Shows
Hearing Matters Podcast: Hearing Aids, Hearing Loss and TinnitusMaking Sense of the Student Loan Changes and Professional Degree DefinitionSend us a textPolicy just moved the goalposts on graduate borrowing. We invited Jill Desjean, Director of Policy Analysis at NASFAA, to break down the new federal definition of “professional degree,” why it leans on a legacy program list, and what that means for loan limits, affordability, and access to care.We walk through the exact criteria the Department of Education is using, how Congress pointed the rulemaking toward classifications like medicine and dentistry, and why allied health fields with licensure and clinical preparation can still be left out. From there, we connect the dots...
2025-12-0923 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Defining a 'Professional Student' and NASFAA's Recent Public CommentsThis week on "Off The Cuff," Tim is joined by Jill and Sarah to recap some of the latest negotiated rulemaking (neg reg) developments and NASFAA public comments. Jill kicks things off with details from how the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee worked to define a "professional student" and explained how the Department of Education (ED) approached defining the term, outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Sarah then highlights some of NASFAA's recent comments on ED's proposed revisions to the FSA Feedback System, and their changes to the Application for Approval to Participate in...
2025-11-2041 min
Advocacy is MedicineStudent Loan Changes with HR1Dr. Stephanie Hartman discusses changes to student loan policy changes within HR1 with Paula Kohles. Paula, is the current director of financial aid at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has over 30 years of experience in financial aid services within systems of higher education. Be sure to check out the show notes for any updates that may have occurred since the recording of the podcast on October 8, 2025. Link to HR1 - One Big Beautiful Bill ActLink to outline of Student Aid changes fro...
2025-11-1558 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Unpacking Cost of AttendanceThis week on "Off the Cuff," Tim and David do a deep dive into the cost of attendance (COA). David begins the conversation by discussing the purpose of COA, and its different categories. From there, Tim and David discuss multiple aspects of COA, including how institutions build their COA and additional fees – such as health insurance and student loan fees. The team also details resources and provides examples to help members better understand COA, including AskRegs answers and an upcoming NASFAA U course dedicated to the topic.
2025-10-3034 min
SA Voices From the FieldNavigating Financial Aid Changes: Insights from NASFAA's Melanie StoreyIf you work in higher education or care about college access and affordability, "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" continues to be a must-listen. In this season's fifth episode, host Dr. Jill Creighton welcomes Melanie Storey, President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), to demystify the changing landscape of student financial aid and its deep ties to student affairs. The episode dives headfirst into the rapid-fire changes shaping higher education funding today. Melanie, bringing decades of experience from policy implementation at the U.S. Department of Education and leadership roles throughout...
2025-10-3054 min
The MEFA PodcastInsights from the 2025 NASFAA ConferenceHost Jonathan Hughes talks to three financial aid experts on location at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Conference in Anaheim, California. Jonathan talks to Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Auburn University, Celena Tulloss, Executive Vice President of NASFAA, Beth Maglione, and Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Services at Suffolk University, Ken Ferriera, about NASFAA, the current state of financial aid, and more.
2025-10-2833 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Updates from the Government ShutdownThis week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie and Nalia provide an update on where things stand with funding for federal student aid programs due to the ongoing government shutdown. Nalia begins by debriefing listeners on what has happened with the government shutdown so far, which began on October 1. Melanie then discusses how the shutdown – now entering its third week – is impacting federal student aid, including concerns NASFAA has heard from members, and shares several resources to answer member questions. The team also highlights how the White House's most recent reduction in force (RIF) at the Department of Education (ED), wher...
2025-10-1619 min
ALP: The Admissions Leadership PodcastCandace Boeninger: Holding Power with PurposeCandace Boeninger, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ohio University, joins the ALP to share lessons from her journey into senior leadership, reflecting on her experience working with an executive coach and how it helped her navigate the transition to cabinet-level leadership, as well as her evolving understanding of power—and the responsibility that comes with it.Candace also shares her approach to “being a student of the profession,” including the podcasts and newsletters that keep her sharp.00:00 — Welcome and Candace’s path to Ohio University.06:00 — From construction software to admissions: “other duties as assi...
2025-09-2645 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: ED's Proposed Regs for PSLFThis week on "Off The Cuff" Tim is joined by Jill to dive into the latest developments concerning the Department of Education's (ED) proposed regulations for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. To kick things off, Jill provides a brief recap on the recent negotiated rulemaking (Neg Reg) committee that considered regulations concerning PSLF, as well as where things stand with that committee's timeline. Jill then details what implications these proposed regulatory changes could have on the program and explains recent comments that NASFAA submitted in response to ED's proposed rules.
2025-09-2515 min
Career Education ReportInside NASFAA’s Work on Student AidAmidst a constantly shifting legal and regulatory environment, Melanie Storey, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), joins host Jason Altmire to discuss how her association is helping nearly 3,000 institutions navigate student aid challenges. From FAFSA rollout struggles to Department of Education staff cuts, Storey explains why sound implementation and transparency are critical for student success. She also highlights how NASFAA’s advocacy is shaping federal policy to reduce barriers for students while strengthening institutions’ ability to deliver aid effectively.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visi...
2025-09-2425 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Verification, Countdown to FAFSA Launch, and a NegReg RoadmapThis week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie is joined by Karen to catch listeners up on identity verification news, FAFSA beta updates, and a roadmap to the upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking (NegReg) sessions. The team kicks things off with a discussion on the Department of Education's (ED) new initiative concerning identity verification, and highlights some transition issues raised by NASFAA communities. Melanie and Karen then catch listeners up on the beta testing period for the 2026-27 FAFSA and discuss where things stand ahead of the now certified October 1 launch date of the form. The team then wraps things up with...
2025-09-1129 min
SASFAA's Swoonpies and MoneyEpisode #10: NASFAA Part 2 – Scene for the racecourse and Temporal Anomalies?This week, you’ll hear Part 2 of our NASFAA coverage—and yes, it’s just as packed with fun, insights, and amusing moments as Part 1.We kick things off with scenes for the 5K charity run for Higher Ground, where the effort was real and the cause was worth every step. Whether you ran, cheered, or found a strategic viewing spot along the course—we had you covered.Then, it’s time for our first, and last, “Who Is the Coolest Person in Financial Aid?” contest. The nominations were spontaneous, the lo...
