The TASFAA Executive Board wishes you a 

Good afternoon,

    I want to be sure you are aware of our upcoming webinars covering important information about the October 10 – 12, 2014 Sallie Mae and Navient transition.  While we became two separate companies in May, we will be officially separating our operations and systems soon.  

  By attending one of these webinars you will learn about changes to the way you will work with Sallie Mae including how to contact our new School Assist team, how to use OpenNet and access reports from our Document Direct (DDI) tool.   You will also learn how to access account information using Navient’s School Servicing Portal as well as reports on Navient serviced loans.   We will also share with you what to expect on the transition weekend.

   This webinar is ideal for members of your financial aid staff as well as the business office.    Please go to SallieMae.com/schoolresource to register.   There are several dates available so I hope there is one that fits your schedule.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. 

Sincerely,

Sonja McMullen

 

Director of Business Development

O:  615.665.4494 | C:  615.430.8035

sonja.mcmullen@salliemae.com

www.salliemae.com

We survived August and we’ve almost made it through September! As our offices are slowing down (at least a little) TASFAA activity is gearing up! We hope you will be able to join us for the Fall Training Series October 7,8 or 9. Larry Rector and the Training Committee have worked hard to put together a jam-packed agenda, full of the updates and information you need. Our friends from TSAC will be joined by the incomparable David Bartnicki. If you have not yet registered, space is limited!! Please note that we have already moved the East location to Johnson University, in order to accommodate more attendees. Register today at http://tasfaatn.com/Fall.


Your TASFAA Executive Board and 2015 Conference Committee will also be meeting in October. You will soon see the “Call for Sessions” from Conference Chair Leah Louallen, so please let us know what you would like to see at our April conference! TASFAA is about YOU, so tell us what type of training you need!

Last but not least, Financial Aid Appreciation Day is Wednesday, October 15. We want to see our TASFAA family celebrate! Send us pictures and let us know how you celebrate all the hard work you do for students and parents! Pictures can be posted to our Facebook group or emailed to administrator@tasfaatn.com.

Happy Fall Y’all!
Celena

Registration is now OPEN for the TASFAA Fall Training Series, sponsored by TSAC! We hope you will join us for a day packed full of updates and information from our friends at TSAC and the incomparable friendly neighborhood “Fed”, David Bartnicki!

Topics will include:

• Federal Update
• Verification
• Consumer Information
• TSAC Update
• Effective Communication with Diverse Populations

Register online TODAY at www.tasfaatn.com/fall .

We looking forward to seeing you October 7, 8 and 9!
~TASFAA Training Committee

October 2014 Webinar Titles and Descriptions

Perfecting Your Policies and Procedures Manual

Are you meeting administrative capability requirements? Are you ready for an audit or program review? Does your staff know the policies and procedures necessary to ensure proper compliance? Your Policies and Procedures Manual is the first thing ED will want to see. This session makes sure your office has well-defined policies and procedures are in place. A thorough manual can also serve as a step-by-step guide for staff members.

Specific topics include:

• Key components of a manual
• Regulatory guidance
• Tools for schools

October 1 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Perfecting Your Policies and Procedures Manual

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Tasha McDaniel

Clock-hour Programs and R2T4

Return of Title IV (R2T4) doesn't have to be daunting. This session walks through a clock-hour example to help you understand what it is and when it applies so you can effectively counsel students and help them make informed decisions about withdrawing from school.

Specific topics covered include:

• ·         R2T4 basics: what it is, when it applies, the formula components for clock-hour programs
• ·         Reviewing a hand calculation
• ·         Post-withdrawal disbursements

October 1 @ 12 PM, Eastern time   

Clock-hour Programs and R2T4    

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Linda Peckham

Making the Call: What to Say to Delinquent Borrowers

If calling delinquent borrowers is part of your default prevention strategy--or should be, this webinar is for you. Through the use of role playing, this session will help increase your comfort level, teach you how to handle common objections, and how to ask for a payment without coming off as pushy.

