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In his opening remarks commencing the annual Federal Student Aid (FSA) Training Conference, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Richard Cordray praised the financial aid community for the work it does to help students and their families pursue the benefits of higher education, assisting them in navigating the complexities of paying for college. Cordray noted that the virtual format — the second year in a row FSA has had to conduct a virtual conference due to the coronavirus pandemic — has brought with it some positives, notably the increased attendance.

Officials at Federal Student Aid (FSA) are imploring the financial aid community to help raise awareness that student loan payments for borrowers are set to resume early next year, after a nearly two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. At the annual FSA Training Conference Tuesday, FSA Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray said navigating the return to repayment of tens of millions of student loan borrowers is one of the chief concerns facing his office, calling it “the most pressing issue we face right now.”

NASFAA joined a number of other higher education organizations in comments on the Department of Homeland Security's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the DACA program. In the comments, the groups applauded the administration for undertaking the formal rulemaking process, which would serve as "an important step to further enshrine a program that many in the United States, including employers and institutions of higher education, have come to depend on, and allows qualifying undocumented people brought to this country at a young age to remain here." Though the rulemaking is intended to fortify the existing program, the groups listed several suggestions "of what we wish to see the DACA program grow into," including changes to the threshold criteria regarding the date of arrival and the age threshold, and making clear that the program will start accepting new applications, among others. Read the full comments.

If you are a financial aid administrator who wants to grow professionally, expand your network, and become a leader on campus, in your association, or in your profession, don't miss your chance to attend NASFAA's 2022 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, which will be held February 14-16 in-person in Washington, D.C. Participants can choose from four distinct pathways to further their professional goals: Association Leadership, Compliance Management, Strategic Enrollment Management, and — new in 2022 — a Succession Planning pathway. A fifth pathway, the FAAC Forum, is available exclusively to those who hold the FAAC designation. Learn more about the conference and the safety measures being taken. Early bird pricing for some pathways ends December 10 — register today to secure your seat.

With virtual conferences, there is no chance to network or discuss what you heard during sessions. Join Blue Icon and your colleagues the week following the annual Federal Student Aid Training Conference to talk about what you heard. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with your peers, learn from presenters and each other, share information, and discuss best practices. This 60-minute event will take place at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 7. Register now to save your spot.

Commit to your professional development and pursue your FAAC^® designation! The current testing window is now open through Wednesday, December 15, and the next testing window opens in January. If your application has already been approved, purchase the certification knowledge exam and schedule your session online. If you haven't applied yet, complete your application online today. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize the Exam Preparation Guide to aid your studies.

This December, NASFAA's webinar line-up starts with Economics of Financial Aid: A Conversation on Wednesday, December 8, featuring a discussion between NASFAA President and CEO Justin Draeger and Dr. Sandy Baum. On Wednesday, December 15, NASFAA's policy team will be providing an update on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. NASFAA webinars are all recorded and made available to view on-demand. Register now.

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