2025-08-2958 min
Level UpLevel Up - Episode 10: Inside Student Loan Policy with NASFAA’s Senior Policy AnalystIn this episode of Level Up, hosts Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin welcome Megan Walter, Senior Policy Analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Walter shares insights on the sweeping new legislation she calls the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” breaking down what it means for student aid and how financial aid offices are preparing for the changes. She also explains the negotiated rulemaking process, the restart of student loan repayment, and the compliance challenges schools are navigating under Title IV. Throughout the conversation, Megan highlights why financial literacy is essential to long-term student success and how...
2025-08-2959 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Catching Up on August's NegReg and Appropriations HeadlinesThis week on "Off The Cuff," Hugh provides a brief catch-up of some summer headlines from Congress and the Department of Education (ED). First, Hugh highlights the latest developments in the annual appropriations process with the Senate releasing its spending plan for ED for fiscal year 2026, which mostly flat-funds programs for the upcoming year, and explains what work lies ahead when Congress returns in September. Then, Hugh discusses ED's negotiated rulemaking hearing, which focused on implementing several provisions of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," and highlights remarks made by NASFAA's president and CEO, Melanie Storey.
2025-08-2115 minSASFAA's Swoonpies and MoneyEpisode #9: Swoonpies Was in the Room Where It Happened – NASFAA Part 1There was a lot to unpack from the NASFAA Conference in Anaheim. So much, in fact, that we’re bringing it to you in two full episodes. This week, you’ll hear a mashup of highlights from the entire week—the cream of our profession losing their minds at the opening session, unscripted moments, sharp insights, and the unmistakable energy that only the SASFAA travel troupe can bring. And by the way, can you guess which FAA region showed up and stood out? Winner of the 5K race? Trivia team champs? Recipients of all three m...
2025-08-111h 09
Teach.Lead.Innovate.Frozen Funds, Fierce Response: Why We Keep Fighting for Public EducationFrozen Funds, Fierce ResponseWelcome back to Teach, Lead, Innovate! In this episode, Dave Walker dives headfirst into the chaos caused by the Trump administration’s decision to freeze - and then slowly reinstate - over $6.8 billion in federal education funding.What happened? Why did it matter? And what are educators, leaders, and innovators doing now to fight back and keep students at the center?This episode pulls in quotes from major education voices like Randi Weingarten, Michael Roth, and Vassilis Syrmos, alongside powerful research from the Learning Policy Institute, NASFAA, and more.Dave...
2025-07-2805 min
MASFAAmeUPMASFAAmeUP - Ep. 19 - Heidi Carl takes us by storm!In this episode of MASFAAmeUP, Chad, Emily, and Alex talk with NASFAA Chair, Heidi Carl, following up on the speech she gave when she accepted the gavel at NASFAA and how financial aid professionals can be the storm! We chat on optimism and leadership skills working in financial aid, and handling all the ups and downs as we work hard to make a difference in the lives of our students. Book links discussed in the podcast:Together is Better - https://simonsinek.com/books/together-is-better/The Infinite Game...
2025-07-1749 minMASFAAmeUPMASFAAmeUP - Ep. 18 - Chalex Talks Proposed Recon Bill & NASFAA ConferenceIn this episode Alex and Chad discuss the proposed reconciliation bill, talking about it to your campus partners, advocating, and then what they are looking forward to at the NASFAA Conference.This is our 3rd episode of the relaunch, and 18th episode overall!
2025-07-1614 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Unpacking the Senate's Reconciliation BillThis week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie is joined by Megan, Sarah, and Nalia to discuss the latest updates around the reconciliation process after the Senate HELP Committee released its own portion of the bill this week that could make significant changes to higher education policy. Nalia begins by explaining how the reconciliation process works and what's ahead for Congress. Megan and Sarah then debrief on what changes the Senate seeks to make to the House's bill, which was initially released in April. From there, Sarah walks listeners through the latest verification guidance from the Department of Education (ED...
2025-06-1236 min
NACUBO In BriefUnderstanding the Latest at the Department of EducationThere's no shortage of news about the U.S. Department of Education these days—from an executive order proposing to eliminate the agency, to new proposals on Capitol Hill that could reshape federal aid programs, to upcoming regulatory changes. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators' Karen McCarthy joins NACUBO's Liz Clark and Bryan Dickson to explore what these developments mean for higher education institutions and staff working in financial aid and business offices. They also discuss how NASFAA and NACUBO are supporting their members through advocacy and engagement. Additional Resources: Read the latest NACUBO news Follow NASFAA on Lin...
2025-05-1925 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Reconciliation Takes Shape in the House and the White House 'Skinny' BudgetThis week on "Off the Cuff," Melanie is joined by Rachel, Hugh, Sarah, and Nalia to dive into how the congressional budgeting process could impact student financial aid. To kick things off, Melanie and Hugh discuss the latest developments in the reconciliation process, where a House committee recently advanced portions of the package that would make some drastic changes to programs housed within the Department of Education (ED). Sarah then provides members with a recap of three deep dive explainers that the policy has been working on to fully analyze the proposal. Rachel and Nalia then walk through more...
2025-05-0844 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC From the Field: Getting to Know NASFAA's New President and CEO Melanie StoreyThis week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Beth is joined by NASFAA's new president and CEO Melanie Storey to answer questions submitted from NASFAA members. Melanie answers several questions, ranging from challenges with FAFSA simplification, the state of federal student aid, the current political climate, the future of the financial aid profession, and much more. Join us in welcoming Melanie to the NASFAA team!
2025-05-0153 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Collections Set to Resume on Defaulted Federal Student Loans, A New NegReg, Lawsuits and MoreThis week on "Off The Cuff," Maria is joined by Jill, Megan, and Nalia to discuss several issues impacting the world of higher education. First, Megan debriefs listeners on this week's news that the Department of Education (ED) will resume the collections process for defaulted federal student loans. Then, Jill discusses the upcoming negotiated rulemaking (NegReg) public hearing on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and other topics. Megan also provides a brief update on two lawsuits against ED, including one on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, and another from the American Federation of Teachers. From...
