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. 

Our most recent episode of “Off The Cuff” covered how a pair of financial aid professionals are approaching remote work at their institutions in 2022. Helping us dig in deeper to that conversation is Cristi Millard, the director of special projects and compliance for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Salt Lake Community College, who discussed her office plans and highlighted how the virtual landscape is impacting the field.

In a letter to Richard Cordray, the chief operating officer at the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), NASFAA raised concerns about repeated and increasing reports of technological challenges that are impacting the FAFSA filing process for students and parents. Along with the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), and the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), the groups highlighted issues raised by their respective memberships, notably the loss of information entered as the online application has been freezing or forcing students and parents to log out when attempting to complete the form.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with four other Democratic senators asked Maxiumus, the student loan servicer tasked with taking over the accounts of more than 5 million borrowers transferring from Navient, to ensure those borrowers have a smooth transition. In a letter to Maximus this week, the lawmakers said it is critical that the servicer “perform at a high bar and with increased transparency to provide the best possible service to borrowers.” 

Each year, the financial aid community goes above and beyond to help and support students and their families in this time of need, despite the challenges that come your way. No matter how many hats you wear, you always make sure your students come first. NASFAA's volunteers form the foundation on which our association builds all of its efforts and achievements. We are thankful for the hard work and accomplishments of the members of our task forces, working groups, committees, councils, and commissions who volunteer their time and talent to advancing NASFAA's mission. To get into the spirit of the season, we have created a special "Thankful for Financial Aid" profile frame that you can add to your Facebook profile picture if you like by following these instructions. The NASFAA office will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The NASFAA website and other online services will still be available, but NASFAA's Today's News will not be published and AskRegs and membership support will not be available until the office reopens on Monday, November 29. We're so thankful for all of our members and for all you do for your students and for the profession. We hope you have a wonderful holiday!

There's still time to become certified before the end of this year. You'll accomplish an important professional goal and you would qualify to join your colleagues at the new FAAC^® Forum in February. The next testing window is open December 1-15, 2021. Exam dates and times can fill up quickly, so be sure to schedule your exam session soon. 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.

Each year, NASFAA selects an upper-division undergraduate or graduate student with a special interest in financial aid policy or research for a summer internship spent fully immersed in NASFAA advocacy and/or research. Since its inception in 2012, the program has brought on 10 student interns to work with NASFAA's policy and federal relations team. This year's intern, Richard Davis Jr., is pursuing a master's degree in public administration at Louisiana State University. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard conducted his internship remotely. But, as you'll read, he didn't allow the public health limitations to slow him down. Read more about Richard's internship with NASFAA and the Dallas Martin Endowment program on page 27 of NASFAA Now, our annual impact report.

Whether you’re a current financial aid director or just preparing for the leading role, "You’re the Director: A Guide to Leadership in Student Financial Aid" (third edition) can help. In this anthology — written by and for financial aid professionals — you’ll find guidance on leadership, budgeting, strategic planning, crisis management, and so much more. In addition to 10 fully updated chapters from the first two editions, the third edition also covers four brand-new topics and six completely reenvisioned chapters. This book is a must-have for new and aspiring financial aid professionals, as well as for seasoned financial aid directors seeking to improve their leadership skills. Order a copy now for yourself or your staff.

VIEW NEXT ISSUE

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