Brought to you by:

ScholarNet. Whether it's a lender comparison tool, private loan certification and disbursement, or having a knowledgeable loan expert to help you, ScholarNet simplifies the everyday, every day. Save time by processing your private loans securely and efficiently, providing students the funds they need. Take the stress out of private loan processing.

This week on “Off the Cuff” we’re bringing listeners a new podcast format featuring in-depth discussion with NASFAA staff on the latest pressing regulatory topics and questions. Justin is joined by NASFAA Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to discuss how a rule from the Department of Education on distance learning changed the treatment of return of Title IV funds in term-based programs that offer modules. David addresses some of the questions he and his team are receiving on the topic before Jill details recent guidance on how student athletes’ academic scholarships could affect their estimated financial assistance and what aid offices should be aware of. Listeners, we want to hear from you! Leave us a comment and let us know what topics you want covered on future episodes.

Late last week, the Department of Education (ED) published its second round of changes to the annual data collection form for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) dollars in the Federal Register for public comment. This will be the final comment period on the form. NASFAA and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) submitted joint comments on the first round earlier this summer. After this 30-day public comment period, ED will finalize the data collection form for institutions to use this coming January.

The Department of Education (ED) recently updated its resource page for the ongoing 2021-22 negotiated rulemaking with registration links now available for the Prison Education Programs Subcommittee meetings for October 18-20. Meetings will be available for public viewing, but the general public must register ahead of time in order to attend. Stay tuned to Today’s News for coverage of the upcoming sessions and be sure to catch up on our negotiated rulemaking coverage.

In honor of NASFAA's founding on Oct. 24, 1966 — 55 years ago this month — we'd like to take the opportunity to celebrate you, our members, for all that you do to help fulfill our mission of promoting access and success in higher education. This year, as a token of our appreciation, we are opening a raffle and six lucky winners will receive a complimentary registration for any single NASFAA webinar or online course of their choosing, as well as a credit worth $150 to access our special NASFAA swag store and order NASFAA-branded t-shirts, tumblers, and other gear for themselves and their colleagues. To enter, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, like and share/retweet our raffle post from today, and in your comments tag two financial aid administrators who have inspired you. You'll get one entry for each platform on which you like our contest post. The contest opens today and runs through Thursday, October 21, when we'll randomly select two winners from each of our three social media platforms. We'll announce our six winners in Today's News on October 25. Good luck!

We need your great ideas for engaging, relevant, and interesting conference sessions. All types of session proposals are welcome, from those focused on advocacy, training, and professional development, to sessions structured as open-forum discussions. We urge you to construct your session proposal with an eye toward inclusion, ensuring speakers from all different backgrounds — particularly those from marginalized groups — are represented. All proposals must be received by Sunday, October 31, 2021. Visit our Presenters and Moderators page to submit a proposal.

NASFAA's Blue Icon Advisors hosts Let's Talk events to give you the opportunity to engage with peers, learn from presenters and each other, share information, and discuss best practices. Join us at either 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 21 to discuss what schools should be applying with R2T4s for modular enrollments — October is the perfect time! There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

Please join us in congratulating Candace Henry-Schroder, currently the financial aid advisor at Kirtland Community College, who will be the director of financial aid at Gogebic Community College; Courtney Rust, FAAC®, currently the assistant director of financial aid at SUNY Canton, who will be the director of financial aid at SUNY Potsdam, where she began her financial aid career as a student worker; and Joy Thomas, who was promoted from associate director to director of student financial aid & scholarships at Prairie View A&M University. Celebrate your own career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form to share the news with your colleagues.

VIEW NEXT ISSUE

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