Facebook Campaign Seeks to Save Student Aid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Haley Chitty
Director of Communications
(202) 785-6959
chittyh@nasfaa.org 

Student groups, financial aid administrators launch Facebook campaign to oppose student aid cuts 

Washington, D.C. -- February 22, 2011 -- The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG) and the U.S. Student Association (USSA) have launched a Facebook campaign (Facebook.com/SaveStudentAid) to oppose legislation that would cut college students' federal student aid for the upcoming academic year.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a stop-gap spending bill (H.R. 1) on Saturday that would slash 2011-12 Pell Grant awards by more than 15 percent, reducing the maximum award from $5,550 to $4,705 -- a $845 cut. The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of the federal student aid system that provides grants to 9.4 million low- and moderate-income undergraduates to pay for college and graduate into the workforce. These students are currently receiving financial aid packages from colleges and universities based on a $5,550 maximum Pell. If Congress cuts funding for Pell Grants, aid packages would be revised, cutting the average Pell award by $785 and eliminating grant access for hundreds of thousands of students.

"By threatening to cut student aid funding, Congress is creating financial uncertainty for the nation's most vulnerable students and families -- those who are already struggling to pay for college," said NASFAA President Justin Draeger. "If Congress cuts Pell Grants now, low and moderate income students and families will have little time to figure out how to come up with the additional funds they'll need to pay for college. In the best-case scenario, impacted students would be forced to take on additional student loan debt; in the worst-case they could delay -- or even abandon -- their college aspirations."

"The proposal to cuts Pell aid for next academic year couldn't come at a worse time," said Rich Williams, higher education advocate for U.S. PIRG. "Right now our high schools best and brightest seniors and current college students are deciding if they can afford college next year. The proposed cuts will discourage millions of students from pursuing college training and graduating at a time when our economy demands more highly skilled workers."

NASFAA, U.S. PIRG and USSA encourage students and families to join the Save Student Aid Facebook campaign to let lawmakers know the importance of Pell, and what would happen if Congress cut their grant. Check out the campaign online at http://www.facebook.com/SaveStudentAid.

About NASFAA 
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents nearly 20,000 financial aid professionals at 2,800 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. Each year, financial aid professionals help more than 16 million students receive funding for post secondary education. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit http://www.nasfaa.org.

About U.S. PIRG
The federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization. For more information, visit http://www.uspirg.org. For more on U.S. PIRG's Affordable Higher Education Campaign, visit http://www.uspirg.org/higher-education.

About USSA
The United States Student Association, the country's oldest and largest student-led organization, represents over 4.5 million students at over 400 campuses across the nation.  We work to develop current and future leaders and amplify the student voice at the local, state, and national levels by mobilizing grassroots power to win concrete victories on student issues. For more information about USSA, visit http://www.usstudents.org.

April 17 Is Tax Day: NASFAA Guide Helps Families Understand Education Tax Benefits & Get The Money They Deserve
March 19, 2012 -- NASFAA has released a new, free Tax Benefits Guide designed to help students and families navigate the sometimes thorny task of determining which higher education tax benefits  you qualify to receive—and which will secure you the maximum return on April 17. The federal government provides roughly $15 billion in tax savings to more than 10 million students and families every year.
Facebook Campaign Seeks to Save Student Aid
Feb. 22, 2011 - NASFAA joins forces with USPIRG and the U.S. Student Association to oppose legislation that would cut college students' federal student aid this fall.
Financial Aid Administrators Issue Updated National Profile of 2012 Federal Student Aid Programs
June 27, 2012 -- NASFAA released an updated edition of its annual federal student aid primer, to better inform members of the media, policymakers and other interested parties about the facts surrounding student aid issues and funding.
Financial Aid Administrators Offer Loan Repayment Advice to Recent College Graduates
Nov. 15, 2012 -- As May graduates exit their student loan repayment grace period, NASFAA provides tips on selecting a repayment plan. 
Financial Aid Administrators to Examine Award Letter and Consumer Information Best Practices
Dec. 5, 2011 - NASFAA announced the creation of a special Task Force to examine best practices in award notification and consumer information.
Financial Aid Experts Discuss Pell Grants and College Access at NASFAA Forum
Jan. 18, 2012 --  Student financial aid experts discussed the importance (and limitations) of the Federal Pell Grant program in increasing college access  at a forum held Jan. 18 at the U.S. Capitol
Free Resources Help Students Apply For Aid, Reduce the Cost Of College
Jan. 24, 2011 -- NASFAA has developed three free resources to help students accurately file the FAFSA. These resources provide a wealth of information for students, families and counselors who advise families trying to pay for college.
Free Resources Help Students Apply For Financial Aid & Reduce the Cost of College
Jan. 16, 2012 - The release of the new 2013-14 FAFSA marks the start of the planning-for-college season, and NASFAA is pleased to offer resources to provide critical information to all stakeholders in this process.
Independent Consumer Testing Demonstrates Concerns with Standardized Financial Aid Award Letters

April 2, 2013 -- As college costs and student debt continue to expand, lawmakers and the public have increasingly called for better and more useful consumer information about the true cost of college. In an effort to improve financial aid award letters, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) engaged with JBL Associates, Inc. (JBLA), an independent research firm, to consumer-test three different types of award letters with students and families. 

