This year's NASFAA Annual Conference will offer sessions highlighting effective strategies to increase college-going rates for students from underserved populations. Sessions will highlight the important role that financial aid administrators can play in the lives of thousands of youth from foster care to youth who are homeless, to first-generation college students and more.
Underserved populations usually lack the advantages that come from guidance, caring adults, and other necessary support structures that help them transition from high school to college. As you choose sessions to attend at the conference, consider one that addresses higher education access for these students from underserved populations. The rewards for helping these students are immeasurable.
"When you are face to face with kids that feel they have no future and you are the one who gives them hope for a brighter day, all the things in your office and job that give you stress will suddenly disappear and you will wonder why you haven't been doing this before!" says Becky Powell, director of financial aid at Montcalm Community College. "As they say in the advertisement it's "priceless!'"
"Financial aid administrators have been aware for some time of the unique challenges facing foster and homeless youth," says Jennifer Martin, NASFAA Assistant Director of Professional Assessment, Training, and Regulatory Assistance. "However, until recently they have lacked the information and resources needed to help these students navigate the financial aid process.
"Recent state and local initiatives, as well as federal legislation, are giving financial aid administrators what they need to ensure that students in this underserved population attain their postsecondary educational goal," continues Martin. "NASFAA has made a commitment to providing members with resources, including Webinars, guidance on completion of the FAFSA, and conference sessions, to equip them as they work with foster and homeless youth."
Students from underserved populations look like every other student as they step on a college campus for the first time. They don't wear signs identifying the specific issues they face.
"College and university administrators face two primary challenges when dealing with under-represented populations," says University of Texas Pan American Student Financial Services Direct Elaine Rivera. "The first one is learning how to recognize and find underserved populations, and the second is knowing how to reach them with a message that is meaningful."
Rivera serves many students who come from migrant families and says that reaching these students requires early outreach and special support services. Rivera will be one of the participants in NASFAA's preconference session that will give attendees a toolkit of resources to assist in delivering the college-going messages to special populations.
Understanding the financial aid process is a complex process that can confuse even the most prepared students. For first-generation students, the confusion is amplified with the language and definition barriers.
"It has been necessary for me to be a role model and a more effective and clear communicator to meet the needs of students who are not fluent in financial aid terms and slow to trust administrators," says Gail Holt, senior associate director of financial aid at Mt. Holyoke College. "First generation students are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to financial independence. As a financial aid administrator, I am must use current and emerging technologies to provide better training for those that I work with."
NASFAA is pleased to present these sessions to promote awareness and resources to better serve students and families from underserved populations. Financial aid administrators are key players in increasing college access and completion rates among foster youth, homeless youth, first-generation students, students of color, and low income families.
"I am so excited about the information being provided at this year's conference, says Sharon Hassan, director of financial aid at Goucher College and current chair of the NASFAA Student Access and Diversity Committee. "I have successfully used this information in my community outreach efforts to let students and families know that there are more options available to them than they might realize. Kudos to NASFAA for making these topics a top priority."
By Marcia Weston
Director of College Access Programs
Posted 06/10/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