Specific topics covered include:

• Demonstration of soft skills needed for making calls
• Importance of questioning, listening, acknowledging, and prefacing
• How to ask for payment and explore other payment possibilities
• What to do when a caller tries to brush you off
• How to deal with emotional borrowers

October 7 @ 12 PM, Eastern time     

Making the Call: What to Say to Delinquent Borrowers

Presenters:  Tasha McDaniel and Hannah Achtor

 

Reaping Results with a 12-Month Default Prevention Action Plan

Default prevention results can be achieved when a plan is developed and executed properly. Do you know how to create an actionable 12-month plan that reaps results?  If you’re like many schools, developing a plan requires time and resources that may be limited.  During this session we will show you how to put together a 12-month action plan that is manageable.  We’ll walk through the plan month by month, demonstrating strategies that you can deploy to help you manage default rates and reap results.

Specific topics covered include:

• Grace period outreach
• Outdated contact updates
• Early awareness campaign
• Loan rehabilitation outreach

October 8 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Reaping Results with a 12-Month Default Prevention Action Plan

October 23 @ 12 PM, Eastern time  

Reaping Results with a 12-Month Default Prevention Action Plan

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Michiale Schneider

Difficult Conversations: How to Manage Conflict While Providing Customer Service

Does your front line staff know how to deal with difficult situations in positive ways? This webinar will demonstrate proven techniques for diffusing conflict while providing great customer service.  The financial aid process can be frustrating and emotionally challenging for both parents and students. This heightened anxiety can play itself out in the aid office when parents and students direct anger and frustration at counselors or front line staff. Your teams’ ability to diffuse a difficult conversation and create a problem-solving approach is crucial to your customer service effort.

Presenter:

Shannon Patterson, M.S., Instructor in Business Administration and Conflict Management at Argosy University.

Specific topics covered include:

• Bridging conflict management and customer service
• Depersonalizing anger and emotion
• Using reflective listening to gain control
• Strategies for problem-solving that result in trust

Date: October 9 @ 12 PM, Eastern time      

Difficult Conversations: How to Manage Conflict While Providing Customer Service

Presenters:  Michiale Schneider and Tasha McDaniel

 

FERPA, Social Media, and the Financial Aid Office:  Communication and Compliance

Financial aid offices are using social media to communicate important financial aid information to students.  Do you know how to balance FERPA protection with this public communication medium? As you build your social media communities and encourage students to follow you, your office also needs to ensure your strategy is FERPA compliant. This interactive session will provide specific guidance on what can and cannot be posted and how to respond to students who post private information on your page.

Specific topics covered Include:

·         FERPA, friends, and followers – what are the issues?

·         Defining educational records and legitimate educational interest in the social media space

·         School posts vs. student posts – how and when does FERPA law apply?

October 9 @ 3 PM, Eastern time  

FERPA, Social Media, and the Financial Aid Office:  Communication and Compliance

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Liz Gross

 

The Student Loan View from the Credit Reporting Cycle

 

The choices borrowers make with their student loans-both positive and negative-are reflected on their credit reports. Do you know how to explain the credit reporting cycle to your students? This session will walk through the credit reporting cycle to demonstrate the effects of timely loan payments, as well as the impact of delinquency and default on long term credit history. Attend this session to learn ways for educating your students.

Specific topics covered include:

• ·         How and when loans are reported to the credit bureaus
• ·         The impact on a borrower’s credit report based on their repayment plan and status
• ·         Strategies for educating borrowers to improve their financial health

 

October 15 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

The Student Loan View from the Credit Reporting Cycle

October 21 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

The Student Loan View from the Credit Reporting Cycle

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Michiale Schneider

Your First Day as New Director: 5 Things You Need to Do to Ensure Success

Are you a new Financial Aid Director or aspire to be one? New aid directors face unique challenges in their first days on the job. This session will help you successfully transition to your new role.

Specific topics covered include:

• ·         First day essentials: security updates and reports to review
• ·         Assessing your office culture – your team and your peers
• ·         Identifying roles and responsibilities
• ·         Securing resources

October 16 @ 3 PM, Eastern time 

Your First Day as New Director: 5 Things You Need to Do to Ensure Success

Presenters: Linda Peckham; Janet Dodson, Associate Director, Tuition Exchange; and Past NASFAA Chair

Gail Holt, Dean of Financial Aid, Amherst College

Financial Aid for Beginners

Learn the basics of financial aid and gain an understanding of how different programs work and how financial need is determined. This session will review how students apply for financial aid and how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fits into the application process to help you better respond to the needs of your students and help them see that a college education is possible.

