NASFAA's Board of Directors met in New York City November 14 to 16 at the site of the Association's 2005 Conference. Detailed minutes from the meeting have been posted on-line.
The Board engaged in discussion of a number of important issues, including diversity and different approaches to incorporating diversity into Association activities. The Board approved a Project Development Fund request for a financial investment in the College Access Marketing Toolbox of the Pathways to College Network initiative. NASFAA's involvement as a partner in this program was the result of a recommendation by NASFAA's Access and Diversity Committee, which hosted the program's coordinator at its fall meeting. The goal of the Pathways initiative is to advance access and success for underserved students by placing research-based knowledge on effective policies and practices into the hands of those in a position to make a critical difference for students.
Training and the role of the Department of Education's regional training officers were also discussed. The Board also heard a report from ED's Jeff Baker on such topics as the return of Title IV aid, Social Security number issues, handling mismatches with the Veterans Administration, the status of experimental sites, and conflicting information (particularly as it relates to tax information and the related issue of tax preparer signature requirements). The Board also received reports from the regional representatives to the Board and the representatives-at-large.
An issue tabled at the Board's July meeting on guidelines for the FFELP industry was brought back for discussion. Several of the groups with which NASFAA has been working to develop the guidelines have decided to proceed with their implementation. Some Board members felt that NASFAA should focus its efforts on looking at the Statement of Ethical Principles it adopted several years ago, while others were concerned that NASFAA was the only one in the group that had not acted to approve the FFEL guidelines crafted by the ad hoc group.
In honor of the Board's meeting in the EASFAA region, the Eastern Association donated $1,000 to the James W. Moore Scholarship Fund at Oberlin College.
Posted December 8, 2004 on www.NASFAA.org, Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Copyright 2004. Redistribution to nonmember institutions is prohibited
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