2025-04-2421 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: NASFAA's 2026-27 FAFSA Comments and Updated R2T4 Decision TreesThis week on "Off the Cuff," Jill and Sarah discuss NASFAA's submitted comments on the upcoming 2026-27 FAFSA and an updated resource, NASFAA's R2T4 decision trees. Jill highlights several key points NASFAA made in its submitted comments on the 2026–27 FAFSA, including the importance of the intended use of FAFSA data, FA-DDX working for contributors without a Social Security number, and more. Sarah then walk listeners through the latest R2T4 regulations, which were published in early January under the Biden administration. Sarah highlights NASFAA's updated R2T4 decision trees as a resource for members.
2025-04-1019 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: All Things New - Executive Orders, Melanie Storey, PSLF and IDR UpdatesThis week on "Off the Cuff," Beth is joined by Jill and Hugh to discuss some of the latest headlines impacting student financial aid. Kicking things off on an exciting note, Beth provides some background on NASFAA's new President & CEO, Melanie Storey, who will be joining the team on May 1. Jill then shares some breaking news concerning ED's planned negotiated rulemaking session focusing on regulations that would streamline current federal student financial assistance programs with a focus on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Income Contingent Repayment (ICR). Hugh then debriefs listeners on President...
2025-04-0322 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Working Through the Trump Administration's Latest Effort to Dismantle Education DepartmentThis week on "Off The Cuff," Allie and Karen are joined by Megan and Nalia to discuss the latest news reports that President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would seek to dismantle the Department of Education. Karen and Megan debrief listeners on what NASFAA knows so far and walk through the complex roadmap that would be required to actually terminate ED. From there, Nalia updates listeners on a special budget tool known as the reconciliation process, which Congress is currently in the beginning stages of drafting, and how that legislation could impact higher education...
2025-02-0526 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Diving into Common Questions Found on NASFAA UThis week on "Off The Cuff," Hugh and David are joined by Tonya Hsiung, NASFAA U Program Manager, to discuss and answer some common questions, misconceptions and topics that catch some members by surprise in various NASFAA U courses. Topics discussed include loan fees, cost of attendance (COA), professional judgement (PJ), the Pell Grant recalculation date and more. David and Tonya provide a variety of examples and scenarios throughout the conversation and remind listeners that they can sign up for specific courses that spend weeks diving into a given topic through our NASFAA U course schedule.
2024-11-1421 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA Updates and the 2024 ElectionThis week on "Off The Cuff," Beth, Jill, Rachel, and Nalia discuss FAFSA updates and how the 2024 election may shape financial aid policy for the next administration. Jill kicks things off by debriefing listeners on several fixes the Department of Education (ED) has made to issues in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA cycles. Then, Nalia and Rachel lead a discussion on what a Harris or Trump presidency could mean for financial aid policy. The team also briefly discusses how NASFAA develops its advocacy positions as a nonpartisan organization and how NASFAA advocates on the Hill. The team ends the...
2024-10-3139 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Jay Treaty Updates and Resources for Institutions Impacted by Natural DisastersThis week on "Off the Cuff," Sarah and Hugh discuss 2024-25 changes in documentation requirements related to Jay Treaty students and dig into the background of this guidance within the FSA Handbook. From there, Sarah debriefs listeners on several resources both NASFAA and the Department of Education (ED) have for institutions that were impacted by recent natural disasters. Sarah then explains some timely electronic announcements and Dear Colleague Letters that can help students and schools affected by these recent disasters.
2024-10-1721 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Where Things Stand with SAVE and IDRThis week on "Off the Cuff," Hugh and Jill discuss the latest news surrounding the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, and income-driven repayment (IDR) plans in general. Jill kicks things off with a background discussion on how the SAVE plan came to be through the negotiated rulemaking process and then catches listeners up on the legal challenges that have threatened the program. The conversation then highlights how financial aid administrators can help borrowers navigate through the current repayment landscape and discusses some NASFAA resources that listeners should be on the lookout for.
2024-09-1921 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing on Batch CorrectionsThis week on a special edition of "Off the Cuff," Allie, Beth, and Karen, are joined by 2024-25 NASFAA National Chair Kristi Jovell of Middlebury College and National Chair-Elect Heidi Carl of Purdue University to break down the latest development from the Department of Education (ED) concerning batch corrections and the 2024-25 FAFSA. The team dives into the implications for schools and students, how ED could provide relief to financial aid professionals, and continuing advocacy efforts around gainful employment and financial value transparency reporting requirements.
2024-08-0145 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: The Latest on GE & FVT Regulations, SCOTUS' Regulatory Shakeup, and FAFSA TimelinesThis week on "Off the Cuff," Karen, Jill, and Hugh discuss the latest news surrounding Gainful Employment (GE) and Financial Value Transparency (FVT) regulations, as well as NASFAA's advocacy campaign to request that Congress take action to require the Department of Education (ED) to delay upcoming institutional reporting requirements. The team then debriefs the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the "Chevron deference" and how it could impact higher education policy. From there, Karen and Jill update listeners on the latest news with the FAFSA – including when batch corrections will be available and new guidance from ED. The team also di...
2024-07-1847 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Justin Signs OffThis week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Allie are joined by former OTC podcast hosts, Stephen Payne, executive director of external relations at Muhlenberg College, and Megan Coval, interim president of Butler County Community College. Karen kicks off the episode by debriefing listeners on several NASFAA letters. The first letter was sent to the Department of Education (ED) on the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, and a second letter was sent to Congressional leaders requesting their assistance in securing a delay until July 2025 of the GE/FVT institutional reporting requirements (5:27-14:02). After the policy team u...
2024-06-1344 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: 300 Episodes LaterThis week, on the 300th episode of "Off the Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Allie discuss the most up-to-date FAFSA news, and preview the unique sessions being offered at the NASFAA National and Virtual Conferences. Karen kicks things off with an update on the Department of Education's (ED) FAFSA reprocessing work and outlines additional guidance that should be available in the days and weeks ahead. Justin then recaps a recent community letter that a number of higher education groups sent to Congress urging for policies that will strengthen the FAFSA process moving forward. Allie wraps things up with a preview...
2024-05-3038 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: New Changes at NASFAAThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by NASFAA Executive Vice President Beth Maglione and Director of Research Charlotte Etier to discuss Justin's announcement this week that he plans to step down from his role as NASFAA's president and CEO in June. From there, Karen debriefs listeners on more FAFSA updates, including where we stand with institutional corrections. Plus, Charlotte shares the results of NASFAA's latest poll on when institutions plan to send financial aid offers to students and what their disbursement timing may be.
