with his
presence. Another such individual,
Emeritus Director of Student Life Rob
Taylor, like many long-time Clayton
Staters, has his favorite Dirk Morrell story.
"Dirk, AKA, `Dirt,' is one of the more col-
orful characters I have ever been associat-
ed with," says Taylor. "The `Dirt' name
came from when my former secretary
Kathy Field introduced Dirk to her two
little girls and the youngest said, `Dirt?
What kind of a name is Dirt?'”
A quick Q & A with Morrell, on the occa-
sion of this retirement, speaks for itself.
For instance, when asked about his spend-
ing 25 years at Clayton State, he says, “I
was just going to be here until I found a
`real job.’”
Q. What are your plans for after you
retire?
A. Watch TV and stay out of trouble.
Staying out of trouble will almost be a full
time job.
Q. What was your most memorable
moment during your time at Clayton
State?
A. When Dr. (Susan) Hornbuckle got her
hair cut short.
Q. Who was the most memorable person
you have known at Clayton State?
A. Dr. Donna McCarty. She showed me
that a person could be a liberal and still
have some common sense.
Q. Who is your all-time favorite Clayton
State person?
A. I cannot put one person in that catego-
ry, but the staff of Clayton State are some
of the best people I have ever met… they
always keep things going.
Q. What’s been the biggest change in
Clayton State since you started working
here?
Retirement, cont’d., p. 9