Specific topics covered include:

• Deciphering the language of Financial Aid
• Student eligibility requirements
• Types of financial aid programs
• Importance of FERPA privacy provisions

October 23 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Financial Aid for Beginners

  

October 30 @ 12 PM, Eastern time     

Financial Aid for Beginners

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

Understanding the Verification Process

Baffled by the complexities of verification? This session will give you the information you need to simplify the verification process into three easy steps. We’ll also define some common issues found during the review process and how you can resolve them.

Specific topics covered include:

• Understanding verification requirements
• Step-by-step instructions for reviewing documentation and completing the verification process
• How to resolve verification findings

October 28 @ 3 PM, Eastern time 

Understanding the Verification Process

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

Applying Federal Methodology

How is a student’s financial need determined? Learn how Federal Methodology is used to calculate a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC)undefinedand be able to calculate an EFC. You’ll be better prepared when making financial aid awards.

Specific topics covered include:

• Purpose of Federal Methodology
• Guiding principles of Need Analysis
• Components
• Manual EFC calculations
• Special circumstances

October 22 @ 3 PM, Eastern time   

Applying Federal Methodology

October 29 @ 12 PM, Eastern time     

Applying Federal Methodology

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

Database Matches: Resolving Common Comment Codes

This session reviews how the database matches following FAFSA completion impact student aid eligibility and what you can do to help resolve any issues that arise. Leave feeling confident about resolving C-codes and conflicting information.

Specific topics covered include:

• Review of the Central Processing System database matches
• Guidance on resolving database mismatches
• Types of conflicting information and how to resolve them

Date: October 29 @ 3 PM, Eastern time 

Database Matches: Resolving Common Comment Codes

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

Understanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here

Get a comprehensive overview of the FAFSA. This session steps you through the FAFSA line by line. We’ll help you feel comfortable assisting your students so they can correctly complete this crucial first step to receiving federal financial aid.

Specific topics covered include:

• Applying for financial aid
• Answering dependency questions
• Processing the FAFSA

October 21 @ 3 PM, Eastern time  

Understanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here

October 28 @ 12 PM, Eastern time     

Understanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

Loans 101: Understanding the Basics

Learn the basic details of the different federal loan programs so you can better understand, process, and encourage your students to make good borrowing decisions.

Specific topics covered include:

• Guidelines for educating students on the impact of borrowing loans
• Types of federal loans and how they compare
• Repayment options available to students
• Using NSLDS
• The consequences of delinquency and default and what you can do to help borrowers avoid them

October 30 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Loans 101: Understanding the Basics

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

August 2014 Webinar Titles and Descriptions

 

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

New regulations may impact your students’ eligibility for funding. Do you know how to help borrowers understand the implications of the 150% Limit for Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans? Attend this session to review new regulations which limit Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility to 150% of a student's academic program length.  Join us as we discuss ways to educate your borrowers.

• Specific topics covered include:
• ·         Understanding the maximum eligibility period
• ·         Examining loss of eligibility 
• ·         Exploring ways to educate your borrowers

             

August 5^th @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

August 21^st @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

Presenters: Tasha  McDaniel and Jamie Malone

       

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

Protecting student privacy is paramount. Understand what needs to be included in your school’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy and gain a working knowledge of how to ensure FERPA privacy requirements are met in real-world scenarios. Consider this course not just an introduction to the basics of FERPA, but also an in-depth guide to understanding the rights of students and their parents regarding student education records. The materials presented have been vetted by our privacy specialists to ensure that you get the most accurate and comprehensive assistance available.

Specific topics covered include:

• Review of final rules
• Student and parent rights and FERPA
• Right to access, review, and amend an education record
• Compliance, complaints, and enforcement

August 6^th @ 12 PM, Eastern time

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

August 20^th @ 3 PM, Eastern time

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Linda Peckham

Student Employment: A Whole Different Class

Student employment provides a valuable resource to both the campus and the student. Does your office know how to maximize this resource? Attend this webinar to learn about the benefits you can reap from your student employment office, regulations for using Federal Work Study, and techniques for improving the overall student experience.

