NASFAA 2027 National Conference Program Task Force

Timeline & Commitment

Start date: August 2026
End date: March 2027

The work of this task force will be focused on the program for the NASFAA 2027 National Conference to be held June 20-23, 2027, in San Diego, CA. We expect one in-person meeting for the entire task force, which will take place in late fall at the NASFAA office in Washington, DC. Zoom calls and emails will round out the extent of the work. NASFAA will reimburse for travel-related expenses for the fall meeting, but any travel-related expenses related to the conference will be the member's responsibility. Attendance at the NASFAA 2027 National Conference is not a requirement for participation.

Volunteer (NASFAA Members Only)

Composition

Task force members will be selected via an open call for volunteers to the NASFAA membership. 

• 2026-27 Chair: Marvin Smith
• Members: TBD
• 2027-28 Chair: TBD
• NASFAA Board Representative: TBD
• NASFAA Staff Liaisons: Dana Kelly, Margot Manning, and Debra LaGrone

Background & Purpose

The NASFAA National Conference is the premier event serving the student financial aid community. Approximately 2,200 student aid professionals from across the nation attend the NASFAA National Conference each summer to teach, learn, network, and share best practices.

The conference provides valuable, up-to-date information on the student aid programs from financial aid veterans and community experts. It is a unique training and professional development opportunity that will equip student aid professionals with the tools they need to better serve students and families. Attendees can also learn about product and software innovations from over 60 exhibitors.

The National Conference Program Task Force is chartered to ensure that quality educational sessions are offered at the conference. The sessions must reach the various interests and sectors of the NASFAA membership and be mindful of diverse perspectives.

Indicators of Success & Outcomes

The 2027 National Conference will have 55 to 60 high-quality educational sessions that meet the unique needs of the various membership sectors and interests, with diverse speaker representation. This task force will determine 42 concurrent session topics.

Task Force Members’ Duties & Responsibilities

Task-Force Specific Duties

• Examine survey results from the previous conference.
• Outline general topics of interest and the need for educational sessions.
• Discuss and suggest various session formats for educational sessions.
• Solicit, develop, and submit educational sessions for evaluation (to include title, descriptions, moderator, and presenters, as available).
• Review, rate, and select sessions submitted by this task force, other task forces, and the membership at large to be included in the conference program:
  • Ensure a wide variety of topics (tracks) are represented.
  • Ensure sessions are inclusive of all NASFAA member sectors (public, private, proprietary, 2-year, 4-year, graduate/professional, technical).
  • Ensure sessions available apply to a range of experience levels.
  • Ensure a diverse speaker representation.

General Duties

• Attend all task force meetings and participate in the deliberations. Notify the task force chair and the staff liaison if circumstances prevent attendance at a particular meeting.
• Adhere to deadlines for submission of task force assignments.
• Review all agenda items and background documents prior to each meeting and come prepared for the discussions.
• Serve as recording secretary for a task force meeting if requested by the task force chair.
• Utilize the most economical means of transportation when attending a meeting and promptly file a travel reimbursement request.

Budget

Planned expenditures are anticipated to be $12,000.