Brought to you by:

Oracle. The time is now to innovate and address the disparity in higher education affordability. Oracle Student Financial Planning is a fully automated, contactless way to provide financial aid. Learn how Oracle can help you build your financial aid office of the future and empower students to reach their academic goals.

The Department of Education (ED) in recent federal register notices has invited institutions of higher education to apply for grant aid provided by the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that would allow schools to address needs related to the pandemic. The first notice encourages institutions to apply for additional funds that meet certain criteria as a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). The second notice is an invitation for schools that meet criteria under the Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Program to apply for newly available supplemental funding that will also aid in pandemic-related expenses. Both grant programs will accept eligible applicants on a rolling basis until October 1, 2021.

The Dallas Martin Endowment for Public Policy and Student Aid (DME) summer internship was launched in 2012 to cultivate a new generation of student aid advocates. Since 2012, NASFAA has brought a total of 10 interns to contribute to our work of promoting student access and success in higher education. These interns have gone on to make meaningful contributions to the financial aid profession, the broader field of higher education, and society as a whole. Some have continued to work in education policy and research, others have continued to advance NASFAA's values of promoting equity and access in careers outside of higher education, and a couple even found their way back to NASFAA as full-time employees. Read on to learn more about these talented professionals and the impact they are making on the world. 

This course covers the building blocks of Title IV program eligibility. Most financial aid administrators understand FAFSA processes, SAP, and enrollment information as components to determine student eligibility. But concepts such as academic year, payment periods, and program structure are sometimes misunderstood or even misapplied. Emerging academic program structures test the traditional basis of determining program eligibility and packaging students. Maintain confidence in compliance by completing this course. Upon passing the course, you will receive a NASFAA U Certificate. Register now.

The next New Director Group Coaching opportunity from NASFAA's Blue Icon Advisors starts September 13. This development and training opportunity is ideal for new financial aid directors with less than one year of experience at the director level. You'll build your financial aid leadership skills and develop a professional network of peers. Here's what Carlos Villarroel, associate director of financial aid at Portland Community College and June 2021 coaching participant had to say of his experience: "I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this group and will take lots away from it. All of the concepts were very eye opening and will allow for us to make simple changes quickly. I would say, this has been one of the most effective training groups I have been a part of." Sign up today to reserve your spot.

The latest certification testing window has closed and the Registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator^® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 280 financial aid professionals who have earned the FAAC^® designation. This designation recognizes the knowledge, experience, and dedication to ethical behavior that are the hallmarks of the financial aid profession. If you’re interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next two-week testing window opens on September 15, 2021. 

VIEW NEXT ISSUE

Contact us to submit questions, content or to purchase advertisements.