TASFAA Community Blog
Hello all,
Just wanted to give you an update on Stephanie. She is recovering at home for 4 weeks and then will start chemo after that. She has really enjoyed all of the flowers, notes and cards that she has received from her colleagues and friends. So keep them coming.
Please continue to keep Stephanie and her family close in your thoughts and prayers over the next several days. Terri I will send further updates as we receive them here at TSAC.
If you wanted to send cards or notes to her, her address is:
Stephanie Aylor
5101 Ashley Drive
Nashville, TN 37211
Happy Holidays,
Jane
We are planning a group TASFAA dinner on Tuesday night of the FSA conference. If you are interested in attending, please comment on this post or email Celena Tulloss at carader@utk.edu. Look forward to seeing several of you in Vegas!!
Financial aid offices around the country are becoming increasingly aware of the needs of our veterans. With the increase of veterans transitioning into higher education, we as financial aid administrators must be conscious of the unique needs of this student population. In order to better our customer service and provide the best care, below are a few resources for financial aid administrators to use to assist their veteran students. These resources reference various military aid options (including the GI Bill), financial literacy, financial counseling, FAFSA information and more!
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION - PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION
Today’s GI Bill® Tillman Military Scholars
http://www.todaysgibill.org/
http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/tillman-military-scholars/apply/
FINAID.ORG
Financial aid for veterans and their dependents
http://www.finaid.org/military/veterans.phtml
USA FUNDS
Military/Veterans Support Provisions
http://www.usafunds.org/Consumer/MilitaryBenefits.pdf
FINAID.ORG US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Veterans and the FAFSA - For Members of the US Armed Forces: What You Need To Know
http://www.finaid.org/military/fafsa.phtml
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA
New GI Bill® (Post 911 Act Information; Calculators)
http://newgibill.org/
ABOUT YOUR FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN BENEFITS
http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/military-student-loan- benefits.pdf
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Scholarships For Military Families
http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/scholarships-for- military.pdf
MILITARY.COM US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
State Veterans Benefits Directory Welcome to the GI Bill® Web Site
http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state
Note: “GI Bill” is now a registered trademark owned by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2408.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CPAs CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION
MCGRAW-HILL AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Military Money (Includes an iPhone/iPad app)
http://www.militaryandmoney.com/
MILITARYHUB
http://www.militaryhub.com/
MILITARY ONESOURCE
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
Money Management; financial counseling
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy
Military and Reserves
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Life- Stages/Military-and-Reserves
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Free Resources (various pubs from other resources)
http://www.bbb.org/us/Military/resources/
BUREAU
Additional Resources for Service members, veterans and their families Money management and saving http://www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemem bers/additionalresources/
FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY (FINRA)
http://www.saveandinvest.org/MilitaryCenter/
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU – MILITARY FORT JACKSON FINANCIAL READINESS
BBB Military Line
http://www.bbb.org/us/military-line/
CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA
Predatory Lending Protections for Service-members
http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/MIL-Fact- Sheet-Final-Regs.pdf
FMWR ONLINE
Financial Readiness Program
http://fortjacksonmwr.com/acs_fin/
IN CHARGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Military Money
http://www.incharge.org/military-money
A special thanks to David R Smedley, Associate Director, Compliance and Policy, Office of Student Financial Assistance. Email: dsmedley@email.gwu.edu for compiling the aforementioned resources.
December 2013 SmartSessions
Assessing your Financial Aid Social Media Plan: Measure what Matters
Your financial aid social media plan needs to start with measurable outcomes. Financial aid officers often struggle with how to measure the impact of their social media platforms in meaningful ways. Effective assessment requires that aid offices isolate their goals in advance: building community, increasing followers, or just providing timely financial aid information. Each goal is important but requires unique tools for measurement.
Specific topics include:
December 10th @ 3 pm Eastern time Assessing your Financial Aid Social Media Plan: Measure what Matters
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:
December 17 @ 3 pm Eastern timeFERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies
A Guide to Great Lakes Default Prevention Tools
This session provides an overview of the Great Lakes tools available to help you reach out to delinquent borrowers and manage your cohort default rate. Learn how to use our Borrowers at Risk report and delinquency letter tool to connect with former students and steer them away from default on FFELP, put, and Direct loans. The training will fully explain report access, settings and options, and subscriptions. You'll also learn how different schools use the tools to tackle different prevention challenges.
December 19th @ 3 pm Eastern time A Guide to Great Lakes Default Prevention Tools
Cost of Attendance Essentials: A Data-Driven Approach to Balancing Student Needs and Debt
Do you know how to develop a COA budget that meets your students’ needs and encourages reasonable debt? A data-driven approach to budget- building can help. When you build a reasonable budget that is grounded in economic facts, you can help your institution maintain compliance, offer flexibility, and encourage responsible borrowing for successful repayment.
• Items to be included in the COA
• Data sources to build a reasonable COA
• Situations when Professional Judgment may be appropriate
December 18th @ 12:00 pm Eastern timeCost of Attendance Essentials: A Data-Driven Approach to Balancing Student Needs and Debt
January 2014 SmartSessions
Your First Day as a 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.
