Update from President-Elect

Submitted by Zita Barree, President-Elect

Helen Keller said “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” What is that something that YOU can do? 

I wrote an article back in March announcing that the SASFAA Volunteer Form was available and so far, I have received 30 completed forms.  A big thanks to the thirty of you who have already volunteered!  Last year, 84 people volunteered and I want to do even better than that this year!  

It is time for YOU to volunteer (if you have not done so already) to help make this coming year a success for SASFAA!  Please go to www.sasfaa.org, click on “About SASFAA” and then “Forms” and you will see the “SASFAA Volunteer Form” at the top of the page. When you have submitted the information I will receive an email confirmation. One of the committee chairs will be in touch with you sometime between late June and late July. We will find a way for you to help SASFAA in some way if you volunteer!

And to repeat myself from my prior article, I used the following quote from T.S. Eliot in my speech at the SASFAA Annual Conference in February of this year when the gavel was passed to me:

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

Please volunteer so that we can work together to find out how far YOU and SASFAA can go!

Update from Virginia

Submitted by Margaret Murphy, VASFAA President

VASFAA membership will roll into Hampton, Virginia for the 2013 Annual Conference beginning Monday, May 13, 2013.  The event will be preceded by a one-day New Aid Officers Workshop on May 12 and is free current members.  The conference theme is “Positioning Students & Professionals for Success” and features updates and sessions by our fed, Greg Martin, NASFAA’s Justin Draeger, Zita Barree on behalf of SASFAA, Lee Andes for the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia, as well as many other well qualified presenters.   Poll closed on May 13, 2013 for election for Board positions open for the 2013-2014 year.

Annual Hill Visits

submitted by Nathan Basford, FAFSAA President

WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE!

Dear SASFAA Members & Friends:

I had the honor of attending the third annual Hill Visits in Washington, DC on February 21st.  I was there with other SASFAA folks, as well as folks from the Eastern Association (EASFAA), the Midwest Association (MASFAA), and the Delaware, DC, and Maryland Association.

We were divided into teams! Our team consisted of four financial aid professionals who are so committed to ensuring students a chance for higher education. They were:  Julie Lundgren, Donald Jones, Karen Sokol, and I.  What a fantastic group of folks.

We were able to visit with representatives from the following states:  South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina.  We were welcomed and left feeling that we had built relationships so that we can continue our support for higher education.

• Each of our visits lasted about 25 minutes.
• Our first visit went quite well:  We were able to meet with Elizabeth Simmons, aide for Tim Scott (SC). With Elizabeth being a recent graduating student she understood the importance of keeping the interest rate tied more closely to market rates. 
• Our second visit was with Thomas J. Woodburn, Jr., Legislative Correspondent to Representative Rush Holt, (NJ).  He was filling in for both of the aides for which we had original appointments, and perhaps for that reason, the conversation was not as smooth and flowing as the others.  Nonetheless, he was knowledgeable about Title IV aid and asked specific questions on how many students were awarded Perkins at each of our schools.  He also asked if we had a specific consumer information piece we liked better than the others.
• Our third visit with Justin Zorn, aide for Frederica Wilson (FL) went quite well, he was very interested in following up with us on education issues
•  Our fourth visit with Meghan Stringer, aid for Virginia Foxx, (NC) went very well also. As we left our last meeting Megan said "Thank you for all you do for students!”    This made our day on Capitol Hill a Success

I am very grateful that I had the opportunity of meeting with our Congressional representatives last week.  Our group took the time first to thank them for their support to the students that we serve nationwide in securing a post-secondary education. Our group also had the opportunity to thank them for the support they will continue in the future. We also offered our assistance to answer any questions they may have in the future regarding issues and decisions related to Title IV financial aid programs.

I look forward to continuing the relationships that have been made during our visits, and I will continue to push for students to have the funding that will allow them to achieve their educational dreams.

Submitted by: Nathan Basford

Group 9:  Julie Lundgren, Donald Jones, and Karen Sokol

SASFAA Election Results

Submitted by Brad Barnett, Nominations & Elections Chair

Some technical difficulties with the original elections held in conjunction with the February 2013 Annual Conference caused us to suspend the elections and delete the votes that were cast.  However, financial aid officers are accustomed to dealing with challenges, so we re-grouped, switched to a new service, and the election results are in.

The following people were elected to the respective positions:

• President-Elect:  Nathan Basford (Florida State University)
• Vice President: Tabatha McAllister (University of South Carolina Regional Campuses in South Carolina)
• Treasurer:  Amy Moser (Nelnet)

The officers will begin their service to SASFAA at the June 2013 Transition Meeting in Clearwater, Florida.