2024-04-2547 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: More FAFSA Updates and Biden's Proposed Student Debt Relief PlanThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss the latest FAFSA updates of the past week, including news on the Department of Education's reprocessing of affected Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). From there, Karen walks through the results of this week's NASFAA poll which asked members about their institutions' plans to send financial aid offers to students. Plus, Jon debriefs listeners of the Biden administration's proposed rules on student debt relief, and where the congressional appropriations process...
2024-04-1839 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: NASFAA Testifies on 2024-25 FAFSA RolloutThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, Rachel, and Tim discuss Justin's testimony this week before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on the Department of Education's (ED) rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Karen also debriefs listeners on the latest NASFAA poll asking members about which first-year undergraduate student populations, if any, they plan to send aid offers to by May 1. From there, the team discusses the latest FAFSA updates from ED on the status of reprocessing ISIRs, student corrections, and new guidance from the department. Finally, Rachel informs listeners on the latest news on...
2024-04-111h 02NACUBO In BriefThe "Better FAFSA" Rollout: Where Are We Now?Every year, students and families rely on federal student aid to make decisions about higher education. As the Department of Education has struggled to implement a streamlined version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), pressure has steadily increased on students, families, and the institutions that serve them. In this episode, Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) joins NACUBO's Bryan Dickson, director of student financial services and educational programs, to discuss the far-reaching challenges brought about by this rough rollout. Links & Notes Visit NASFAA's FAFSA Simplification Center Watch NACUBO's U...
2024-03-2518 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Keeping Track of ED's Updated FAFSA TimelineThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by NASFAA Community Manager Tim Maggio to discuss the latest news surrounding the 2024-25 FAFSA, with a focus on the Department of Education's (ED) planned rollout of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs). The team walks through each of the steps ED detailed in its recent electronic announcement and provides insight into the key timeline and benchmarks that the department is promising to meet in the coming weeks. Tim then shares some comments from members and the growing concerns that financial aid professionals have expressed over the 2024-25 FAFSA.
2024-03-0733 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Debriefing the NASFAA Leadership Conference and ED's FAFSA College Support StrategyThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Hugh to recap NASFAA's 2024 Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo, and discuss the Department of Education's (ED) new "FAFSA College Support Strategy." Justin debriefs listeners on the new initiative, explains what NASFAA's partnership entails and how it will aim to help severely under-resourced institutions get ready to receive, and review, Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in March. Additionally, the team discusses the latest news around the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout, including ED's commitment to release test versions of ISIRs by February 16, and this week's announcement that ED will significantly reduce...
2024-02-1549 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside The Beltway: Working Through the ISIR Delivery DelayThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss this week's news that institutions and states will begin receiving Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) in the "first half of March." The team breaks down the announcement from the Department of Education, answers frequently asked questions, and shares NASFAA's efforts to advocate for financial aid offices. Additionally, the team debriefs two recent pieces of legislation, Rep. Virginia Foxx's College Cost Reduction Act and Rep. Bobby Scott's Roadmap to College Student Success.
2024-02-0159 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Tackling the 2024-25 FAFSA Soft LaunchThis week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by Karen and NASFAA's Tim Maggio to discuss the biggest financial aid news so far in 2024 — the soft launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA. Justin and Karen discuss the current state of the launch, issues and outages that have impacted the form's availability, and what updates they are looking for from the Department of Education in the weeks ahead. Tim then highlights some chatter from the financial aid community, as well as some social media posts that have highlighted applicant experiences with the rollout and the form itself. The team then di...
2024-01-0545 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC AskRegs Experts: Debt Relief Neg Reg Updates and Unpacking FAFSA Family SizeThis week on "Off the Cuff," Allie, Jill, and David discuss updates with the negotiated rulemaking process for student debt relief and unpack a new FAFSA term – family size. Jill kicks off the podcast by debriefing listeners on the latest negotiated rulemaking session on student debt relief, including which provisions the committee reached consensus on and where they disagreed. David then goes into the intricacies of family size, including answering different "what about" questions from NASFAA members. This is the last "Off The Cuff" episode for 2023 and NASFAA wishes everyone a happy 2024!
2023-12-1439 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: Recapping Those Warm and Fuzzy Feelings from the FSA Training ConferenceThis week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by Karen and NASFAA's Sarah Austin to recap Federal Student Aid's (FSA) 2023 virtual training conference. The team discusses a number of sessions held throughout the four-day event and highlights their biggest takeaways from the conference, including updates on FAFSA simplification, the FAFSA partner portal, new data-sharing guidance, FSA enforcement, topics and conversations brought up in the NASFAA Slack community, and more.
2023-12-0542 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: ED Details FAFSA Release Date and ISIR Delay, While Appropriators Avert a Government Shutdown - For NowThis week on "Off the Cuff," Justin is joined by Karen and Rachel to dig into the Department of Education's (ED) latest announcement concerning the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA. The team discussed ED's pledge to release the FAFSA by December 31 and highlighted how the delayed delivery of Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) could impact schools. Justin and Karen then discuss what this compressed timeline could mean for financial aid professionals and detail the ways in which NASFAA is urging the department to support financial aid offices and stakeholders. Rachel then highlights the latest developments on federal spending negotiations...
2023-11-1638 minThe MEFA PodcastThe Inside Scoop on How Financial Aid Policy WorksHost Jonathan Hughes speaks with Justin Draeger, President and CEO of NASFAA, about what NASFAA is, how they operate, how they help shape financial aid policy with Congress, and the future of financial aid policy.
2023-11-1442 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC From the Field: Unpacking Third Way's Economic Mobility Index and Graduate Student DebtThis week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Chazz Robinson, education policy advisor at Third Way, to discuss his work on Third Way's 2023 Economic Mobility Index (EMI). Chazz explains the methodology for the index, and how some institutions were given high EMI scores. Additionally, Chazz and Justin discuss issues about graduate student debt, and what policy discussions lawmakers are having on the issue. Maria then brings us the news of the week, including new final regulations from the Department of Education, and NASFAA's Professional Judgment survey.