Specific topics covered include:

• The benefits of student employment
• The core components of the Federal Work-Study Program
• Ways to maximize efficiency
• Best Practices to Improve Your Program

August 5^th @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Student Employment: A Whole Different Class

August 19^th @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Student Employment: A Whole Different Class

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Linda Peckham

 

Consumer Information Requirements

Increased attention being paid to transparency in higher education has resulted in recent changes to consumer information regulations. This session will help you maintain compliance with a review of existing and new consumer information requirements.

Specific topics covered include:

• Overview of basic consumer information requirements
• Loan counseling
• Misrepresentation
• Campus security

August 6^th @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Consumer Information Requirements

August 28^th @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Consumer Information Requirements

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

3 Ways To Use Social Media To Benefit The Financial Aid Office

By Katy Hopkins, Communications Staff

Social media platforms allow financial aid administrators to reach students where they already are. Whether your office is ready to launch a comprehensive engagement strategy or just wants to survey the landscape, there are ways to use social media as a boon to your office.

Here are three tips gleaned in part from a 2014 NASFAA National Conference presentation, “Assessing, Developing, and Maintaining a Social Media Presence,” created by Justin Chase Brown, associate director of financial aid at the University of Missouri, Lenna Sliney, La Quinta Fellow with Blue Star Families, and Melissa Niksic, marketing communications specialist at Loyola University, Chicago.

1. Active Listening: Any user can tune in to social media to survey the current and prospective student landscape. On Twitter, for instance, you can easily search by keyword (your institution and financial aid, for example) to see what users are saying.

It can be a great way to gauge students’ perceptions of the financial aid process, Brown said during his conference presentation. It’s also a way to use social media without committing much time, effort, or resources, Sliney said.

2. Information Sharing: If your office is ready for the commitment, social media platforms also offer quick ways to connect bulks of students with information. Just one post on Facebook or Twitter has the potential to reach many students.

Financial aid offices can coordinate social media posts with the academic year, sharing FAFSA information in January and again before filing deadlines, for instance.

Aid professionals can maximize the reach of informative posts by coordinating online events, such as a Twitter chat or Google Plus Hangout. Publicize a designated time period (say, an hour) for social media users to tune in for updates and information.

Offices should set a clear strategy before beginning to communicate via social media, the conference presenters said. No communication at all is better than a half-hearted, public effort that is soon abandoned.

3. Strategic Engagement: Social media platforms offer multiple ways to engage with other users – often without even typing a word. On Facebook, it’s a like or share of a post, while Twitter users can favorite or retweet. Instagram users can approve of photos, and Pinterest aficionados can pin posts. Offices with active accounts should set a strategy for what to engage with, even peripherally.

For the well-prepared office, social media channels like Twitter and Facebook also offer an avenue to respond to comments or concerns. A student who tweets his or her frustration with their budget, for example, might benefit from a link to the university’s personal finance information sessions.

Be ready to take conversations offline, however, when the situation demands it. Personal information, for instance, should never be discussed via social media.

Not only has the weather been heating up, but our members have been burning up the regional and national financial aid scene!

First, several of TASFAA’s own attended the SASFAA transition meeting in St. Pete Beach, Fl. Tennessee will have several members on our southern regional association board this year. TSAC’s Terri Parchment will be serving as SASFAA Budget and Finance Chair, Marian Dill from Lee University is the new SASFAA Vice President and I will be taking over for Jeff Gerkin as the state president representative from Tennessee.


Next, TASFAA was proud to send our FIRST Clyde Walker Professional Development Scholarship recipient to the SASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop, Destini Burns from Tennessee State University. Destini reported that it was a great experience and “a blast”! David Haggard from Bryan College also represented Tennessee as one of the NAOW presenters.

Most recently, Tennessee played host to our national conference. Brent Tener from Vanderbilt served as the conference chair for NASFAA and helped provide a wonderful training opportunity for approximately 2500 financial aid officers from across the United States. Vandy’s Karen Hauser served as local arrangements chair, with TASFAA members Charles Harper (Belmont), Melissa Smith (Vanderbilt), Tanaka Vercher (TSU), Cara Suhr (TCAT Nashville) and me (UT Knoxville) serving on the committee. Many, many, more TASFAA members stepped up as volunteers at registration, the information booth, packet stuffing and the hospitality suite. Thank you to everyone who helped to show the NASFAA folks why we are known as the volunteer state!!