I sincerely appreciate each of the candidates putting their name on the ballot.  SASFAA had a top notch ballot, and I am looking forward to the future of the association.

Call for SASFAA Volunteers

submitted by Zita Barree, President-Elect

Anne Frank said “How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.” You can take a minute right now and show your interest in helping SASFAA continue to improve.  Planning is already underway for the 2013-2014 year!  I promised at the Annual Conference in Atlanta last month to have the Volunteer Form available by the end of February.  With the delayed elections process, I decided to wait until it had concluded and the new officers were announced. 

Now it is time for YOU to volunteer to help make this coming year a success for SASFAA!  Please go to www.sasfaa.org, click on “About SASFAA” and then “Forms” and you will see the “SASFAA Volunteer Form” at the top of the page. When you have submitted the information I will receive an email confirmation. One of the committee chairs will be in touch with you sometime between late June and late July. We will find a way for you to help SASFAA in some way if you volunteer!

It is not too early to remind you of the annual conference to be held in Jacksonville, Florida, February 16-19, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Our theme for next year will be “Hitting our Stride by Celebrating our Strengths” and we hope you will join us as SASFAA continues to hit its stride!

Your elected officers for next year include:

• Zita Barree from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia as President
• Jeff Dennis from Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina as your Past-President
• Nathan Basford from Florida State University in Florida as your President-Elect
• Tabatha McAllister from University of South Carolina Regional Campuses in South Carolina as your Vice-President
• Sharon Oliver from North Carolina Central University in North Carolina as your Secretary
• Amy Moser from Nelnet in Georgia as your Treasurer

In addition, the other voting members of the Board include the State Presidents for 2013-14:

• Alabama – Kevin Ammons, Enterprise State Community College
• Florida – Wayne Kruger, St. Petersburg College
• Georgia – Cathy Crawley, Georgia College and State University
• Kentucky – Katie Conrad, Midway College
• Mississippi – John Windham, Northeast Mississippi Community College
• North Carolina – Rachel Cavenaugh, Cape Fear Community College
• South Carolina – Katie Harrison, South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission
• Tennessee - Ashley Bianchi, Rhodes College
• Virginia – Ashley Reich, Liberty University

The committee chairs who serve on the Board as non-voting members will be finalized by no later than the Board’s Transition Meeting to be held June 2 – 4 in Clearwater Beach, FL. 

I used the following quote from T.S. Eliot in my speech at the SASFAA Annual Conference last month when the gavel was passed to me:

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

Please volunteer so that we can work together to find out how far YOU and SASFAA can go!

NEW AID OFFICERS WORKSHOP

Submitted by Michael Reynolds, SASFAA Vice President

2013 SASFAA
New Aid Officers Workshop
Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama
June 16-21, 2013

  

Purpose
The SASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop is an intense professional development activity designed to provide a working knowledge of the federal financial aid programs, as well as an understanding of the laws and regulations that govern these programs. The curriculum will take the student from A-Z covering the basics of financial aid.

Intended Audience
The workshop is intended for new financial aid administrators with less than three years of experience in the field of financial aid. Other individuals whose professional responsibilities include significant contact with the financial aid process are welcome to attend the workshop on a space-available basis. Preference will be given to financial aid administrators.

Format of Workshop
A carefully selected faculty of experienced aid administrators selected from the SASFAA states and representing diverse institutions will provide instruction. These individuals will team-teach and work with the same class of participants throughout the week. Instruction will include the use of case studies, lectures, and interactive instruction. The faculty will be on site for the entire week, providing opportunities for ample interaction outside the classroom.

Location and Dates
The workshop will be held on the campus of Auburn University. Founded in 1856, Auburn University’s  historic campus is in Auburn Alabama. Visit Auburn University’s website at www.auburnu.edu to view the campus. Classes will be conducted in classrooms that contain PC’s, and other equipment. Participants should plan to arrive no later than 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2013 to check-in and take care of on-site registration activities. Check-in and on-site registration will be from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2013. The first class begins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, 2013. The workshop will end on Friday, June 21, 2013 by 11:30 a.m. for room check-out. Participants may arrive on Saturday, June 16, 2013. Check-in and on-site registration will be available from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Saturday. There is an additional charge of $35 if you arrive on Saturday. Please make your travel arrangements to allow you to arrive before the workshop begins on Sunday afternoon and for you to attend all of Friday morning activities.

Cost
Registration fee for the workshop is $675, if registration is completed by May 26, 2013 and $725 if registration is completed after May 26, 2013. The registration fee includes all instructional materials, most meals, housing and your 2012-2013 SASFAA membership ($35). Early arrivals- those arriving on Saturday, June 16, 2013 will be charged an additional $35 fee to cover the additional night’s lodging.

