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College Board. CSS Profile is now free to families making up to $100,000. Learn how CSS Profile can help your institution make equitable need-based aid decisions and support student access initiatives.

On Friday, negotiators met for the final day of discussions in the Department of Education's (ED) Affordability and Student Loans negotiated rulemaking process. Ultimately, negotiators reached consensus on four of 12 topics: total and permanent disability discharge, eliminating interest capitalization for nonstatutory capitalization events, false certification discharge, and Pell Grant eligibility for Prison Education Programs. Negotiators failed to come to agreement on the remaining eight topics.

NASFAA's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) is a series that features a brief Q&A with notable NASFAA members — with questions ranging from what they wish they knew their first year working in financial aid to how they relax in their free time. Look back at our 10 MVPs from 2021 and send your suggestions for future MVPs for the upcoming year to our news inbox, along with a short note about why you're nominating them.

A new bill recently introduced by a group of Democratic senators aims to ease the process of transferring earned credits for community college students. The Correctly Recognizing Educational Achievements (CREATE) Graduates Act aims to assist students who transferred from their community college to a four-year institution without finishing their associate degree receive their degree by transferring their earned credits back to their community college, a process coined as “reverse transfer.”

Use the Tax Filing Status Decision Tree in conjunction with information provided in IRS Publication 4012 and IRS Publication 17. Do not use the decision tree without reviewing the footnotes provided. View the full answer to this question to learn more.

Is professional development one of your New Year's resolutions? Start off strong by registering for New Director Group Coaching with NASFAA's Blue Icon Advisors. Group coaching is ideal for financial aid administrators with less than one year of experience at the director level. You'll work alongside a small group of other new financial aid directors as you discuss compliance-related matters, develop an operational calendar, learn about how to identify and support your staff's professional development needs, and draft a strategic plan to work toward and bolster the goals and activities of your office. The start date for the next six-week cohort is January 17. Register today to reserve your spot. 

Validate your knowledge and experience by earning the FAAC® designation, and qualify to attend exclusive events, such as the FAAC Forum in February. There are a few seats available during the current testing window and the next window opens on Jan. 5, 2022. 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.

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