Webinars

"I'm Just a Bill, and I'm Sitting Here on Capitol Hill": How a Bill Really Becomes a Law Schoolhouse Rock!'s iconic "I'm Just a Bill" video only had it partially right. It didn't cover authorization vs. appropriation legislation, regulatory vs. statutory guidance, mandatory vs. discretionary spending, or negotiated rulemaking. In financial aid, how does a bill really become a law? And how do we implement it once it gets signed? To quote Schoolhouse Rock!, "While a few key congressmen discuss and debate whether they should let me be a law. How I hope and pray that they will, but today I am still just a bill." How do we help bills cross the finish line and, more importantly, what happens once they do?

The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. The Policy Team will provide updates on Higher Education Act reauthorization, student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives, and close with a question-and-answer session.

This webinar will review the 2025-26 verification data element and documentation requirements. It will also focus on some of the more complicated verification-related issues that come up year after year. Join David Futrell, NASFAA Director of Institutional Compliance, as he leads you through the latest verification requirements and challenging issues.

Join NASFAA in collaboration with SchoolHouse Connection for an insightful webinar dedicated to supporting unaccompanied homeless youth on their journey through higher education. Led by experts in financial aid and youth homelessness advocacy, this webinar will delve into the unique challenges faced by unaccompanied homeless youth and explore strategies for providing them with the necessary financial aid resources and support services.

In its commitment to the graduate and professional community, NASFAA is providing this webinar as a forum for graduate and professional financial aid administrators to discuss current issues of concern for their students and peers. NASFAA will provide an update on topics specific to the graduate and professional aid community, and close with a question-and-answer session.

To participate in the Title IV aid programs, schools must demonstrate certain standards of administrative capability. Join Sarah Austin, regulatory specialist, to provide an overview of the measures of administrative capability, including special attention on the new provisions that went into effect July 1, 2024.

The webinar will focus on a timely hot topic in the financial aid community. The topic will be announced three months prior to the event.

Financial aid administrators operate in a regulated environment where even concepts of time might not mean what they do in day-to-day life. An hour, a day, a week, and a year are all regulated calendar terms with a lot of subregulatory guidance attached. In campus discussions about new academic program structures, we sometimes hear ourselves thinking "You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

In this webinar we will parse out these terms and explore how even subtle changes to academic programs and courses could impact payment periods, semesters or quarters, and the timing of disbursements and student eligibility determinations. 

Join Tiffany Gibbs, Director of Online Compliance Products and a panel of experienced program administrators who will walk through the basics of administering the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. Topics of discussion will include carry forward/carry back, the matching, and the community service requirement. The community service waiver from the COVID-19 national emergency expires at the end of the 2024-25 award year. 

NASFAA's Annual Business Meeting will be conducted virtually, immediately preceding the Policy Update Webinar. NASFAA's bylaws dictate that the association must meet annually for the purpose of transacting all business which may be brought before the membership. The meeting will include updates on NASFAA's financial status, FAAC®? program, governance and oversight, and diversity efforts.

The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. The Policy Team will provide updates on Higher Education Act reauthorization, student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives, and close with a question-and-answer session.

The  NASFAA Quiz Show webinar is back, and we are preparing for season 5! As always, our NASFAA Quiz Show webinar allows you and your staff a chance to take a break from all the things that keep you awake at night and enjoy a fun webinar set to provide training in an entertaining manner! We bring to life some of those very thought-provoking and sometimes mind blowing AskRegs questions in an approach that is considered edutainment. The goal is to provide a good mix of questions so even our financial aid neophytes can participate in the fun as well. So, join NASFAA’s Kochie Vaughan and David Tolman in this engaging webinar as they test your knowledge on a variety of financial aid topics. Have fun watching, learning, and seeing which staff members in your office are NASFAA Quiz Show Champions!

Join us as we delve into critical considerations around consumer protection requirements related to student funding that extend beyond U.S. Department of Education Title IV Federal Student Aid expectations. This session will guide you through key aspects of ensuring appropriate approaches to Enrollment Agreements, Institutional Payment Plans, Tuition Discounts, Education-for-Work Agreements, and Debt Collection, ensuring you understand the nuances of each. Additionally, review the regulations surrounding Private Lending and Preferred Lending Rules to protect students and institutions alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the tools and insights necessary to safeguard student financial aid and promote ethical practices in education funding.

Financial aid administrators often describe their own career paths as an individual journey of discovery rather than intention. Despite being pivotal to the success of postsecondary institutions, this role is frequently a position that talented individuals "fall into" by happenstance and then learn to love, grow, and find success in. Join this webinar to hear from a panel of experienced financial aid administrators and association leaders as they explore possibilities and solutions for how to change our profession from an accidental career to a chosen professional pathway.

As aid administrators prepare for a new aid year, schools must remain diligent in their commitment to remain in compliance. Although there were several regulatory changes with the 2024-25 FAFSA, schools should be reminded that many rules and regulations did not change and attention to remaining in compliance should be a priority. In light of the Department of Education's temporary suspension on routine program reviews through September 2024, campuses should identify practical strategies to mitigate risks and ensure institutional compliance. Join Blue Icon and two peer reviewers as we delve into the top findings from recent SOE reviews and how schools can minimize their risks in those areas.