2023-10-2637 minCareer Education ReportFinancial Aid Reform and Borrower Defense ComplexitiesDr. Jason Altmire speaks with Justin Draeger, President and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), about financial aid reform and the onslaught of borrower defense claims.They delve into the recent surge of borrower defense claims and how schools nationwide are grappling with them. The conversation explores questions and concerns, such as the lack of sorting at the Department of Education and the impact of these claims on schools. Draeger also discusses NASFAA’s role in advocating for reforms in federal student loan programs and the challenges in balancing th...
2023-09-2022 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: The SCOTUS RecapThis week on "Off the Cuff," Justin and Rachel are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to recap the most recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that struck down race-conscious admissions policies and the Biden administration's student loan debt cancellation program. The group dives into what impact these decisions will have on college campuses and also provides details as to how schools can make sense of both decisions. The team then highlights what comes next for the on-ramp to student loan repayment and interest accrual, which will begin this September...
2023-07-1337 min
dotEDUBiden's Loan Forgiveness Program Fails Supreme Court Test. What Now?Hosts Jon Fansmith and Sarah Spreitzer are once again joined by Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, to talk about what is happening on campuses in terms of financial aid now that the Supreme Court has struck down race-conscious admissions and the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness plan in back-to-back rulings. Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: dotEDU Live: The Supreme Court's Ruling on Race and Admissions
2023-07-1345 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC From the Field: NASFAA Conference PreviewThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Dana Kelly, NASFAA's vice president of professional development and institutional compliance, and Kristi Jovell, director of student financial services operations and communications at Middlebury College and NASFAA's 2023 National Conference Program Task Force chair. The group discusses what attendees can expect of the 2023 National Conference in San Diego this month, including what sessions they're looking forward to and what attendees can do for fun in San Diego. Follow along with the conversation from the National Conference online using #NASFAA2023. Can't make it to San Diego this year? You can still...
2023-06-1529 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC Inside the Beltway: The Debt CeilingThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations, to discuss the implications of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the debt ceiling and how federal higher education programs could be impacted. The conversation dives into congressional negotiations and how the issue differs from the annual budgeting process. The group then turns to the student loan servicing landscape, the latest on the return to repayment timeline, and a discussion on NASFAA's latest task force providing schools with a toolkit to prepare. Hugh catches members up...
2023-05-1134 min
NASFAA's Off the Cuff PodcastOTC From the Field: Examining the Paying for College Transparency InitiativeThis week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by NASFAA Policy Analyst Megan Walter and Scott Cline, senior vice president of enrollment management and auxiliary services at California College of the Arts. The group discusses the mission and goals of the cand its efforts to improve college financial aid offers. Megan then shares initial responses to the initiative's drafted principles and standards, glossary, and aid offer examples. NASFAA members can submit their own comments to these documents by June 1, 2023.
2023-05-0433 min
SA Voices From the FieldFinancial Aid and EFC changesThis week on SA Voices From the Field we interviewed Justin Draeger, President & CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Today we talked to Justin about all of the upcoming Financial Aid and EFC changes that are coming in the next few years. Justin Draeger serves as the primary voice of NASFAA and as the liaison between the association members, the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and the media. Most of Justin's career has been devoted to assisting disadvantaged populations in achieving their educational goals and better their communities. Since 2002, Justin has been engaged i...
2022-11-0336 mindotEDUBreaking Down Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness PlanThe big announcement that the Biden administration is canceling $10,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers—and $20,000 for even more—and extending the pause on payments is the main topic of discussion for the kickoff of dotEDU's fourth season. Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, helps break down what this means for borrowers, institutions, parents, and the higher ed community as a whole. Tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @ACEducation or podcast@acenet.edu. Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:
2022-09-1549 min
MASFAA Me Up!Episode 7 - A Dynamic Duo of NASFAA Past National Chairs!What's better than the wisdom of a NASFAA Past National Chair? TWO NASFAA Past National Chairs, of course! Join Emily and Chad as they interview Brent Tener, NASFAA Past National Chair, and Brenda Hicks, NASFAA Past Past National Chair. How did they get involved in association work, and what advice to they have for you? Tune in and find out!
2022-07-1447 min
What's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?A backlog of news (20220601)Just your regular news half-hour:
FSA DCL on 2022-2023 verification changes.
CSAC Special Alert regarding the verification changes notes above.
CSAC Special Alert regarding virtual training events in June.
CSAC Special Alert regarding 2021-2022 Chafee grant program updates.
NASFAA resource page on FAFSA Simplification.
NASFAA Pop Quiz regarding SAP.
NASFAA article about a new report on protecting student borrowers.
NASFAA article about FAO staffing issues.
Update on student loan interest rates for 2022-2023.
Higher Ed Dive article discussing student loan system reforms.
Inside Higher Ed opinion piece on doubling Pell (and more).
Attigo offering free training on students...
2022-06-0230 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?A quick news day (20220510)Not a whole lot of new news out there, but here's what we got:
FSA posted Volume 4 for the 2022-2023 FSA Handbook.
FSA announced new webinars for their Wednesday Webinar Series running June through September.
University Business article on what low FAFSA completion numbers for 2022-2023 may mean for enrollments.
NASFAA article and Inside Higher Ed article on efforts to reengage with students who stopped out of college.
NASFAA podcast episode addressing the talk on student loan cancellation.
FA Director job posting at the International College of Broadcasting in Dayton, Ohio.
Find out more about CC...
2022-05-1018 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Newsday Wednesday (20220406)Lots of news today...
FSA updates to the FSA Handbook and AVG for both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
FSA conference update - still virtual in 2022.
NASFAA update on upcoming Let's Talk webinars.
NASFAA has a book review.
CSAC update on virtual training for 2022.
CASFAA posted their April calendar of training events.
NPR article on the boom in enrollment for skilled trades programs.
Cal Matters article on potential increases in aid for students attending private colleges.
EdSource article on community colleges eyeing the possibility of adding campus housing (we will further the discussion on this topic in future shows).
Cal...
2022-04-0733 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?News News and more News (20220330)Gotta run! I'll update the show notes with links to the many stories I covered! Should be updated by the weekend!
UPDATED APRIL 6, 2022 - HERE ARE THE LINKS TO OUR NEWS STORIES...
