ALABAMA STATE REPORT

AASFAA held its 2011 Fall Training Workshop on October 14, 2011 on the beautiful campus of Auburn University-Montgomery.  Michael Roberts, U.S. Department of Education Title IV Training Officer joined us for our fall training.  This one-day training featured a federal update on hot topics that included Gainful Employment, SAP and 2012-2013 Verification.  Mr. Roberts fielded questions from the AASFAA members during our “Ask a Fed Session”, that included taking questions back to verify the correct answers.  He contacted Vickie Adams with the responses from these questions that were to be provided to the members. 

Ms. Sharon Williams, President-Elect took time to pass out volunteer forms to our members and discussed the importance of serving on committees and getting plugged in to our great association.  We also included, in the training workbook, a list of the 2011-2012 Executive Board and Committee Chairs along with the committee name and email address of each.  We felt this would be helpful information for any new member if they had questions about a committee.  A very special “thank you” goes out to Phillip Nelson for serving as the 2011-2012 Fall Local Arrangements Chair and Anthony Richey for hosting the workshop at AUM. 

Alabama again hosted numerous College Goal Sunday locations during the month of February.  This was a great opportunity to bring together financial aid professionals that were more than willing to assist parents and students with the FAFSA process.   AASFAA’s own Stephanie Miller and Fred Carter were the coordinators for the State of Alabama for the 2011-2012 year.

The 2012 AASFAA Spring Conference will be held at Lake Guntersville State Park again.  The management has agreed to keep the same low room rate that we have had for the last two years.  Working with the staff at the Lodge has proved to be a very relaxing experience for our Local Arrangements Chair, making sure we had everything we needed to make the conference an exciting experience. 

Vickie Adams-President

Treasurer’s Report

$$$ Treasurer’s Report by Nancy T. Garmroth, SASFAA Treasurer $$$

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Association as your Treasurer, and I am very appreciative to Jeff Dennis for his patience and training. What a challenge! It is almost April, and I finally feel like I am getting a handle on things – it only took me 9 months!! In addition to receipting payments for our conference, New Aid Officer’s workshop and membership, I also stay busy making payments and doing general accounting functions like bank account reconciliation.  But did you know the Treasurer also handles our insurance policies, credit card statements, BMI and ASCAP music licenses/reports, filing for refunds in tax exempt States, reporting and paying for our Georgia Incorporation license and preparing documentation for our tax returns?

SASFAA is having a great fiscal year. We have exceeded our budget in our income categories of membership, the annual conference and sponsorships. We also received $11,407 in tax refunds dating back to 2007. In addition, we have set aside $10,000 for our 50^th anniversary celebration in Atlanta in 2013. The entire Executive Board is to be commended for working diligently to make the best use of our resources.

I look forward to working with Vice President Runan Pendergrast and her New Aid Officer’s staff in June as we conduct the New Aid Officer’s training at North Carolina Central University. Then we transition, and I also look forward to working with Jeff Dennis and the rest of the 2012-2013 Executive Board. Happy Spring and almost Summer!!

SASFAA Nine News and Listserv

Good afternoon SASFAA,

As you have seen over the past few months SASFAA created a new on-line tool called the SASFAA Nine News.  This is a new venture and was done for a couple of reasons:

·         The newsletter has outlived its usefulness in this day and age of instant news reporting, so SASFAA Nine News was created in large part to replace the newsletter.  It will allow newsletter articles to be reported in a timelier fashion.

·         This summer SASFAA is changing hosts for the SASFAA website.  Our current listserv is tied to ATAC, the current host.  Changing website hosts to Wild Apricot will save SASFAA a few thousand dollars a year, so the move is a good one financially for the association.

Part of the thought process in creating SASFAA Nine News is that it would replace the listserv as well as the newsletter.  To help encourage people to register for SASFAA Nine News and assist you in becoming comfortable with it, we have been posting duplicate messages to the listserv and SASFAA Nine News.   This dual posting was never designed to be permanent…it was simply part of the transition process as the current listserv goes away this summer.

We have been working hard to prepare for our transition to the new website host and I am happy to report that we recently discovered Wild Apricot will provide us with the ability to utilize a listserv through their service.  This is great news!  So, what does this mean for you?

·         First, this means we can go back to using SASFAA Nine News as strictly the newsletter replacement, but will allow us to post articles throughout the year in a timelier fashion than putting them in a quarterly newsletter.  

