NASFAA's Board of Directors met in regular session in San Antonio, Texas July 10-11. Upon calling the Board to order, it was immediately moved that the Board go into "executive session," so that members could have a confidential discussion on issues pertaining to the allegations brought against Dr. Philip R. Day. The purpose of executive session in standard parliamentary procedure is not to hide information from members or the public, but to protect individuals in cases where, for instance, his or her private legal or employment matters will be discussed.
As NASFAA has reported, Day took a voluntary unpaid administrative leave when charges were filed against him in connection with his former employment as chancellor of the City College of San Francisco; longtime NASFAA Executive Vice President Joan Crissman was subsequently named Interim President and CEO. On July 23 it was announced that Dr. Day was voluntarily resigning from his post as NASFAA President and CEO.
Upon exiting executive session, SWASFAA President Taina Savoit welcomed everyone to her region and gave an overview of each state in the SWASFAA region.
Barbara Gordon, NASFAA's vice president for training and professional development, explained in her conference report that the San Antonio meeting had secured 1,853 pre-registrants, with more expected to register on-site. The final number of registrants from last year was about 2,300, so total attendees were anticipated to be down slightly from last year. Exhibitors too were down in numbers (50, compared to 70 last year). Gordon also reported that income from exhibitors, donors and sponsors is about two-thirds of what we brought in last year. However, on a more positive side, she reported on a number of improvements that have gained the approval of members and NASFAA leadership. For instance, the online scheduler -- which allows attendees to create their own personalized conference agendas -- was operational for the first time this year and very well-received. She also reported that the association was pleased with the strong Department of Education presence at the meeting -- in addition to a keynote speech by Deputy Undersecretary Bob Shireman and a closing ED session featuring ED's Jeff Baker, Dan Madzelan and David Bergeron, the Department held 32 breakout sessions on 14 different topics over the course of the conference. Future conference locations were also announced: 2010 will be in Denver, 2011 will likely be in Boston, and 2012 will most likely be in either Indianapolis or Chicago.
NASFAA 2008-09 National Chair David Gruen reported on his recent travel and meeting participation, thanked Barry Simmons for filling in by traveling to EASFAA, and thanked his commission directors for an outstanding job this year.
National Chair-Elect Dr. Barry Simmons reported on the conference calls and meetings in which he participated. He reported that he was glad to step in as needed at EASFAA, where he was honored to present Susan Howard with the NASFAA Leadership award. He additionally represented the association at VASFAA, and at the SASFAA board meeting in St. Petersburg, and served as part of a panel on student loans at the Career Colleges Association conference. Dr. Simmons also introduced and welcomed his three commission directors for 2009-10: Billie Jo Hamilton, Dan Mann, and Tami Sato.
The Board then moved to go into "executive session," so that members could have a confidential discussion on issues pertaining to defining the role of the Representatives at Large to the Board.
Justin Draeger, vice president of public policy and advocacy, provided an update on the Dallas Martin Endowment, and informed the group that lapel pins were to be distributed to those Board members who have given to the endowment. Draeger encouraged further giving and added that it would assist our grant-writing efforts if we could claim "100 percent board support" for the endowment.
Draeger then provided a to-date status report on the National Conversation Initiative, in which he reiterated that NCI was the result of a deliberative, inclusive process, and urged additional feedback from the board and from members on all issues -- and particularly the campus based aid program recommendations. Draeger reiterated that he believes that, through NCI, NASFAA laid a solid foundation for advocacy that enabled us to engage in the policy conversations which arose last spring following the release of President Obama's FY 2010 budget, and that NCI has the potential to provide the underpinnings of NASFAA's future policy and advocacy work.
Draeger also reported that certain portions of the NASFAA's NCI recommendations are moving at different rates than others, in terms of acceptance from policymakers and the higher education community. For instance, NCI's advocacy on simplification and on behalf of maintaining borrower support services has gained some traction among stakeholders. Draeger also reported on a meeting with the Department's Jeff Baker, in which Baker agreed to examine the possibility of involving schools in rating specific performance measures on loan servicing contractors.
Joan Crissman reported on the most recent proposal to conduct the next fall training via a series of four NASFAA hosted Webinars. She explained that this was the most reasonable option, given the very short turn-around time expected after the Department of Education issues Final Regulations on the HEOA (regulations are expected on Nov. 1), and the financial situation at many institutions that could make travel to workshops difficult.
Crissman then gave a membership update and overview in which she reported that the association ended the 2008-09 fiscal year with more active institutional members than the previous five years. In addition, NASFAA's renewal rate as of Dec. 31, 2008 had reached a record high of 97.5 percent. Membership renewals for 2009-10 are tracking on-target as of seven weeks past the renewal mailing. To date, only seven schools and two constituents have reported that they are not renewing for 2009-10. Non-renewals will no doubt go up from the current level, but we won't have a preliminary renewal rate until September 30, when the official renewal period ends.
As required by the NASFAA bylaws, the board unanimously approved a motion to affirm the action (already taken) by the board to increase dues.
In other action, the Board approved the May 2009 Board Meeting minutes, and the 2009-10 association budget proposed by the Finance and Audit Committee.
SWASFAA Regional President Taina Savoit next presented an action request, put together by the six regional presidents, to alter the current policy pertaining to the association's interregional visitation program. The action essentially affirms that regional president-elects would do their interregional visit during their president-elect year, during which time they may elect to go to a full board meeting or a board meeting attached to a regional conference. Current regional presidents would not be required to participate in the interregional visitation program. The item received some discussion and was ultimately unanimously approved by the board.
The Board heard comprehensive reports from each of its three 2008-09 commission directors, including the status of projects and activities of each of the 12 committees; regional presidents also reported on activities in each of the regions.
Prior to adjourning, awards were distributed for exiting board members Bill Cheetham, Sandy Calhoun, Heidi Granger, Lisanne Masterson, Dave Mohning, David Page, Alvina Thomas, Susan Allen, Catherine King-Todd, and Brent Tener (along with Michael Bennett and Curt Martin, in absentia). Outgoing National Chair David Gruen thanked the board and congratulated them for their year, at which time a motion was made and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting. The Board will next meet in full session Nov. 8-9, with arrival on Nov. 7; the location is still to be decided.
Posted 07/29/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
