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PowerFAIDS® To improve processing, packaging, and integration with on campus systems, Virginia University of Lynchburg transitioned to PowerFAIDS. The financial aid team highlighted the system's efficiency and data functionality and praised the PowerFAIDS team as "very thorough and helpful throughout our entire implementation process." Connect with us to see how PowerFAIDS can streamline your aid processes.

NASFAA is pleased to share a draft response to the Department of Education’s (ED) request for comments on revisions to the NSLDS and COD systems to add functionality related to changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. NASFAA’s comments on the COD and NSLDS systems changes focused on the importance of ensuring that the updates provide accurate information about the limited exception to new federal loan borrowing caps, as well as for aggregate and lifetime borrowing limits. NASFAA hopes our members will use these comments to inform their own comments, which are due to ED on May 22, 2026.

While the implementation of FAFSA simplification was a tumultuous experience for students, financial aid offices, and the broader higher education community, a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that FAFSA simplification succeeded in increasing student eligibility for the federal Pell Grant program, along with increased eligibility for the maximum Pell Grant award for the 2024-25 award year.

The Student Aid Alliance, a coalition which NASFAA and over 40 higher education organizations are a part of, sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday expressing concerns over the department’s fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request – specifically the elimination of funding for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), the Federal TRIO Programs, the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness in Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), and the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program, along with severe funding cuts to the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. The Student Aid Alliance also thanked ED for requesting $10.5 billion in funding for the Pell Grant and addressing the projected shortfall of $17 billion in FY 2027 – noting that it is a priority of the alliance that ED fully funds the Pell Grant shortfall without reducing the maximum Pell award or making changes to the program eligibility requirements. 

NASFAA's Annual Business Meeting will be conducted virtually, at 2 p.m. ET today immediately preceding the Policy Update Webinar. NASFAA's bylaws dictate that the association must meet annually for the purpose of transacting all business which may be brought before the membership. The meeting will include updates on NASFAA's financial status, FAAC^® program, governance and oversight, and diversity efforts. The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy.

As the 2025-26 programming year is winding down, we'd like to recognize all the important people who served the association this year. Our members are the lifeblood of our organization and we truly appreciate all the time, effort, thought, and energy all of our volunteers and task force members have put in over the past year. Read on for the full list of 2025-26 task forces and their members and join us in thanking them for their service.

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