Dear Colleague,
The tragic events of the past week have affected all of us tremendously, including the students and parents we serve, the way we conduct our business, and our everyday operations. We are all confronting a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety over what we can expect in the immediate weeks and months that lie ahead, but we know things will not be "business as usual."
While I am gratefully relieved to report that every member of the NASFAA staff and their immediate family members were not physically harmed by last Tuesday's horrific events, I unfortunately cannot report the same for some of our campus members. Several member institutions in New York City and the metropolitan DC area in particular have reported students, family members, staff, and friends among those missing or killed. Two or three institutions in Manhattan have incurred damage to facilities. Other member institutions across the nation have lost students, staff, and alumni, and all institutions are likely to be impacted as reservists are called to active duty.
With all of this uncertainty, NASFAA has been receiving many inquiries. I want to take a moment to inform everyone of what we know, what the association has done, and what we will be doing (as things now stand) over the next several weeks.
First, many members have contacted NASFAA to ask how they should treat financial aid recipients who were affected by the attacks or who are being called up to active duty. NASFAA and the Department are currently reviewing the issues and ED has already started to issue guidance to all parties with the publication late Monday of GEN-01-11 ("Recent Terrorist Attacks - Relief for Borrowers in the Title IV Loan Programs"), available on both the IFAP and NASFAA Web Sites. This will be followed shortly thereafter by other Dear Partner Letters dealing with specific topics and issues. Needless to say, everyone wants to provide appropriate relief to those affected. We will alert you to the posting of future letters are soon as they are released.
Second, NASFAA has cancelled all of the committee meetings that were scheduled to meet in Washington, DC during September as well as the Fall Training of Trainers meeting. These will be made up via conference calls, and affected parties will be notified. The Fall Training Series will go forward as planned. The Finance and Conference Committees will also meet at the end of October as planned and the Board of Directors will still meet in November.
We will be sending a separate notice to all committee members outlining how we will handle travel cancellations and ticket refunds.
Finally, let me thank everyone who called and sent notes to NASFAA last week inquiring about our safety. While we are fine, we all need to remember those who were not as fortunate, and thank those who have done their best to help our citizens in need. As we go forth, all of us will need to continue to do our part to help the nation heal and to move forward for future generations.
Dallas Martin, NASFAA President
Posted September 17, 2001, on the NASFAA Web Site www.nasfaa.org
Copyright 2001, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
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