1/29/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Dennis Schmidt, UNI professor of accounting and VITA program coordinator, (319) 273-2968

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

Free tax assistance to be offered by UNI accounting students, beginning Feb. 5

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Free income tax assistance will be offered this year at the University of Northern Iowa through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, according to Dennis Schmidt, accounting professor and program coordinator. Senior accounting students will provide the assistance.

The program will run from Feb. 5 through April 11, except during UNI's spring break the week of March 17. Sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, from 4 to 5 p.m., in Room 224 of the Curris Business Building on the UNI campus.

VITA was established by the Internal Revenue Service to help people who may not be able to afford professional tax assistance. The program is popular with low-income individuals and families, college students, senior citizens, and others who are on a tight budget. The program also provides accounting students an experiential learning opportunity as they work with people in actual income tax situations.

Schmidt said approximately 50 accounting students will participate in the program. They will be available to prepare federal and state tax returns and to answer tax questions. These students have completed a one-semester, comprehensive tax course, have received additional training, and have access to a variety of federal and state reference materials.

Persons seeking tax assistance should bring wage and earnings statements from their employers, (Form W-2), interest statements from banks (Form 1099-INT), dividend statements from mutual funds (Form 1099-DIV), copies of last year's tax returns (if available), social security numbers for themselves and any dependents, tax rebate information, and any other relevant information concerning 2001 income and expenses.

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01/29/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Julia Wallace, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, (319) 273-3092

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

CROW Forum Monday, Feb. 4 at UNI to guide women in growing older

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- "A Young Woman's Guide to Growing Older," will be the subject of the University of Northern Iowa's Current Research on Women (CROW) Forum series at noon Monday, Feb. 4 in the Maucker Union's Embassy Room.

Julia Wallace, professor and dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UNI, will speak on issues that affect women personally as they grow older. Topics will range from areas of health to economics. According to Wallace, the forum is aimed at preparing young women for events they will encounter as they age.

"Women today can expect to live longer than ever before," says Wallace, "and young women can be either 20 or 70, depending on the other individuals with whom they live. Women need to know all they can about what their lives will be like in their later years and how they can be best prepared to live those years successfully."

The CROW Forum series will continue March 4, with "Negotiated Identities: Undocumented Latinas In Iowa," by Anne Woodrick, UNI associate professor of anthropology, and Phyllis Baker, UNI associate professor of sociology and criminology.

For more information on the series, contact Phyllis Baker, director, UNI Graduate Program in Women's Studies, (319) 273-2109.