 

Last but not least, we would like to congratulate Deidra Cummings from Lipscomb University for serving on the NASFAA Graduate & Professional Issues Caucus.

We will soon have our first official 2014-2015 TASFAA Executive Board Meeting. I look forward to a great year as President and I welcome your comments and suggestions. Many of you have completed the volunteer form online and have been contacted by one of our committees. If you are interested in serving, it’s not too late! Volunteer online or contact any member of the TASFAA board. As you will hear me say many times throughout this year:
TASFAA, We Are Family!!


Respectfully Yours,
Celena Tulloss
TASFAA President 2014-2015

Members of the 2014-15 TASFAA Board:

Elected Officers/Executive Board
President Celena Tulloss, University of Tennessee
President Elect Dick Smelser, Pellissippi State Community College
Past President Jeff Gerkin, University of Tennessee
Treasurer Lester McKenzie, Tennessee Tech University
Secretary Melissa Smith, Vanderbilt University
4 Yr Public Tanaka Vercher, Tennessee State University
4 Yr Private Tiffany Summers, Lipscomb University
2 Yr Public Joe Myers, Motlow State Community College
Proprietary Debra Stratman, Miller Motte Technical College
TCAT Kara Vanhoy, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crossville
At Large Karen Hauser, Vanderbilt University

Committee Chairs
Association Governance Jeff Gerkin, University of Tennessee
Awards Cherry Johnson, Columbia State Community College
Budget/Finance Cara Suhr, Tennessee Technology Center – Nashville
Conference/Fin Aid Awareness Leah Louallen, TSAC
Diversity Willie Thomas, Chattanooga State Community College
Electronic Services Wes Armstrong, Northeast State Community College
Mentorship Charles Harper, Belmont University
Governmental Relations Ron Gambill, Edsouth
Historical Jan Lassiter, Edsouth
Long Range Strategic Plan Brent Tener, Vanderbilt University
Membership Terri Parchment, TSAC
Newsletter/Public Relations Bryan Erslan, Lincoln Memorial University
Nominations Jeff Gerkin, University of Tennessee (as Past President)
Site Selection Sonja McMullen, Sallie Mae
Sponsorship Development Sandra Rockett, Dyersburg State Community College
State Programs Liaison Tim Phelps, TSAC
TASFAA Advisory Cmte TSAC Jeff Gerkin, University of Tennessee (as Past President)
Training Larry Rector, Johnson University

July 2014 Webinar Titles and Descriptions

 

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

New regulations may impact your students’ eligibility for funding. Do you know how to help borrowers understand the implications of the 150% Limit for Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans? Attend this session to review new regulations which limit Direct Subsidized Loan eligibility to 150% of a student's academic program length.  Join us as we discuss ways to educate your borrowers.

• Specific topics covered include:

 

• ·         Understanding the maximum eligibility period

• ·         Examining loss of eligibility 

• ·         Exploring ways to educate your borrowers

 

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Tasha McDaniel

      

July 9 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

July 23 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Counseling Borrowers about the New 150% Direct Loan Limit

    

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

Protecting student privacy is paramount. Understand what needs to be included in your school’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy and gain a working knowledge of how to ensure FERPA privacy requirements are met in real-world scenarios. Consider this course not just an introduction to the basics of FERPA, but also an in-depth guide to understanding the rights of students and their parents regarding student education records. The materials presented have been vetted by our privacy specialists to ensure that you get the most accurate and comprehensive assistance available.

Specific topics covered include:

• Review of final rules
• Student and parent rights and FERPA
• Right to access, review, and amend an education record
• Compliance, complaints, and enforcement

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Linda Peckham

July 8 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

 

July 16 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

FERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies

Database Matches: Resolving Common Comment Codes

This session reviews how the database matches following FAFSA completion impact student aid eligibility and what you can do to help resolve any issues that arise. Leave feeling confident about resolving C-codes and conflicting information.

Specific topics covered include:

• Review of the Central Processing System database matches
• Guidance on resolving database mismatches
• Types of conflicting information and how to resolve them

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Michiale Schneider

July 9 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Database Matches: Resolving Common Comment Codes

Applying Federal Methodology

How is a student’s financial need determined? Learn how Federal Methodology is used to calculate a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC)undefinedand be able to calculate an EFC. You’ll be better prepared when making financial aid awards.