Leaders Convene In DC for Sen. Brown's Fifth Annual Ohio College and University Presidents Conference
March 27, 2012 -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) convened his fifth annual college and university presidents conference in Washington, D.C. today with more than 50 presidents from colleges and universities across Ohio. Brown’s forum – the first of its kind – is aimed at connecting educators with business leaders to advance regional economic development.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: NASFAA Offers Financial Aid Experts to Speak on Student Loan Default Rates
Sept. 14, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Education has said it will release the FY 2010 two-year cohort default rates (CDRs) on Sept. 17 and the FY 2009 three-year CDRs on Sept. 24 to schools, guaranty agencies and lenders.
NASFAA Board of Directors Renews President Draeger's Contract for Two More Years
Jan. 16, 2012 -- The board of directors of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has voted to extend NASFAA President Justin Draeger's contract for two additional years, through June 2015.
NASFAA Comments on Department of Education, CFPB Financial Aid Shopping Sheet
July 24, 2012 -- NASFAA President Justin Draeger issued the following statement regarding the the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB's) final version of the financial aid Shopping Sheet
NASFAA Partners with White House & Education Dept. to Connect Work-study Jobs to Career Goals
Dec. 9, 2011 - NASFAA announced yesterday that it is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education and other stakeholders on a White House initiative to encourage college campuses to use the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) to place students in positions related to their learning and career interests and goals.
NASFAA President Justin Draeger to Testify Before Congress on Loan Programs
March 13, 2013 -- Today at 10:00 am ET Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives at the Committee on Education and the Workforce’s hearing on "Keeping College Within Reach: Examining Opportunities to Strengthen Federal Student Loan Programs."
NASFAA President Statement on Low Pell Grant Payment Error Rate
Nov. 5, 2011 - In response to the Obama administration's announcement that the rate of improper payments in the Pell Grant program fell to 2.7% in 2011, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator President Justin Draeger issued this statement.
NASFAA Provides School-by-School Estimates of Potential Sequester Cuts: How Will Your Local Students be Harmed?

Feb. 26, 2013 -- Student financial aid administrators, college presidents, and consumers have all seen recent reports about the impact of March 1 across-the-board spending cuts (e.g. “sequestration”) on key federal programs that assist students and families in paying for college. To provide some context on what these cuts might mean in real dollars, NASFAA—the association representing nearly 20,000 financial aid professionals from all sectors of higher education—has created a PDF spreadsheet that estimates campus-based reductions for more than 4,000 schools across the country if the looming sequester is enacted this Friday.

NASFAA Reimagines the Design & Delivery of Student Financial Aid
Feb. 13, 2013 -- As the student aid programs rapidly approach reauthorization in 2014, they continue to face severe funding and efficiency problems. With grant assistance from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through their “Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery” (RADD) project, NASFAA today released a policy brief examining the current systems of student aid with an eye towards reimagining how they could be improved in the future.
NASFAA Statement on “Smarter Solutions for Students Act”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Contact NASFAA Communications (202) 785 6944 news@nasfaa.org  WASHINGTON, DC, May 9, 2013—In response to HR 1911, the “Smarter Solutions for Students Act” put forth by the House of Representative’s Committee on Education and the Workforce, National Association
NASFAA Statement on Cohort Default Rates
Sept. 14, 2012 -- "As economic recovery limps along and the job market slowly bounces back, it’s no surprise that default rates continue to stagnate or increase," says NASFAA President Justin Draeger.
NASFAA Statement on College Board Trends Report
Oct. 24, 2012 -- NASFAA President Justin Draeger offers context for College Board financial aid and college cost data.
NASFAA Statement on Deal to Temporarily Extend 3.4% Rate on Subsidized Student Loans
June 27, 2012 -- NASFAA President Justin Draeger issued this statement in response to the proposal to temporarily extend the 3.4 percent rate on subsidized Stafford loans and to permanently limit eligibility for these same subsidized loans to 150 percent of the program length.
NASFAA Statement on Obama's 2013 Budget Request
Feb. 13, 2012 -- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) President Justin Draeger issued this statement in response to President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2013 Budget Request.
NASFAA Statement on President’s 2014 Budget Request

April 10, 2013 -- In response to President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget request, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) President Justin Draeger issued the following statement...