Will there be significant changes to the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? With the implementation of the changes required as a part of the FAFSA Simplification Act in place, we will discuss changes and modifications made to the application and the application process in place for the 2025-26 application cycle. Join Lissa Powell and Kochie Vaughan with NASFAA's Training and Regulatory Assistance team as they walk through the coming year's application process.

At the NASFAA convening Breaking Barriers: Bridging Worlds in Prison Education and Student Advising convening in June 2024, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) led a panel discussion exploring questions and practices in recruiting and admissions in higher education programs for students who are incarcerated. This webinar continues that conversation.

What U.S. noncitizen categories are eligible for Title IV aid? How do we tell? How can a student qualify for Title IV aid using ability-to-benefit? How do schools resolve issues regarding aggregate loan limits and overborrowing? Student eligibility will be the focus, so join NASFAA’s Norma Robinson as we explore the answers to these questions, and other related topics.

This session is designed for anyone involved in supporting students who are incarcerated, such as advisors who anticipate working directly with these students; campus-advisors who are in institutions involved with prison education; faculty; and prison education program coordinators. The presenters, representing Achieving The Dream and NACADA, partner organizations of the Advising Success Network, will share strategies for successful implementation of advising strategies tailored to the unique needs of inside scholars.

This webinar dives into NASFAA's Diversity Leadership Program (DLP). We'll explore eligibility, application details, and the details of the program. Learn how the DLP program benefits and provides selectees a robust portfolio of benefits, mentorship, and guidance on how to develop as a financial aid association leader.

What is and what is not other financial assistance (OFA)? This question comes up a lot. Join David Futrell, Director of Institutional Compliance, in a discussion of the longstanding rules and general observations related to the treatment of OFA (formerly EFA). We’ll focus on the changes made by the FAFSA Simplification Act, which removes from OFA 1) emergency financial assistance for unexpected expenses within the student’s cost of attendance (COA); and 2) foster care payments under Title IV, Part E of the Social Security Act. We’ll also discuss what happens when Title IV aid and non-Title IV aid exceed the COA.

 Join us for an insightful webinar as we explore the intricacies of FAFSA data and federal tax information (FTI). This session will provide guidance to assist schools when making determinations on accessing, disclosing, and handling FAFSA and FTI data in accordance with federal statute and regulations. We will navigate through the complexities of FAFSA data and FTI, offering valuable insights into the proper procedures and protocols schools must follow when considering data sharing. Attendees will gain a thorough understanding of their responsibilities in safeguarding sensitive student data.

CSS Profile is a common application for nonfederal, institutional financial aid that opens each year on October 1st. Used by hundreds of institutions, CSS Profile supports schools in providing additional data beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Now, CSS Profile is delivering a shorter application experience intended to increase access and equity while reducing barriers to financial aid. Like the full CSS Profile application, the lighter application experience also provides an estimated Student Aid Index for schools to share tentative federal aid estimates. Attendees will hear from College Board experts and a panel of financial aid leaders at CSS Profile institutions that have implemented the lighter application. Learn more about how institutions implement, utilize, and leverage CSS Profile and the shorter application experience to ensure more students get the aid dollars they need to succeed.

Join David Futrell, NASFAA Director of Institutional Compliance, for a review of some of the most frequently asked AskRegs questions related to FAFSA Simplification. Depending on the most popular questions leading into the webinar, topics will likely range from constructing the cost of attendance (COA) to packaging, as well as include verification and professional judgment (PJ) consideration of special circumstances and dependency overrides.

Join NASFAA's Tiffany Gibbs and Sarah Austin as they provide an overview of all of the new regulations that are not FAFSA Simplification centered, which also go into effect on July 1, 2024. 

Areas where there are changes include financial responsibility, administrative capability, certification procedures, gainful employment and financial value transparency, and ability-to-benefit. 

Prison Education Programs are responsible for ensuring that they are operating in the best interest of their students. Advising services, both those focused on student services and on academic success, must be equitable to those offered to campus students. But operating in a carceral environment is different in many aspects to operating on campus.

This webinar, the first in a series, opens the conversation about advising to students participating in a PEP. It is hosted by NASFAA, working with our partners from the Advising Success Network, including NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, and Achieving the Dream. First, the panelists will focus on defining the essential areas of advising. For each advising topic, they with introduce the discussion of what the implementation challenges might be. Those big questions will set the stage for the in-depth conversation to be held at the NASFAA PEP Convening "Breaking Barriers: Bridging Worlds in Prison Education and Student Advising" scheduled in June.

NASFAA's Annual Business Meeting will be conducted virtually, immediately preceding the Policy Update Webinar. NASFAA's bylaws dictate that the association must meet annually for the purpose of transacting all business which may be brought before the membership. The meeting will include updates on NASFAA's financial status, FAAC®? program, governance and oversight, and diversity efforts.