Presenters:
Janet Dodson, Associate Director, Tuition Exchange, and Past NASFAA Chair
Gail Holt, Dean of Financial Aid, Amherst College
January 15th @ 12 PM, Eastern time Your First Day as a New Director: 5 Things you need to do to Ensure Success
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.
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
January 28th @ 12 PM, Eastern time Assessing your Leadership Style: Know Thyself and Plan Accordingly
Final Student Loan Rules: What the Changes Mean for You and Your Students
New final rules issued in November 2013 resulted in important changes to the student loan rules, including the modifications to both the FFEL and Direct Loan programs. We’ll give you a general overview of the regulatory changes and provide you with an insider’s guide to the negotiated rule making process.
January 16th @ 3 PM, Eastern time Final Student Loan Rules: What the Changes Mean for You and Your Students
January 23rd @ 12 PM, Eastern time Final Student Loan Rules: What the Changes Mean for You and Your Students
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.
January 23rd @ 3 PM, Eastern time Verification: Four Simple Steps to Completion
January 30th @ 12 PM, Eastern time Verification: Four Simple Steps to Completion
Dependency Status Dilemmas
Are your students confused about how to answer dependency questions on the FAFSA? When should you consider a dependency override? We'll review ways to help your students while maintaining compliance.
January 8th @ 12 PM, Eastern timeDependency Status Dilemmas
January 22nd @ 3 PM, Eastern time Dependency Status Dilemmas
Professional Judgment Perplexities
Professional Judgment is helps you target funds to students with exceptional need. But Professional Judgment principles must be applied wisely and responsibly in order to be effective and compliant.
This participatory session reviews complex case studies to show how you can help students get the aid they need by making adjustments to either the expected family contribution (EFC) or the student’s cost of attendance.
January 30 @ 3 PM, Eastern time
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.
January 29th @ 3 PM, Eastern time Great Lakes Default Management Tools: Learn, Access, Implement
Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students
Financial education helps students 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.
January 21st @ 12 PM, Eastern time Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students
January 28th @ 3 PM, Eastern time Financial Literacy: What You Need to Know to Educate Your Students
How Analytics Can Help Schools Prepare for Student Success
By Ted Lannan, Inceptia Director of Market Research
This month the Department of Education will conduct public forums on college campuses across the country to discuss a possible federal college rating system that will determine student aid awards.
Many states today have already reconsidered the enrollment-based funding model and instead are allocating money to colleges and universities based on the number of students who complete courses and degrees.
According to a report released last month by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) and Complete College America, 16 states have a funding formula in place
The funding formulas are based on performance indicators like course completion, time to degree, transfer rates, the number of degrees awarded, or the number of low-income and minority graduates. This illustration [see map] shows states that are already transitioning to some type of performance funding or are considering it.
Ten additional states are transitioning to some type of performance funding and more states have started the process with formal hearings held at the Legislature or meetings conducted by governing boards.
Based on these changes, higher education institutions must focus on student success and retention to generate an acceptable rate of return and maintain financial viability.
The starting point is analytics. My favorite business quote from Peter Drucker is: "What gets measured gets managed.
Today, higher education institutions are collecting more data than ever before. However, much of the data is being used to satisfy credentialing or reporting requirements rather than to address strategic planning questions. Much of the data collected are not used at all. The problem is not the amount of data, but the challenge of integrating it, and the time and expertise to analyze it.
That's where professional analysis can help. Analytics:
Data should be used to identify the variables in student success. It
At a time when our government will require more justification when credentialing and ranking an institution, the objective must be to use data analysis to promote retention, improve graduation rates and enhance loan repayment.
Ted Lannan is the Director of Market Research for Inceptia. More information can be found at Inceptia.org.
Seats are filling up for the TASFAA training next week. Don't miss out on multiple valuable sessions, time with colleagues, and the updated R2T4 training handout from NASFAA. The cost is only $65 and the commute will be minimal. Looking forward to seeing you! Click here to register.
4 Ways to Lower Your Cohort Default Rate
Stephanie Mackeprang, Inceptia
The headlines are everywhere: “Cohort Default Rates Rise for Sixth Year.” Although it comes as no surprise to administrators and industry experts, the rising default rate adds another burden to already taxed financial aid offices.
Now that the rates are out and published, what can schools do now to curb future rates? No matter if your school’s rate is rising or maintaining, these four tactics will make a positive impact on your future default rate.
Track Your Rate Year Round
Upload your School Portfolio report to the Cohort Activity Report system, a free service provided by Inceptia, to receive current data on open cohort default years and monitor borrowers in repayment and default. This report will also show the impact one default borrower has on your rate and the number of borrowers needing rescue to impact your rate by one percent.
Conduct Analytics
Gathering data on student population trends can help schools understand the default characteristics of students. Trend analysis identifies borrowers in jeopardy so schools can focus on meeting the financial education needs of the students that need it the most.