NASFAA webinars on demand
NASFAA SAI modeling tool
EdSource article on student athletes and NIL income
Cal Matters article on third attempt to close CalBright
FSA update to 2021-2022 FSA Handbook
FSA update on final Campus-Based funding for 2022-2023
FSA update on 2022-2023 Pell Grant payment and disbursement schedules
FSA announcing upgrades to the Student Aid website
EdSource article on community colleges exp...
2022-03-3131 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?News from around the financial aid world (20220201)Lots of news today...
News from FSA regarding delays in DHS-SAVE processing, 2022-2023 Campus-Based funding levels, and the release of the IRS tax return transcript matrix.
And, from the GAO, a report on improvements needed in COVID-19 emergency funding.
A CSAC Ops Memo on the new CCC Cal Grant Entitlement program.
A Higher Ed Dive article on Secretary Cardona speaking on education (and higher education).
NASFAA resources for Financial Aid Awareness month (that's February!).
NASFAA book review on The Agile College.
A new look on things in the NASFAA Altitude.
A job posting for an FA Director at...
2022-02-0126 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Being chased by a herd of News (20220125)Lots of news today,
FSA update on use of FAFSA data to inform students about other federal benefit programs.
NASFAA article about rescinding of need for ASLA.
NASFAA article on new ID.me process at the IRS website, and an announcement on the 2022 NASFAA conference.
Forbes article about needed changes in higher education.
Napa Valley Register article about how students are leaving money (Pell Grant money) on the table by not applying for financial aid.
An interesting article about whether your college degree is a worthy investment.
Financial aid job postings for the LACCD, CSU Chico, and UW-Stout...
2022-01-2624 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?New gnus in a new year (20210111)Lotsa news today to kick off 2022:
FSA updates on waivers for Title III and V schools, and the FAFSA winter renewal campaign.
CSAC Ops Memo reminding all about the March 2nd deadline for Cal Grants.
NASFAA updates on a recent OIG report, the biggest news stories from 2021, the new NASFAA Altitudes segment in Today's News, the Beta release of their SAI Modeling Tool, and reporting on the Great Resignation's effect on FA Offices.
CASFAA's tax training workshops in January.
A Wall Street Journal article about possible collusion among private schools in regards to financial aid offer.
A Financial...
2022-01-1231 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?News on a Wednesday morning (20211208)Just Dennis today on the show with some news...
NASFAA articles on FSA training conference (Day #2 and a wrap-up), an FSA request to spread the word about student loan repayment restarting, proposed changes to NASFAA by-laws, and upcoming NASFAA Blue Icon webinars.
The Top 10 acronyms used by FA Directors.
University Business article on top concerns about FAFSA changes.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail.com.
"What's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?" is a S...
2021-12-0829 mindotEDUThe Future of Student Loan ForgivenessHosts Jon Fansmith, Sarah Spreitzer, and Mushtaq Gunja talk about the pressing items members of Congress need to wrap up before the end of the year, including a deal on a bill to fund the government. They then dive into a lively discussion with Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), about student loan forgiveness and other topics important to borrowers. EPISODE NOTES Here are some of the links and references from this week's show: Policy Direction on Federal Student Loan Servicing from ED Undersecretary...
2021-12-0245 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?News and that‘s all! (20211123)Just Dennis, and just news:
CCCCO Chancellor Oakley returns!
CSAC offering training.
NCAN's FAFSA resource library.
Another one of NASFAA's Pop Quizzes.
NASFAA article on a TICAS report about student debt.
Higher Ed Dive article on decreasing enrollments.
CalMatters article on student ROI in higher education.
CNBC article on FAFSA verification vs. IRS audits.
EdNext article on who grade inflation may account for more degrees being earned at colleges.
Napa Valley College receiving their largest donation for their wine programs.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dan...
2021-11-2330 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Tuesday, Newsday (20211116)Lotsa news today:
Inside Higher Ed reporting that nearly 100K more Cal Grant awards were made this fall to CCC students.
Los Medanos College joins NASFAA!
NASFAA AskRegs postings on $1 AGI amounts and potential aid overawards.
NASFAA reporting on ED's OIG focus for the coming year.
Job listings for Alaska and California - pick your favorite weather!
NASFAA reporting on a new Dear Colleague Letter addressing NIL compensation reporting.
Forbes article on the value of college.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you...
2021-11-1630 min
McNamaraOnMoneyPaying for College, with Joseph Novinson of Vested Academics, Part 2 of 2Paying for College, with Joseph Novinson of Vested Academics, Part 2
Wondering how to pay for college? Don't know how much college your child can afford? This week join Alyssa McNamara Reed, CFP®, and her guest Joseph Novinson, Lead Financial Aid Consultant at Vested Academics for a discussion about paying for college.
Alyssa McNamara Reed, CFP® is a financial planner with a passion for the intersection of taxes and investing. Alyssa works with motivated savers, beneficiaries of estates, business owners, divorcees, and pre-retirees.
A member of both the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) and the National Association of Stude...
2021-11-0156 minMcNamaraOnMoneyPaying for College, with Joseph Novinson of Vested Academics, Part 1 of 2Paying for College, with Joseph Novinson of Vested Academics
Wondering how to pay for college? Don't know how much college your child can afford? This week join Alyssa McNamara Reed, CFP®, and her guest Joseph Novinson, Lead Financial Aid Consultant at Vested Academics for a discussion about paying for college.
Alyssa McNamara Reed, CFP® is a financial planner with a passion for the intersection of taxes and investing. Alyssa works with motivated savers, beneficiaries of estates, business owners, divorcees, and pre-retirees.
A member of both the Massachusetts Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) and the National Association of Student Finan...
2021-11-0156 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?All the news that‘s fit to be podded (20211026)Just another day here at the newsroom:
NASFAA released it's 2020-2021 annual report.
Sunday is NASFAA's deadline for session submissions for their 2022 conference in Austin, TX.
Registration opened for the virtual 2021 FSA conference.
FSA reminder to review and confirm your school's TG numbers.
FSA created a Federal Student Aid Estimator.
NASFAA's new entries on their AskRegs page and Pop Quiz page.
NPR article on how "free community college" won't make it into the Biden Administration's final spending plan.
Community College Daily article on gains in dual enrollment in California.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at c...
2021-10-2627 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?A buildup of news (20211019)Big news day today:
Three Special Alerts from CSAC regarding SB 169, virtual training events, and items relating to the state budget.
Two FSA Electronic Announcements regarding the deadline for the Second Chance Pell experiment and the creation of the Enforcement Office.