·         Second, we will stop posting dual messages (with the exception of this one) to the SASFAA Nine News and the listserv as there is no more need for a transition plan for SASFAA Nine News to replace the listserv.  However, there could be occasions where duplicate messages will be posted, but it will not be the norm.

·         Third, you should not need to do anything other than keep your SASFAA membership in good standing in order to have access to the new listserv once we make the transition.  However, if we discover you do need to take some action, then a notice will be sent to the membership with instructions on what needs to be done.

The SASFAA listserv is restricted to SASFAA members only.  Anyone, SASFAA member or not, can sign up for SASFAA Nine News.

We appreciate your patience as we move forward with this initiative.

Brad Barnett

SASFAA President

Registration Is Open for the SASFAA New Aid Officer’s Workshop

Have you thought about sending someone from your school to the SASFAA New Aid Officer’s Workshop?  This workshop will provide your employee with the opportunity of a lifetime by participating in one of the most professionally developed, educationally-oriented financial aid training programs anywhere in the United States.  See details below.

Registration Begins TODAY!!!

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 North Carolina Central University (NCCU).  Founded in 1910, NCCU historic campus is in Durham, in the heart of North Carolina's vibrant Research Triangle.   Visit NCCU’s website at www.nccu.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 17, 2012 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 17, 2012.

The first class begins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2012. The workshop will end on Friday, June 22, 2012 by 11:30 a.m. for room check-out.  Participants may arrive on Saturday, June 16, 2012. 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 $20 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, 2012 and $725 if registration is completed after May 26, 2012. 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, 2012 will be charged an additional $20 fee to cover the additional night’s lodging.

Housing

Housing will be provided in Ruffin Hall located on NCCU’s campus.  This facility opened in August 2005. This suite style, building has a combination of two person suites with a lounge area and bathroom within the suite. Ruffin is located in the West Campus on the corner of Fayetteville and Larson 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.  Linens include one pillow, one pillowcase, two sheets, one thin blanket, bath towel and washcloth.

Food

All meals will be cafeteria meals except for Wednesday night.   Beginning with dinner on Sunday, June 17, 2012, 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

North Carolina Central University is located in Durham, NC.  Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) services seven (7) major airlines and/or commuter flights from around the country.  You are responsible for your transportation from the airport to NCCU.  Shuttle services are available.  A list of shuttle services will be posted to the SASFAA website.   For driving directions, please visit NCCU’s website at http://www.nccu.edu/aboutnccu/drivingdirections.cfm

Registration

Beginning TODAY you can register for this workshop online at www.sasfaa.org under Training.  Space is limited so register early!

For more information contact:

Runan Pendergrast, SASFAA Vice President Bluegrass Community & Technical College

859-246-6305

runan.pendergrast@kctcs.edu

Mandy Branch-Friar, Curriculum Coordinator University of Georgia

706-542-2033

mzweig@uga.edu

House Votes to Repeal 2 Controversial Education Department Rules

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to repeal the regulations on the federal definition of a credit hour and state authorization of distance education programs.  Now, the U.S. Senate must take up the issue of repealing these regulations.  It will be a tougher battle to get a favorable vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate.  Even if the Senate passes the repeal legislation, President Obama could still veto the bill to repeal these over-reaching regulations into the higher education industry.

You can read the entire article at:

http://chronicle.com/article/House-Votes-to-Repeal-2/130962/

Thanks.

Review President Obama's FY 2013 Education Budget

Have you had an opportunity to review some of the details of President Obama’s education budget?

In his State of the Union Address, the President laid out a plan for ensuring that our students and workers get the education and training they need to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow. He also later laid out a comprehensive approach to tackle rising college costs. The Administration firmly believes that education cannot be a luxury – it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

You can read the entire article at the following website:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet/an-economy-built-to-last-and-expanded-college-opportunity

SASFAA Conference Information

Good morning SASFAA Colleagues,

More important information to know before the SASFAA conference:

1.       All meeting rooms will have Wi-Fi for members who want to access presentations online with laptops or IPAD.

2.       If an attendee would like to receive CEU's (Continuing Education Units) from AFCPE - Association for Financial Counseling Planning and Education there will be a sign up sheet at the conference registration table. Upon return to your campus you will have confirmation of your CEUs earned at SASFAA.

3.       Check daily for SASFAA 2012 presentations that are available to download for the conference.

Safe Travels to SASFAA!

Shelley Park

SASFAA Conference Chair