Every year, NASFAA develops its information-packed training series on topics of interest that are identified by association members and selected by NASFAA’s Training Committee. This year will focus on the many aspects of student eligibility – from database matches to drug convictions, documenting veteran status, 2009-10 Federal Methodology and cost of attendance. NASFAA Fall Training is offered in most states through the state and regional financial aid associations. Detailed information about the 2008 Fall Training topic is provided below. Click here to view list of workshops.

Workshop Goals

• Provide an overview of the various database matches used to verify that a student meets certain general student eligibility criteria, highlighting recent changes.

• Discuss how to document whether or not a student meets the definition of a veteran for Title IV aid purposes.

• Review recent modifications to the construction of the COA and how to correctly implement the changes.

• Explain in detail the changes the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) made to Federal Methodology (FM) that are effective for the 2009-10 processing cycle. The training will give special emphasis to the expanded criteria by which an applicant may be considered an independent student.

• Examine the drug conviction component of FM.

• Discuss the impact of institutional policies on student eligibility.
  

Workshop Content

I. Introduction

II. Database Matches

A. Brief description of database matches
B. After the database matches are conducted

III. Determining and Documenting Dependency Status for Veterans and Members of the U.S. Armed Forces

A. Definition of veteran
B. Resolving and documenting veteran status

IV. Drug Convictions

A. What is a drug conviction?
B. History of the drug conviction requirement
C. Modification under HERA
D. Review of the FAFSA question

V. 2009-10 Federal Methodology Changes

A. Introduction
B. Dependency status questions
C. Simplified Needs Test and Auto Zero EFC
D. Untaxed income
E. Special combat pay
F. Qualified education benefits
G. Income Protection Allowance changes
H. Professional judgment

VI. Changes to the Construction of the Cost of Attendance

A. Purpose of the cost of attendance
B. Changes made by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act (HERA) of 2005
C. Changes made by the Higher Education Opportunity Act
D. Implementing COA changes
E. Case studies

VII. Impact of Institutional Policies on Student Eligibility

A. Collection and maintenance of student demographic information and the potential for conflicting information
B. Punitive Actions Polices
C. Cost of attendance

Who Should Attend

This training is designed for financial aid administrators who are responsible for confirming and calculating students’ eligibility for Title IV aid, as well as staff responsible for developing policies and procedures.

What You Will Learn

Participants will learn about upcoming changes to Federal Methodology, database matches, documenting veteran status for Title IV purposes, the drug conviction criterion, implementing recent changes to the cost of attendance, and the impact of institutional policies on student eligibility. A “head’s up” about reauthorization changes will be included within each topic area.

What You Will Receive

A Participant’s Handout containing

• Resource Charts

• Discussion Points

• Tools for customizing and implementing what you've learned

• PowerPoint Handout

What To Bring

A 1-inch 3-ring binder for training materials

Faculty

A team of experienced financial aid administrators will conduct the workshops using materials written, developed, and distributed by NASFAA. All instructors receive training on the workshop materials and related issues developed and presented by NASFAA staff, as well as ongoing regulatory and teaching assistance.

List of Workshops

Most state and regional associations sponsor NASFAA workshops. This means that the states and regions select the workshop locations, dates and instructors, and coordinate the registration activities associated with the workshops. If your state or region is sponsoring a NASFAA workshop, contact your association directly for information about dates, locations, and how to register. Click here to access the list of workshops. NASFAA will update this information as we receive it. Note that some states elect not to participate in the NASFAA workshop series.

Sale of Reference Materials

NASFAA’s Value and Value Plus Members will receive an electronic copy of the Fall Training materials AFTER all the state and regional workshops have taken place. Individual handouts are combined into one Adobe Acrobat PDF file for easy downloading and printing. Members are notified by email when the PDF is available for download. Materials are intentionally provided AFTER the in-person training because the state and/or regional associations provide valuable information and insight into the actual training documents. The materials are meant to supplement not replace the state and regional training workshops. The ability to download and share copies with others at your institutions is one of the many benefits of NASFAA's Value and Value Plus memberships.

In addition, after all state and regional workshops are completed, NASFAA sells any remaining printed materials, while supplies last. Ordering information for 2008 Fall Training materials will be announced in Today’s News and posted on this page.

To order workshop materials, complete a Publications Order Form and send it to NASFAA. Questions about ordering should be e-mailed to the Publications Desk.

Training materials currently available for purchase are:

Fall 2007 – Counseling Students and Families: Tackling Financial Issues focuses on how to explain to students and families in layman’s terms how their financial resources and family demographics are used to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC) under Federal Methodology (FM), and other options available to them when the standard approach does not work.

Fall 2006 - Verification explains the difference between “verification” of data used to calculate a student’s expected family contribution (EFC) and “conflicting information.” In addition, the materials cover the Higher Education Reconciliation Act (HERA), which changes several need analysis formula data elements.

Fall 2005 - Administrative Capability: Campus-Wide Compliance examines administrative capability in the context of a campus-wide effort. Focus is on developing strategies to ensure and strengthen the cross-campus communication necessary to demonstrate Title IV administrative capability.

Fall 2000 - Professional Judgment, includes guiding principles and a discussion of each of the areas to which professional judgment applies, including case studies.

Please direct all questions and comments about NASFAA Fall Training to Connie McCormick.