Housing
Housing will be provided in The Village Dorms located on Auburn University’s campus. This facility opened in August 2010. This suite style, building has a combination of four person suites with a lounge area and 2 bathrooms within the suite. Each participant has their own bedroom .The Village is located in the West Campus on the corner of Donohue and Magnolia Streets. You must provide your own television, laptop and other electronic devices. Wireless access is available in many areas of campus. Each bedroom has one single bed, one desk and chair, one chest-of-drawers, and one closet. You will need to supply bed linens, wash clothes and towels.

Food
All meals will be cafeteria meals except for Wednesday night. Beginning with dinner on Sunday, June 17, 2013, participants will be provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner except for Wednesday dinner which is on your own. Morning and afternoon breaks will be provided. There are several special activities and functions planned throughout the week.

Travel
Auburn University is located in east Alabama. The campus can be accessed easily from the Hartsfield Atlanta airport, the Montgomery Airport or the Birmingham Airport. There are two airport shuttles that service from Montgomery- Groome Transportation-Auburn, and Express 85.Vist their websites at  www.groometransportation.com   and www.express85.com for schedule and cost.  You are responsible for your transportation from the airport to Auburn University. For driving directions, please visit Auburn University’s website at http://www.auburn.edu/map/directions.html

Registration
You can register for this workshop online. Space is limited so register early!

For more information contact:

            Michael Reynolds, SASFAA Vice President
334-844-2527
reynom2@auburn.edu

Ellen Green, Curriculum Coordinator
Ellen.Green@tridenttech.edu

Strategies to Promote Smart Borrowing

Submitted by Chansone Durden, TG Account Executive Team Member

With the September release of the first official 3-year cohort default rates (CDRs), default prevention has never been a higher priority at schools across the country. While much of this concern focuses on the repayment phase of the life of the loan, the borrowing phase is arguably just as important. One of the best ways to avert default is to encourage students to adopt smart borrowing habits.

But how do schools accomplish this? The following list presents strategies schools can use to promote smart borrowing decisions within their student population.

Personalize student loan counseling. Common sense suggests that face-to-face interaction produces better outcomes when it comes to student loan counseling. In-person counseling allows students to ask questions and financial aid professionals to make note of important information students may otherwise miss. Most importantly, personalized counseling can be tailored to the individual student’s situation, thus addressing his or her needs more directly.

While there is widespread agreement that in-person counseling is the most effective, schools often lack the resources required to provide it, whether because of a large student population, lack of adequate staffing levels, or both. In its place, many schools try to provide at least some individual contact to each student. Some schools require students to pick up loan request forms in person at the financial aid office, for example. Others strongly encourage students to attend smart-borrowing workshops, giving staff members the opportunity to address key topics and students the chance to ask questions.

Provide borrowers with regular reports on their total amount borrowed and likely monthly repayments after separation. Along with academic success, total amount borrowed is a primary indicator of potential repayment success — or the lack thereof — after graduation. All too often, students fail to consider how their borrowing behavior will impact them down the road. To help fill this judgment gap, some schools have started providing borrowers with periodic reports of their total amount borrowed, along with likely monthly payments under a standard repayment plan.

Another useful element to include in such a report would be potential debt-to-income ratios for a student’s major, once he or she has declared one. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (at  www. bls.gov/oco) can provide potential income information for most careers. 

Institute an effective financial literacy program. Encouraging students to keep their potential future earnings in mind when making borrowing decisions is a critical piece of a successful default prevention program. Placing these decisions in the context of borrowers’ overall financial lives can help solidify better choices into lasting financial skills, and this is where an effective financial literacy program comes into play. Students need a basic level of knowledge to manage financial challenges and reach their goals. Providing students with information on budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and other essential topics will help them make more informed borrowing decisions and provide them with the tools they need for successful repayment in the future.

Provide in-depth counseling to at-risk borrowers. In order to employ counseling resources most effectively, some schools have begun to develop “early warning” systems that help them identify current borrowers most at risk of defaulting. Warning signs may relate to academics (low test scores, excessive absences), high levels of borrowing, or personal concerns. For these borrowers, the schools adopt a more proactive counseling strategy, encouraging borrowers to create an academic plan, receive financial literacy training, and/or participate in career counseling. Through this intrusive-counseling strategy, schools can redirect students toward completion and repayment success, heading off likely default before it happens.

For more information

To learn more about the importance of smart borrowing choices and the impact of student debt-to-income ratios, see TG’s recent report, Balancing Passion and Practicality: The Role of Debt and Major on Students’ Financial Outcomes. The report may be found at http://www.TG.org/pdf/Balancing-Passion-and-Practicality.pdf.