Thursday, February 21, 2013

Reimagining Aid Design & Delivery Project

In September 2012 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided grants to 14 organizations working on postsecondary financial aid solutions. The organizations represent a mix of thought leaders from business, higher education, civil rights and public policy. The grants are part of the Reimagining Aid Design & Delivery (RADD) project. This project is intended to spark a discussion about how financial aid can be used to increase student success, especially for low-income and middle-income students.

Agency
White Paper







2/22/13 12:00 pm - Editors Note - Looks like the credit goes to Carolyn Henrich at the University of California for putting the original list together that has been circulating. Thanks Carolyn! 

Monday, February 11, 2013

February #FAchat Topic: Preparation for Award Packaging

Join us on Tuesday, February 12, at 12 pm CST for #FAChat.

Discussion Topic: Preparation for Award Packaging

We'll be talking about the upcoming awarding season -

  • Best practices
  • Multiple award years
  • COA and Pell estimates
  • Timing of ISIR loads and award letters
  • Shopping sheet and award letter format

Monday, February 4, 2013

God Made a Financial Aid Admin!


Inspired by God Made a Farmer. A little Monday humor.

And on the 8th day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker!” So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

God said I need somebody to get up before dawn and meet with students, package aid, and work all day on ISIRs, meet with students again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board. So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

I need somebody with strong arms. Strong enough to do extensive data entry, yet gentle enough to deliver unfortunate news about a PLUS loan being denied. Somebody to calculate EFCs, tame cantankerous student information systems, come home hungry and have to wait for dinner until every student is out of the office and telling them to be sure to come back real soon...and mean it. So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

God said "I need somebody that can review Satisfactory Academic Progress, advise on loan interest rates and income-contingent repayment programs, and deliver financial aid in a timely manner. And...who, at packaging time and awarding season, will finish his forty hour week by Tuesday noon. Then, pain'n from "carpel tunnel", put in another seventy two hours. So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

God had to have somebody willing to do Financial Aid presentations at night at various high schools around the state and yet be at work when the business day begins to help advise students regarding the different types of financial aid programs available. So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to handle difficult emotions, handle millions of dollars in financial aid awards and yet gentle enough to tame your occasional unruly student and wean freshmen from their helicopter parents...and who will stop his work for an hour to listen and mend the broken spirit of a co-worker. So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

It had to be somebody who'd enter data accurately and quickly...and not cut corners. Somebody to care and challenge, listen and learn...and package and calculate and read and focus and recalculate and review and reimagine. Somebody to replenish the energy of disheartened students and then finish a hard day’s work with a five mile run/walk. Somebody who'd bale an office together with the soft strong bonds of leadership, who'd laugh and then sigh...and then respond with smiling eyes, when his mentee says he wants to spend his life "doing what you do". So, God made a Financial Aid Administrator!

Enjoy the rest of the week!