This article describes how Highline College partnered with AWS to build a financial aid tracking tool that streamlines student inquiries and improves transparency.

• Financial aid department received 250-300 contacts weekly, quadrupling during peak periods
• AWS acceleration team built and deployed pilot tool in six weeks
• Tool sends text/email notifications and displays aid status in student-friendly language
• Reduced status inquiries by 75%, freeing staff for complex issues
• FAFSA processing time cut from 120 days to 60 days
• College completed initial file reviews by May instead of first week of fall quarter
• Inspired by Amazon package tracking concept for student aid visibility
• Future plans include intelligent document processing to consolidate 27 screens into one view

The tool demonstrates how cloud automation can reduce administrative burden while improving student experience and institutional efficiency in higher education.