Advocating for Financial Aid Staff: A Guide for Human Resources
Financial aid professionals are essential to student access, enrollment, compliance, and institutional stability — yet their work is often misunderstood or undervalued across campus. To effectively support these professionals, HR teams must understand the unique regulatory pressures, skill sets, and staffing demands of the financial aid office.
This collection of resources is designed to help HR professionals, supervisors, and institutional leaders advocate for appropriate staffing, fair compensation, and long-term sustainability in financial aid operations.
Featured Resources
What Human Resources Needs to Know About Financial Aid Professionals
A quick-read primer for HR teams on the complexity of financial aid work and why it differs from other student service roles. The information is also available for download as a PDF.
Tips for Getting the Attention of HR Professionals
Practical advice for financial aid leaders seeking to build stronger partnerships with their HR colleagues.
Reclassification Case Studies in Financial Aid Offices
Explore the case studies and resources to gain practical strategies for reclassification at your institution.
Staffing and Succession Planning Resources
This guide, taken from NASFAA's Advancing the Profession Toolkit, outlines strategies for long-term staffing stability, including cross-training, career ladders, and succession planning.
CUPA-HR/NASFAA Joint Report: The Higher Education Financial Aid Workforce: Pay, Representation, Pay Equity, and Retention
A data-informed look at salary trends, workforce demographics, and equity gaps in the financial aid profession.
NASFAA Benchmarking and Staffing Model Reports
Comparative data to help institutions evaluate staffing levels and resource allocation in the context of peer institutions.
Administrative Capability Toolkit
A comprehensive guide to understanding and evaluating institutional compliance with administrative capability requirements — an essential standard tied to Title IV eligibility.
Administrative Burden Report
Highlights the operational pressures and regulatory workload financial aid professionals face — and what's at stake without sufficient staffing.
