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ELM Resources. It's official, ELM re-certified as a Great Place to Work! These exceptional results affirm our core values of delivering exceptional, speaking up, innovating, doing what's right, and giving back. During this special time of year, we send our wishes for a wonderful holiday season on behalf of ELM's entire team. Learn more about ELM at www.elmresources.com or contact us at [email protected].

A group of higher education stakeholders on Wednesday completed its negotiated rulemaking subcommittee session in which members focused on regulatory language to improve education access for incarcerated students. The language recommended by participants is expected to be considered by the full committee, which will vote on suggested language changes concerning numerous regulatory definitions and metrics related to prison education programs. 

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of past President/National Chair and friend Neil Bolyard. Prior to his retirement in 1997, Neil served as a scholarship and veterans coordinator at his alma mater, West Virginia University (WVU), and as the school’s director of student financial aid for nearly 30 years. While at WVU, Neil took two periods of temporary leave to shape student financial aid on a broader scale. First, he served as an assistant director of the Basic Grants Training Project in Washington, D.C., which was later renamed the federal Pell Grant program. In this role, Neil was responsible for training all secondary high school guidance counselors and financial aid personnel in the country over a four month period, according to his obituary. His second leave kept him in West Virginia as he was tasked with overseeing the administration of the state’s Student Loan Guaranty Agency, helping shape student financial aid in the state.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Wednesday formally accepted Navient’s exit from federal student loan servicing and approved the transfer of its portfolio to Maximus. Navient is currently the student loan servicer for roughly 5.5 million borrowers, all of whom will now be transferred to Maximus.

What makes a strong candidate for NASFAA National Chair? We are seeking someone who works full-time at a NASFAA member institution, has demonstrated leadership at the state or regional level, has experience with facilitating meetings and public speaking, and is committed to upholding NASFAA’s code of ethics. If you — or anyone you know — fits the bill, please nominate yourself or a qualified colleague for the role of NASFAA National Chair by Friday, November 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Nominations are also being accepted for representatives-at-large.

Do you have at least five years of financial aid experience? Are you looking for a new challenge? Blue Icon Advisors is looking for qualified financial aid and enrollment management professionals to join our team of independent consultants. We have projects you can complete in your spare time as well as interim staffing. Interested? Apply now!

Ready to get certified? Exam dates and times are filling up, so if you haven’t already, be sure to schedule your exam session soon. The upcoming testing window is open Wednesday, October 27–Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. It's not too late to complete your certification application online.

NASFAA's Lissa Powell and Jackie Cottom reviewed key aspects of the application process, discussed updates to the FAFSA application, and considered answers to frequently asked questions in this October 13 webinar. They also took a brief look at the tables used to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC) of applicants. Register now for this on-demand webinar sponsored by Discover® Student Loans. 

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