Phil Day - NASFAA's incoming president - outlined his goals for the association at the SASFAA annual conference yesterday. Day, who has been a community college president or chancellor for more than 25 years, stressed the importance of financial aid in helping students realize their postsecondary education goals. He urged members to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill and offered tips on how to best connect with legislators. Day begins his new role as NASFAA President on March 1.

Day recounted his own experiences growing up in the tenements of Portland, Maine. "I came from an economically disadvantaged background," said Day. "But a community college counselor helped me navigate the postsecondary maze. I would not be here today without that kind of help early on in college."

"I wanted to say to you how honored I am to be in this position," he continued. "I've always felt strongly that financial aid in colleges and universities do make a difference. There has never been a financial aid director, dean, or vice president who worked at my college who didn't have a final interview with me as president... so I could make sure they would do their jobs in a caring, sensitive, and effective way."

Legislators must be made to understand the number of students financial aid administrators help, according to Day. "Legislators care about students, but they care about votes as well," said Day. "Showing them the number of students you serve will connect with them." Day said that legislators are concerned about financial aid. Day is heading back to California today to meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on another matter, but said that her staff has expressed great interest in financial aid issues and NASFAA.

Day also honored prior NASFAA President Dallas Martin. When Day began at the City College of San Francisco, he was greeted by a long line of students leading up to his office with worries about college costs. Day said he realized early that NASFAA could help and spoke to Martin about this situation. Martin suggested Day look at NASFAA's Standard of Excellence program. Day said he was one of the first schools to take advantage of NASFAA's Standard of Excellence program and learned early on the value NASFAA offers the higher education community.

"We implemented all of the recommendations NASFAA gave us," said Day. "Dallas and NASFAA helped me through that crisis."

Day concluded by outlining his vision and goals for NASFAA. "The one thing I will promise you, is that wherever we are now, in three to five years we are going to be in a lot better place," said Day. "My hope and expectation is that you in the field will feel like you're getting more value, more leadership, more responsiveness, more customer service, and more products out of NASFAA. Day in and day out I'm going to be dedicated to that goal."

By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications

Posted 02/19/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.