Brought to you by:

Ocelot. Get insight into modern trends in student behavior that enable institutions to develop the appropriate engagement and support strategies to drive FAFSA completions and increase student success. Download report. 

In 2020-21, NASFAA and the broader higher education community faced another challenging year. But financial aid offices rose to those challenges to best help their students. To help them get there, NASFAA hosted a series of free COVID-19 webinars last year — with more than 9,000 attending at our highest count. NASFAA’s policy team was busier than ever this past year, working to help members implement COVID-19 relief, waivers, and flexibilities while also advocating for longer-term policy recommendations. In addition, the team continued to advocate for FAFSA simplification and ultimately saw it come to fruition. To top it off, NASFAA’s grant-funded work continued to flourish this year, providing the opportunity to further advance our important policy research. NASFAA also launched the Student Aid Reference Desk, a centralized “encyclopedia” of student aid-related topics that the higher education community can utilize, at no cost, to find compiled financial aid regulations, legislation, and other key resources organized by topical area. Take a look at NASFAA Now, our annual impact report, for more on these and other efforts and accomplishments.

In a recent electronic announcement, Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the 2021-22 Distribution of Assets Timeline for the Perkins Loan Revolving Fund (Perkins Fund), which is a part of the wind-down of the Federal Perkins Loan Program. According to FSA, once the Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) is submitted through the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System by Oct. 1, 2021, the Department of Education (ED) will notify institutions that have cash in the institution’s Perkins Fund subject to the distribution of assets process. NASFAA has previously advocated for ED to reimburse institutions for canceled Perkins Loans, a recommendation that was eventually implemented following efforts from a coalition of higher education associations.

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 is pleased to announce an opportunity designed exclusively for those who currently hold the FAAC^® designation. The FAAC Forum will bring FAACs together to network and explore important issues facing the financial aid community. The inaugural FAAC Forum will be held in conjunction with NASFAA's Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo in Washington, D.C. February 14-16, 2022. Programming will include Title IV administrative capability training, skills-development presentations, and community-building discussions, as well as thought-provoking sessions designed to help envision the future of the financial aid profession. If you're interested in becoming certified and qualifying to attend this event, verify your eligibility using our free interactive tool.

This 120-minute webinar provides an overview of 2022-23 verification requirements and highlights any new or changed data element and documentation requirements. It will focus on some complicated cases and verification-related conflicting information issues that come up year after year. Join David Futrell, NASFAA Knowledgebase and AskRegs manager, as he leads you through the latest verification requirements and challenging issues tomorrow, Wednesday, October 27. Register now.

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, November 18 to discuss how you and your staff can recognize your own subconscious biases, in order to make significant change for your students. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

VIEW NEXT ISSUE

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