NASFAA Summer Training Series Launches With Overview of State of Financial Aid
By Owen Daugherty, NASFAA Staff Reporter
NASFAA’s 2020 Summer Training Series kicked off Wednesday as President and CEO Justin Draeger and Vice President of Policy & Federal Relations Megan Coval provided an overview of the state of financial aid, as well as an "inside the beltway" look at the intersection of higher education and student financial aid.
During the session, the first of eight in the series, Draeger discussed the higher education portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was enacted to help offset the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for both institutions and students.
Coval began the webinar covering the federal expenses associated with higher education, along with the federal budget and appropriations for the 2020 fiscal year. She also outlined future concerns about the Pell Grant program facing a possible shortfall and spending on higher education, given the fact that Congress has spent trillions of dollars to deal with the pandemic. Draeger highlighted concerns from financial aid professionals that have been percolating in recent months, notably an increase in professional judgment requests and frustrations regarding an overall lack of administrative capability.
Additionally, Draeger detailed how NASFAA member institutions have navigated guidance from the Department of Education in attempting to disburse emergency grant aid to students in need, while Coval gave a broad overview on the prospects of a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and what impact the presidential election could have on higher education.
For those who missed the webinar and wish to view it on-demand or register for future sessions in NASFAA’s Summer Training Series, you can still do so online.
Publication Date: 6/11/2020
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