Specific topics covered include:

• Purpose of Federal Methodology
• Guiding principles of Need Analysis
• Components
• Manual EFC calculations
• Special circumstances

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

July 10 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Applying Federal Methodology

Loans I: Understanding the Basics

Learn the basic details of the different federal loan programs so you can better understand, process, and encourage your students to make good borrowing decisions.

 

Specific topics covered include:

• Guidelines for educating students on the impact of borrowing loans
• Types of federal loans and how they compare
• Using NSLDS
• The consequences of delinquency and default and what you can do to help borrowers avoid them

 

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Keyimani Alford

July 10 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Loans I: Understanding the Basics

 

Financial Aid for Beginners

Learn the basics of financial aid and gain an understanding of how different programs work and how financial need is determined. This session will review how students apply for financial aid and how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) fits into the application process to help you better respond to the needs of your students and help them see that a college education is possible.

Specific topics covered include:

• Deciphering the language of Financial Aid
• Student eligibility requirements
• Types of financial aid programs
• Importance of FERPA privacy provisions

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Keyimani Alford

July 16 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Financial Aid for Beginners

 

Loans II: Helping Students Succeed in Repayment

Gain a deeper understanding of preparing students for repayment. This session will cover borrower options for repayment and the consequences of default. You’ll come away with a thorough knowledge of loan basics that will help you educate your students on the impact of borrowing student loans.

Specific topics covered include:

• Repayment options available to students
• How to prepare your students for repayment
• The consequences of delinquency and default and what you can do to help borrowers avoid them

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Michiale Schneider

 

July 22 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Loans II: Helping Students Succeed in Repayment

Understanding the Verification Process

Baffled by the complexities of verification? This session will give you the information you need to simplify the verification process into three easy steps. We’ll also define some common issues found during the review process and how you can resolve them.

Specific topics covered include:

• Understanding verification requirements
• Step-by-step instructions for reviewing documentation and completing the verification process
• How to resolve verification findings

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Linda Peckham

 

July 30 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Understanding the Verification Process

Understanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here

Get a comprehensive overview of the FAFSA. This session steps you through the FAFSA line by line. We’ll help you feel comfortable assisting your students so they can correctly complete this crucial first step to receiving federal financial aid.

Specific topics covered include:

• Applying for financial aid
• Answering dependency questions
• Processing the FAFSA

Presenters: Keyimani  Alford and Linda Peckham

July 23 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Understanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here

 

Great Lakes Default Management Tools: Learn, Access, Implement

Staying in touch with borrowers who are struggling with repayment can help you minimize your cohort default rate.  Great Lakes tools can help you with these important outreach efforts. This session will show you how to use our Borrowers at Risk report and Delinquency Letter Tool to connect with former students and steer them away from default. You’ll also learn how schools have successfully tackled specific default challenges using our tools.

 

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Michiale Schneider

July 24 @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Great Lakes Default Management Tools: Learn, Access, Implement

Don’t Fear the FISAP

Are you a new director faced with completing your first FISAP this fall?  Make the FISAP process more manageable by starting with a plan for collecting the data from your enterprise system.

New aid directors faced with completing the FISAP (Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate) for the first time are often overwhelmed by the scope of the report. But the FISAP process can be made easier and less daunting if you start early with a plan for how and where to collect the necessary data. This webinar will provide a step by step review of the FISAP sections, guidance on how to collect data in advance, and advice for how to minimize submission errors.

 

Guest Presenter - Heather McDonnell, Associate Dean of Financial Aid and Admission, Sarah Lawrence College

Heather McDonnell has over 30 years of experience in financial aid administration at both public and private institutions. She is an expert on federal processing issues and need analysis and an experienced financial aid trainer for NYSFAA, the College Board and EASFAA.

Specific topics to be covered include:

• What is the FISAP and why is it required?
• What data is collected on the FISAP and what does the Department of Education do with the data?
• The FISAP sections
• Where and how to pull your institutional data for each FISAP section
• How to submit the FISAP
• Possible error messages and what they mean

Presenters: Linda Peckham and Heather McDonnell

July 29 @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Don’t Fear the FISAP

June 2014 Webinar SmartSessions

Crafting a Social Media Strategy for Your Financial Aid Office   

Your students are regularly using social media to communicate. Do you know how to use social media effectively in the financial aid office?  Many financial aid offices have been slower to build a social media presence due to concerns about student privacy or resources. Aid offices that have successfully deployed social media platforms have reported vast improvement in their two-way communications with students. This webinar will review the steps needed to plan and build a social media presence for your aid office on Facebook or Twitter and explore specific strategies for improving two-way communications with students.

