NASFAA has created a toolkit of easily customizable letters and worksheets to help your institution understand the return on this important investment. As the financial aid profession continues to navigate changing regulations, compliance requirements, and staffing shortages, the NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo serves to provide you with the training resources, political realities, and advocacy pathways for student aid administration.
Letter to your manager - Use this customizable letter template to help explain and justify your conference attendance to your boss.
Post-conference ROI template - Use this template to take notes on sessions, and record key takeaways, action items, and estimated return on investment (ROI). These notes can be referenced in creating your post-conference trip report.
Here are some additional tips to make a strong case for your attendance.
When discussing the NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo with your manager, tie your career goals and future development to specific sessions, training opportunities, or knowledge you need.
If you are an FAAC®, remind them that you are required to earn 60 Recertification Points (RPs) every three years through training and professional development. Attendance at the Leadership Conference will qualify for 8 RPs as an experience that will contribute greatly to your continuing education.
You can pitch your trip to the conference as a way to bring knowledge and information back to the rest of your organization. You can train your colleagues on best practices, tips, trends, and processes you learned at the conference.
You can use your trip report to teach others about the sessions you attended. Providing a quick two- to three-page summary will trigger colleagues to ask you questions to learn more. You can also offer to meet with your manager upon your return to recap the conference.
When you attend the conference, you have the opportunity to speak with NASFAA staff responsible for serving your school, as well as staff who are in charge of developing NASFAA programs and services. By asking questions and providing feedback, you can ensure your school's voice is heard and answer your school's program-specific questions.