NASFAA Statement On Rep. Petri’s Bill To Move to Full Income Contingent Repayment
Dec. 18, 2012 -- In an effort to reduce complexity, improve default rates, and increase the effectiveness of federal student loan subsidies, Rep. Tom Petri (WI-R) introduced the Earnings Contingent Education Loans Act of 2012 yesterday that would replace and restructure Federal Direct Student loans. The new loans would be unsubsidized and would require income-contingent repayment (ICR) for all borrowers through a system of payroll withholdings from earnings through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), similar to federal tax withholdings. This approach would shift federal benefits from the front end (as is currently awarded through subsidized Stafford loans) to the back end (by providing relief to borrowers who need it based on their circumstances during repayment).
NASFAA Supports Improved College Cost Disclosures
May 23, 2012 -- When students and families make critical decisions about which college to attend, they often rely on the information colleges and universities send them in a financial aid award letter. However, a lack of consistency between schools’ award letters can cause confusion and make it difficult for students and families to make comparisons. This confusion has policymakers to explore ways to improve award letters. To help this effort, NASFAA has issued recommendations to ensure award letters provide students and families with information that is clear, concise and consistent.
NASFAA Task Force Issues 8 Recommendations for Reducing Student Loan Indebtedness
Feb. 27, 2013 -- Student financial aid administrators, policymakers, and the general public have all expressed increasing concern about student loans, debt levels, and rising default rates, which coincide with worries about college costs, affordability, and transparency. That’s why NASFAA—the association representing nearly 20,000 financial aid professionals from all sectors of higher education—convened a task force in 2012 to study this issue and make recommendations for improvement.
NASFAA Task Force to Present Congress with Higher Education Act Policy Recommendations
Jan. 9, 2012 -- As the 2013 Higher Education Act expiration approaches, NASFAA has formed a task force to consult with NASFAA’s membership and other important groups and agencies to develop recommendations to the NASFAA board on policy issues and specific statutory changes in the federal student aid programs and their delivery systems.
NASFAA Website Wins 'Best in Class' from Interactive Media Awards

March 24, 2011 - The new NASFAA.org received highest honors for planning, execution and overall professionalism.

National Initiative Will Explore How To Make Federal Student Aid Work Better For Students
August 27, 2012 -- NASFAA announced it has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to examine current systems of aid design and delivery, with an eye toward reimagining how they may be improved in the future. The grant was awarded to NASFAA as part of larger project, Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery (RADD).
National Study Will Examine the Use of Earlier Income Data in Student Aid Eligibility
Jan. 30, 2012 -- NASFAA has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to study the use of prior-prior year (or two years prior) income data to determine eligibility for student financial aid.
New Tools Help Students Evaluate College Costs and Quality
Oct. 31, 2011 - NASFAA has published a new resource to help students and families evaluate colleges and universities and estimate the out-of-pocket costs, or "net price," of higher education. NASFAA's issue brief highlights some of the consumer information colleges provide and analyzes what this information says about a school and some of the limitations of the data.
Presidential Campaign Representatives, Sen. Durbin to Discuss Student Aid
July 12, 2012 -- It's not too late to make plans to attend and report on the 2012 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conference, held July 22-25 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
Presidential Campaign Reps To Discuss Student Aid At NASFAA National Conference, July 22 In Chicago
May 31, 2012 -- There’s a new reason to save the date for the 2012 National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conference, held July 22-25 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Key higher education policy advisors from the Barack Obama and Mitt Romney presidential campaigns will kick off the conference with a lively policy debate on Sunday, July 22 at 12:45 p.m. Campaign representatives will address crucial higher education issues related to student financial aid, including funding for programs, ensuring access and success for all students and ideas for policy reform.
Presidential Campaign Reps, Sen. Dick Durbin Begin NASFAA Conference With Policy Dialogue
July 23, 2012 – NASFAA’s National Conference opened with fanfare yesterday as 2,500 attendees welcomed key higher education policy advisors from the Barack Obama and Mitt Romney presidential campaigns.
Press Releases

 

Statement on President's FY2012 Budget Request
Feb. 14, 2011 -  NASFAA President Justin Draeger issued this statement in response to President Barack Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2012 request.
Student Aid in Obama's 2013 Budget Request
Feb. 10, 2012 -- The Obama administration plans to kick off the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget process on Monday by releasing the President's FY2013 Budget Request. Administration officials have said that the FY13 Budget request will include additional details about the college affordability policy proposals mentioned by President Obama in his recent State of the Union address. Here's what we'll be looking for in the budget request.
Students Negatively Impacted by Strained Financial Aid Offices
Feb. 7, 2011 - Financial aid offices and the student services they provide are being strained by increasing regulatory and administrative burdens, according to our recent survey.
Tax Day is April 15: NASFAA Guide Helps Families Understand Education Tax Benefits & Make the Most of Their Return
March 28, 2013 -- Looking forward to a big tax return this year? Or seeking ways to reduce the amount you shell out to Uncle Sam? The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has released a new, free Tax Benefits Guide for Tax Year 2012 designed to help students and families navigate the sometimes thorny task of determining which higher education tax benefits you qualify to receive—and which will secure you the maximum return on April 15. The federal government provides roughly $19 billion in tax savings every year.
Undocumented Students: What's the Policy Environment in Your State?

July 11, 2012 -- The National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good and NASFAA has created resources to help aid administrators determine their state's policies on undocumented students in higher education and to increase access to higher education for this student population.

Web Marketing Association Names NASFAA.org 'Best Association Website' of 2011
April 8, 2011 - The newly redesigned NASFAA.org receives a second prestigious award.
Access Group