Specific topics include:

• Pros and cons of implementing Facebook or Twitter in the aid office
• Crafting a strategy
• Writing effective content
• Turning regulatory language into effective social media content

June 3^rd           @ 12 PM, Eastern time

Crafting a Social Media Strategy for Your Financial Aid Office  

June 12^th @ 3 PM, Eastern time

Crafting a Social Media Strategy for Your Financial Aid Office  

Presenters: Liz Gross and Linda Peckham

 

Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students

Financial education helps student’s make wise decisions about money and credit.  You can create and tailor your own financial literacy programs by mastering basic concepts. This train-the-trainer session will give you all of the essentials you need to provide financial education to your students. You’ll be able to take what you’ve learned and create your own presentation to educate your students so that they make wise financial choices both during school and after graduation.

Specific topics covered include:

• How to craft your own program
• Strategies for engaging students

• ·         Components of a financial literacy program

June 12^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students

June 18^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Michiale Schneider

 

Life after Default

The consequences of loan default can be devastating to your borrowers. Attend this session to learn how loan default can affect the student’s credit profile and what you can do to help them.   Borrowers who default on student loans not only damage their credit, but face having their tax refund and other benefits withheld, and the possibility of wage garnishment and legal action.  These penalties can last for years, making it difficult for them to get a loan to buy a car or home, rent apartments and in some instances, secure employment.  However, once a borrower has defaulted, they haven’t completely run out of options.  This session will share what happens when borrowers default and explore the options available to them afterwards.

Specific topics covered include:

• ·          What happens when borrowers default

• ·         Options available to borrowers after they have defaulted

• ·         Ways you can help them

June 10^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Life after Default

June 18^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Life after Default

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Keyimani Alford

 

Doing More with Less: Finding Balance

If your budget was cut, would you know how to find other resources to maintain service to students? Attend this mini-session to learn how to cope with budget cuts by looking elsewhere for resources.  During these rough economic times it’s common to be asked to cut a certain percentage of your budget. What comes to mind when you’re told to “do more with less”?  We’ll provide several suggestions for finding untapped resources and invite you to share success stories and tips for budget-stretching ideas at your institution.

• Specific topics covered include:

• ·         Aligning your strategies with your resources

• ·         Uncovering hidden resources – thinking “outside the box”

• ·         Tapping into staff strengths

June 25^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Doing More with Less: Finding Balance

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Keyimani Alford

 

Good is Good, but Why Be Average? Tips for Improving Customer Service

• Today’s financial aid office is expected to provide quality customer service to students. Do you know how to ensure your office is always providing optimal service to students and parents?   The best way to improve customer service techniques is through an assessment of your current service level and the creation of specific goals for improvement. This participatory session will show you specific ways to improve customer service results.

• Specific topics covered include:

• ·         Supporting institutional policies while maintaining customer satisfaction

• ·         Understanding ways to resolve customer complaints

• ·         Learning to take the H.E.A.T.

June 17^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Good is Good, but Why Be Average? Tips for Improving Customer Service

June 26^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Good is Good, but Why Be Average? Tips for Improving Customer Service

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Tasha McDaniel

 

Citizenship Status and Title IV Aid: Confirming Eligibility and Ensuring Compliance

Citizenship status confirmation can be time consuming and confusing. Do you know how to evaluate the various ISIR comment codes and confirm eligibility by obtaining the correct documentation? 

This session will provide guidance on how to understand the various ISIR citizenship comment codes, clarify which citizenship status categories can result in Title IV aid eligibility, and show you how to obtain appropriate documentation to ensure compliance before awarding and disbursing aid.