Three updates from NASFAA, regarding October 20th being Financial Aid Day, a continuing drop in enrollment, and open enrollment for their Leadership & Legislative Conference and Expo.
An Inside Higher Ed article on Governor Newsom's veto of AB 1456.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you...
2021-10-2029 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Quick takes on the news (20211005)Just some quick takes on the news as Dennis needed to find a few minutes between back-to-back-to-back meetings today.
NASFAA released their 2022-2023 Tax Transcript Decoder.
NASFAA article about some FSA updates.
NASFAA put out the call for those who want to join them on the Off The Cuff podcast.
FSA update on extended deadlines for R2T4 indicator posting.
FSA releasing info on official loan cohort default rates.
Money magazine article on the October 1st launch of the 2022-2023 FAFSA.
CASFAA's training calendar for the month of October.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at c...
2021-10-0617 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Gnus on the run! (20210928)Solo show by Dennis, with a lot of news:
Two Ops Memos from CSAC (#31, #32).
SB 169 passed!
LA Times article on student debt relief fraud.
NASFAA article on FSA being understaffed.
FSA posted Volume 6 of the 2021-2022 Handbook.
NASFAA article on outcome-based funding for community colleges.
Inside Higher Ed article on the costs of "free community colleges" for the states.
Inside Higher Ed article on podcasting for academe.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail...
2021-09-2926 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Lunch vs NewsPod (20210921)Dennis did a solo news show today during his lunchtime covering:
NASFAA's updated Data Sharing Decision Tree.
NASFAA article about how enrollment management algorithms could worsen the higher ed crises.
FSA electronic announcement regarding supplemental Campus-Based awards.
CASFAA announces their fall virtual Mini-Conference on October 14th.
NASFAA webinar on SAP and R2T4.
NASFAA article on higher education's financial challenges.
LAist article on going to college in California.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail.com...
2021-09-2122 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Newsbites! (20210914)Dennis's newshour, condensed into less than 30 minutes:
CASFAA Awards nominations is open.
NASFAA article on 2022-2023 verification.
NASFAA AskRegs regarding new R2T4 rules.
NASFAA article about the CFPB taking action against an income sharing agreement (ISA) company.
Article from the Antelope Valley Press about potential fraud at AVC.
NASFAA reminder to update your myNASFAA password.
Inside Higher Ed article about what people think about the value of higher education.
Insider Higher Ed article about the effect 9/11 had on a community college in lower Manhattan.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback fo...
2021-09-1529 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Quick-running Gnus (20210907)Dennis covered a lot of news today, including:
CSAC update on CalFresh notifications.
Multiple announcements from NASFAA, including an interesting article, a job posting, and release of their update You're The Director book.
Multiple updates from FSA, including 2022-2023 verification requirements, 2022-2023 FAFSA forms, and a reminder about identity verification.
An article about community colleges and a Yahoo! article about colleges that meet 100% of student financial need.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail.com.
2021-09-0824 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Gnus-room antics! (20210831)We covered a lot of news today...
FSA update on the release of the 2022-2023 EFC Formula Guide.
FSA announcement about supplemental Campus-Based aid awards for 2021-2022.
NASFAA reminder about natural disaster guidance for Title IV schools.
A long list of recent FSA electronic announcements, including some covered on today's show.
NASFAA signing onto an amicus brief about colleges allegedly profiting from emergency aid.
CNBC article about student loan debt relief.
CASFAA's calendar of free online training during September.
CSAC Special Alert about Cal Grant deadline for community college students.
CSAC Special Alert about the redesigned California Dream...
2021-09-0130 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?What's the singular of News? (20210824)With Dana on the mends still, Dennis ran through a bevy of news articles, including:
Article from PPIC on lower Dream App application numbers for 2021-2022
CSAC resource webpage
FSA electronic announcement about loan cancellation for TPD students
FSA update on changes to the R2T4 process
FSA posting of portions of the 2021-2022 FSA Handbook
NASFAA's new Implicit Bias Toolkit
A Forbes article on how to appeal your financial aid offer
An opinion piece from the Hechinger Report on the proposal to double the Pell Grant award amount
An opinion piece on Real Clear Education regarding how...
2021-08-2532 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Go outside and play! (20210817)Dana was unavailable, so a barely-prepared Dennis ran through a bunch of news stories:
Article on Inside Higher Ed about mental exhaustion of our incoming freshman class.
Article from WaPo (that's the Washington Post) about the extension of the "pause" on federal student loan repayment.
FSA update on PJ (that's Professional Judgment) usage.
Ops Memo from CSAC for HS counselors about upcoming deadlines.
NASFAA items galore, including info on the expansion of second-chance Pell, "free college", a bill to restore subsidized loan eligibility for grad students, how "simplified FAFSA" affects Pell eligibility for students, and upcoming webinars.
Free...
2021-08-1831 min
The Education & Empowerment PodcastOperational Strategy for Successful Student RetentionIn this episode, Andrea Kemp-Ford was interviewed by Bakhtiyor Isoev. Andrea Kemp-Ford is a highly experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the University of the Potomac. Andrea has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a highly competitive industry and fast-paced environment. Andrea possesses strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record of more than twenty years of hands-on experience in higher education, business development, project management, and compliance and auditing strategies. Proven ability to successfully analyze various reports, identify deficiencies and potential opportunities, and develop innovative a...
2021-08-0335 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Is a solo news show a single Gnu? (20210727)Due to scheduling, Dennis recorded another solo show full of news...
Politico article about congress working to pass a budget resolution (which includes a number of items affecting higher education)
Undocumented Student Action Week is coming October 18-22 this year.
I Can Afford College is morphing into I Can Go To College.
CASFAA is opening the door for nominations for their executive council.
CASFAA also put out the call for session proposals for their fall conference.
NASFAA updated their P&P Builder for 2021-2022.
Dennis's "I Dare You To" selection was the Between the Lines podcast from...
2021-07-2723 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Flying solo on the Gnus (20210720)Dennis flew solo today, so here's what he covered on the news:
NASFAA article on declining FAFSA completion numbers.
NASFAA made updates to their Quick Reference Guides.
CSAC Special Alert GSA 2021-26 on an update to SB 860.
Inside Higher Ed article expanding on the FAFSA completion issue.