Promote Financial Education
Financial education is the best way to impact future default rates. The more students know about budgeting, borrowing and credit cards the less likely they will default on their loans. Whether your school hires an outside vendor or uses internal staff, be sure your students are being taught by a certified personal financial manager (CPFM) and have access to online resources.
Contact Student Borrowers
One-on-one counseling will help delinquent borrowers get back on track. Through grace counseling or default prevention outreach, a direct connection can make a huge impact on students’ lives. Before you reach out to borrowers, you will need a contact strategyundefinedletters, emails, phone calls or a combination of all three. Once the contact method has been determined, you will want to ensure you are complying with the Fair Debt Practices Collection Act (FDPCA) for your own protection. Read Contacting Student Borrowers for more tips.
Although not much can be done about the FY 2010 3-year and FY 2011 2-year cohort default rates now, there are steps you can take today that will impact future rates. Inceptia offers a free Cohort Activity Report. For more information on how analytics, financial education and default prevention outreach can lower your cohort default rate, contact Inceptia at 888.529.2028 or inceptiacs@inceptia.org.
November Schedule: Great Lakes’ Free SmartSessions Trainings
November 6th @ 3 pm, Eastern time
November 18th @ 12 pm, Eastern timeDependency Status Dilemmas
November 7th @ 12 pm, Eastern timeA Guide to Great Lakes Default Prevention Tools
How to Create a Social Media Site for your Financial Aid Office
Your students use social media to connect with other campus offices. Do you know how to set up and maintain a Facebook or Twitter account for the aid office to improve customer service and outreach? Before getting started with posting content or designing a strategy, you first need to know how to set up a Facebook or Twitter account. There are guidelines that you need to follow and decisions to be made regarding pages, profiles, and use of visuals before you launch. This webinar will provide a step by step guide to setting up your Facebook and Twitter accounts for maximum effectiveness.
November 12th @ 12 pm, Eastern timeHow to Create a Social Media Site for your Financial Aid Office
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.
November 13th @ 12 pm, Eastern timeFERPA: Interpreting the Intricacies
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.
•• Overview of basic consumer information requirements
•• Loan counseling
•• Misrepresentation
•• Campus security
November 20th @ 12 pm, Eastern timeConsumer Information Requirements
Congratulations! The end of September is upon us and you have survived the completion of the fall recruitment and report season. Now is the time to consider investing in yourself with some valuable training. TASFAA will be partnering with TSAC for the Fall Training Series and it will be a well-rounded day providing sessions to develop your technical, technological, and transferrable skills.
The day will include the following sessions:
á Two-Part Federal Update – presented by Michael Roberts, Title IV Training Officer
á 150% Subsidized Loan Limit – presented by Michael Roberts, Title IV Training Officer
á Cloud Computing Within the Education Sector - presented by either Bill Piper, Technology Consultant of Master-IT, or Dave Sagraves, Executive Vice President of Claris Networks, depending on the location
á State Grant Update – presented by TSAC’s Robert Biggers, Lottery Scholarship Program Director, and Naomi Derryberry, Director of Grant Programs
á Effective Communication Utilizing Rhetorical Techniques – presented by Larry Rector, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services of Johnson University
Pick a location near you from the following:
á Union University in Jackson on 11/5
á Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville on 11/6
á Johnson University in Knoxville on 11/7
COST: $65 for members and $100 for non-members (includes TASFAA membership for 2013-2014). Registration will be available on the TASFAA website.
Parking information and directions will be provided to all registered participants according to the location that they've chosen to attend.
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.
October 1 @ 3 PM, Eastern timePerfecting Your Policies and Procedures Manual
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.
•• 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
October 23rd @ 12 PM, Eastern time
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.
•• Repayment options available to students
•• How to prepare your students for repayment
October 29th @ 12 PM, Eastern timeLoans II: Helping Students Succeed in Repayment
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.
•• Deciphering the language of Financial Aid
•• Student eligibility requirements
•• Types of financial aid programs
•• Importance of FERPA privacy provisions
October 15 @ 12 PM, Eastern timeFinancial Aid for Beginners
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.
•• Understanding verification requirements
•• Step-by-step instructions for reviewing documentation and completing the verification process
•• How to resolve verification findings
October 22nd @ 3 PM, Eastern timeUnderstanding the Verification Process
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.
•• Purpose of Federal Methodology
•• Guiding principles of Need Analysis
•• Components
•• Manual EFC calculations
•• Special circumstances
October 17th @ 12 PM, Eastern timeApplying Federal Methodology
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.
•• Review of the Central Processing System database matches
•• Guidance on resolving database mismatches
•• Types of conflicting information and how to resolve them
October 24th @ 3 PM, Eastern timeDatabase Matches: Resolving Common Comment Codes
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.
•• Applying for financial aid
•• Answering dependency questions
•• Processing the FAFSA
October 16th @ 3 PM, Eastern timeUnderstanding the FAFSA: It All Starts Here
Contact Us: administrator@tasfaatn.com