Specific topics covered include:

• ·         Evaluating eligible and ineligible student categories

• ·         Deciphering the various  citizenship match comment codes

• ·         Understanding  acceptable documentation for each category

• ·         Moving through secondary confirmation

June 17^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Citizenship Status and Title IV Aid: Confirming Eligibility and Ensuring Compliance

June 24^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Citizenship Status and Title IV Aid: Confirming Eligibility and Ensuring Compliance

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Linda Peckham

 

How to Prepare for an Audit or Program Review

Do you feel stressed when it’s time for your annual A133 audit? Would being selected for a program review cause you anxiety? This session will explain what you can do to be well-prepared and proactive, and limit your liability. You’ll leave this session with a more organized approach and a thorough understanding of audits and program reviews.

Specific topics covered include:

• The types of audits
• Possible triggers
• Proactive preparation
• What to do when you’ve been selected
• What to expect

June 11^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

How to Prepare for an Audit or Program Review

June 25^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

How to Prepare for an Audit or Program Review

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Keyimani Alford

 

Verification: Four Simple Steps to Completion

Get the right dollars to the right students, on time. We’ll show you the easiest steps to completing verification based on recent policy changes and review common issues that arise.

Specific topics covered include:

• Determining who needs to be verified
• Reviewing required documentation
• Resolving conflicting information
• How to understand IRS transcripts – and when to ask for more information
• Making corrections

June 11^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Verification: Four Simple Steps to Completion

June 24^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Verification: Four Simple Steps to Completion

Presenters: Michiale Schneider and Tasha McDaniel

 

Satisfactory Academic Progress: Moving Students in the Right Direction

To be eligible for FSA funds, a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and schools must have a reasonable policy for monitoring that progress. Learn the basics of the SAP policy and how it affects you. This session will review the requirements so you can respond to your students’ needs and move them toward successfully completing the program for which they are receiving aid.

Specific topics covered include:

• Understanding institutional requirements
• Identifying student eligibility requirements
• Appreciating the differences between qualitative and quantitative components
• Exploring consumer information requirements

June 5^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Satisfactory Academic Progress: Moving Students in the Right Direction

June 26^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Satisfactory Academic Progress: Moving Students in the Right Direction

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Tasha McDaniel

 

Great Lakes Default Management Tools: Learn, Access, Implement

Staying in touch with borrowers who are struggling with repayment can help you minimize your cohort default rate.  Great Lakes tools can help you with these important outreach efforts. This session will show you how to use our Borrowers at Risk report and Delinquency Letter Tool to connect with former students and steer them away from default. You’ll also learn how schools have successfully tackled specific default challenges using our tools.

June 4^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

Great Lakes Default Management Tools: Learn, Access, Implement

Presenters: Tasha McDaniel and Keyimani Alford

 

NSLDS undefined I Made It In, Now What?

NSLDS provides comprehensive data that you can use to verify financial aid history and counsel borrowers about repayment strategies. Do you know how to find the information quickly and efficiently?  If you are not familiar with its functionality you might miss important tools and overlook information. This session will show you the NSLDS functionality and highlight the core components of this powerful database. 

Specific topics covered include:

• Understanding the purpose of NSLDS
• Demonstrating NSLDS functionality
• Reviewing  Awarding Parameters
• Decoding  Symbols and Panels

June 10^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

NSLDS undefined I Made It In, Now What?

June 19^th@ 3 PM, Eastern time

NSLDS undefined I Made It In, Now What?

Presenters: Keyimani Alford and Michiale Schneider

 

Assessing your Leadership Style: Know Thyself and Plan Accordingly

Aid directors are often hired for their Title IV expertise but need to quickly develop their natural leadership skills. Do you know what your leadership style is and how to use it to your advantage?

This webinar will help you uncover your style preferences and to work with others in ways that achieve success for the office. Using the Myers - Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment, participants will develop a better understanding of their leadership strengths - as well as areas in need of improvement - and use that knowledge to improve communication, build teams, and manage conflict. Registrants for this webinar will be offered the opportunity to complete an MBTI assessment prior to the event.

Specific topics covered include:

• Explanation of the four MBTI preference scales
• Overview of MBTI whole types
• How MBTI preferences inform leadership styles
• How MBTI preferences influence communication

June 19^th@ 12 PM, Eastern time

Assessing your Leadership Style: Know Thyself and Plan Accordingly

Presenters: Linda Peckham

Janet Dodson – Associate Director, Tuition Exchange, Past NASFAA Chair, and Certified MBTI Counselor

Sara Vancil – Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, The University of Kansas, and Certified MBTI Counselor