The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. The Policy Team will provide updates on Higher Education Act reauthorization, student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives, and close with a question-and-answer session.

Gainful employment is back! Join Norma Robinson, Compliance Generalist, and Sarah Austin,  Regulatory Specialist, to cover the return of gainful employment (GE), and the introduction of Financial Value Transparency (FVT) to the financial aid landscape. This webinar will cover the who, what, when, where, why, and how of GE and FVT, including definitions, reporting requirements, metrics and frameworks, as well as when regulations officially go into effect.

The NASFAA Quiz Show has been renewed and is all set for season 4! Get ready, because as a NASFAA member, you might be called on to serve as a contestant for season 4! We guarantee that you are going to love your NASFAA Quiz Show webinar experience. The webinar brings to life some of those very thought-provoking and sometimes mind-blowing AskRegs questions in a manner that is considered "edu-tainment." The goal is to provide a good mix of questions so even our financial aid neophytes can participate in the fun as well. So, join NASFAA's Kochie Vaughan and David Tolman in this engaging webinar as they test your knowledge on a variety of financial aid topics. Have fun learning and see which game show makes its debut for season 4!

Once considered a looming crisis within higher education, the enrollment cliff is upon us. Coupled with Title IV changes, schools are looking to develop better marketing strategies and create stronger aid packages that can maintain enrollment during this time. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role of financial aid in achieving enrollment goals with limited resources and a shrinking pool of students to choose from.

Prison Education Programs (PEP) and the institutions they are part of need to manage their financials, and there are a variety of ways they do this. The issues of affordability, cost management, and financial forecasting can be challenging. Defining the components of the Cost of Attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, and materials can be challenging. Programs need to balance legal jurisdictions, equity and fairness to students, and program sustainability. This needs to be done in the context of understanding the estimated financial aid anticipated to be available for each student. The panel on this webinar will include program leaders with experience in analyzing these questions.

In its commitment to the graduate and professional community, NASFAA is providing this webinar as a forum for graduate and professional financial aid administrators to discuss current issues of concern for their students and peers. NASFAA will provide an update on topics specific to the graduate and professional aid community, and close with a question-and-answer session.

In an ever-changing landscape of higher education enrollment management and financial aid, leading through change has never been more critical. This webinar will provide attendees with the understanding and tools necessary to navigate the tumultuous seas of change within their institutions.

Join us for a discussion on best practices for using technology to streamline your scholarship matching process, and maximizing your institution's scholarships. This session will also include a demonstration of the latest technology from Scholarship Magic where you will be able to observe the scholarship process in action, gaining unparalleled insights into fund distribution, student matches, and impactful donor engagement.

Significant changes to the Pell Grant eligibility criteria and federal methodology (FM) formula are on the horizon, including a new name for the expected family contribution (EFC), which has become the Student Aid Index (SAI). The revamped formula includes higher income protection allowances (IPA), elimination of the state and other tax allowance against income, elimination of many forms of untaxed income and excludable income, addition of small businesses and family farm assets, elimination of consideration of more than one family member in college, and more. Join NASFAA’s Jackie Cottom to take a deep dive into the new SAI.

Financial aid advising is an essential component of Prison Education Programs (PEPs). Many PEPs rely on the paper FAFSA when serving students who are incarcerated. We expect many new PEPs will enroll their first students in the Fall of 2024.  The challenge of introducing PEP work at the same time as FAFSA Simplification implementation crescendos will create a challenge for financial aid staff as well as PEP administrators. During this workshop, we will walk through the 2024-25 FAFSA completion process, highlighting the most complex form and verification questions. We will also talk about the methods for processing those paper FAFSAs. Both financial aid teams and prison program administrators will join the conversation and welcome your questions.

The newly redesigned 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) changes the way students apply for Title IV assistance, and in many cases, institutional and state aid. Join Lissa Powell and Tiffany Gibbs with NASFAA’s Training and Regulatory Assistance team as they walk through the changes and enhancements to the application process.

The NASFAA Policy Update and Final FAFSA Countdown will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy and FAFSA Simplification implementation. The Policy Team will provide updates on student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives,  latest updates on implementation as we approach the launch of the new FAFSA and close with a question-and-answer session.

This webinar will review the 2024-25 verification data element and documentation requirements resulting from FAFSA Simplification changes to the application process. While NASFAA hopes for a reduction in verification selections, verification will still be required in some cases. The webinar will discuss some of the more complicated issues that will remain even after FAFSA Simplification has been implemented. Join David Futrell, NASFAA Director of Institutional Compliance, as he leads you through the latest verification requirements and challenging issues.

While adapting to change has always been an important skill for financial aid administrators, transformational changes such as FAFSA Simplification and disruptions in the workforce present greater challenges than ever before. To help meet the challenge, Jackie Copeland, Chrissy Gass, Vanessa Martineau, and Art Young join NASFAA’s Susan Shogren to explore change management and interpersonal communication as foundational professional skills. This panel of experienced financial aid administrators and association leaders will share stories and strategies for communicating, managing, and sustaining change effectively.