NASFAA and NCAN teaming up for a survey of FA professionals on improving verification.
NASFAA Pop Quiz on unspent FWS funds.
NASFAA updated their Tip Sheets for unique student populations.
An LAist article on how California high school seniors will soon be required to apply for financial aid.
Find out...
2021-07-2029 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?Newsday returns! (20210713)Dana had the day off due to recording logistics, so Dennis delivered the news...
NASFAA article about phased implementation of FAFSA changes
NASFAA Pop Quiz on V-4 verification.
FSA electronic announcement about TEACH grants.
FSA electronic announcement about Campus-Based aid program funding.
CSAC Special Alert regarding the D-SIG program.
FSA OIG PDF on preventing student aid fraud.
Forbes article about a survey of college students.
NASFAA article about changes to R2T4.
EdSource article about the state budget.
Lots of training options.
University Business magazine article about food-delivering robots on campus.
Dennis dares everyone to take a...
2021-07-1329 minWhat's Brewing, CCCSFAAA?100B - Words from incoming President Robinson (20210630)Dennis and Dana talked with incoming 2021-2022 CCCSFAAA President Anafe Robinson about coffee, plans for the 2022 conference, , re-engagement, and more.
Anafe's "I Dare You To" was to watch the NASFAA webinar on R2T4 changes.
Dana's was to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!
Dennis's was the new biography of Thomas Sowell, Maverick, by Jason Riley.
Find out more about CCCSFAAA at cccsfaaa.org. Have feedback for Dennis and Dana? Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail.com.
"What's Brewing, CCCSF...
2021-06-3033 min
Making Cents of MoneyEpisode 16: Student LoansStudent loans are a growing part of US Household debt; as of 2021, Americans hold over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.
On this episode of Making Cents of Money, we welcome Brad Fletcher from IDFPR to talk about student loan options and important protections for consumers. Make sure to check it out!
We mentioned many statistics surrounding student loans and student loan debt in this episode. For those of you curious, we’ve compiled some additional statistics with sources below.
-Over 45 million people have student loan debt with an average balance of $37,691 including both federal and private education debt (https://www.fo...
2021-04-131h 07
Freeborn & LibertySocial Justice Universities and the Idaho Freedom FoundationAnna Miller, Education Research Analyst with the Idaho Freedom Foundation, defines what a 'social justice university' is. She's a major contributor to new research conducted in partnership with the Claremont Institute revealing just how deeply Critical Race Theory has taken hold on the campuses of Boise State and the University of Idaho. Through comprehensive evaluation, she and Dr. Scott Yenner (Claremont), have established a way to conduct this research at scale with the goal of reaching other states in the very near future. From administration's policy to housing and residence life, student programming...
2021-03-3054 min
The Carriage House Planning Blog - Carriage House PlanningBlind SpotsStudent Loan Misuse.https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/16093/Report_Most_Borrowers_Take_Out_Student_Loans_for_Non-Tuition_Expenseshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2017/03/29/loans-spring-break/?sh=5e957e116db6Household Income: Earned by adding value to the economy, or just waiving a magic wand?https://www.aier.org/article/government-transfer-payments-distort-personal-income-in-january/How the Federal Reserve’s shortsightedness leads the way in creating income inequality.https://www.oftwominds.com/blogjan14/Fed-causes-inequality1-14.htmlInvestment Advisory Services and Financial Planning Se...
2021-03-0546 minNACUBO In BriefNASFAA President Justin Draeger Shares the Ins and Outs of Income Share AgreementsJustin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators joins NACUBO director of student financial services and educational programs Bryan Dickson to discuss the impact of Income Share Agreements on the higher education landscape. While this space isn't yet regulated, Justin explains that schools have some flexibility to experiment with these alternatives to traditional financial aid and notes that institutions that are leading the way with these new instruments are doing so with great care. As students look for different ways to finance their education, campus leaders, policymakers, and consumer p...
2020-10-1224 minNACUBO In BriefHow Will the Education Department's Proposed Enhancements to a Federal Student Aid Mobile App Work?Colleen Campbell, Director, Postsecondary Education for Center for American Progress (CAP) joins NACUBO's Bryan Dickson to talk about the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid proposed payment vehicle and the myStudentAid app. The initiative is designed to improve function and compliance for colleges and universities and provide convenience for students and families, but CAP has some consumer advocacy concerns. The new program will allow students to receive their federal student aid dollars directly from the federal government — and the details are important to understand. Links & Notes myStudentAid at NASFAA
2019-03-0822 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 9: Social Media for Your Office and Yourself: Parts 1 & 2This week's two-part episode of "Director Download," touches on best practices when it comes to using social media to connect with those around you both professionally and personally. In part one, Justin and Beth are joined by the social media coordinator at Houston Community College, Shar-day Campbell, who talks about how to make the case on campus for a social media strategy, and how Facebook and Twitter can be used by the financial aid office to make students feel less alone in their pursuit of higher education. For part of two of this episode, which begins at minute 29, we...
2018-12-201h 00
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 8: Seeing the Forest for the Trees—How to Make Strategic Career MovesIn this episode of "Director Download," Justin is joined by NASFAA's National Chairs Lori Vedder, Billie Jo Hamilton, and Paula Luff to discuss how and when to make changes in your career. Drawing on their own experiences, the group discusses when you know it's time to make a change, how to put yourself in the best position to grow in your career, and why you shouldn't fear the word "ambition." Justin also interviews Martin Yate, a career management author and coach, on how to position yourself in the "inner circle" at work, how to draw on your manager's expertise...
2018-12-1536 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 7: Commuting Up to Leadership and ManagementIn this episode of "Director Download," Justin, Beth, and special guests Jim Kennedy and Andrew Hammontree talk about how financial aid administrators can best communicate up to leadership and management and have their voices heard during campus-wide discussions. The group discusses strategies from how to appeal to a higher-up by learning how and when he or she likes to receive both positive and negative news, to ways to reject impractical ideas from other college and university leaders without seeming overly pessimistic. Finally, the group shares the methods of communication that have served them well in their careers, and why...
2018-11-3034 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 6: Why Outsourcing Doesn't Really Mean Letting GoIn this episode of "Director Download," Justin, Beth, Joelle, and special guest JoEllen Soucier tackle a topic that invites both excitement and fear around the office—outsourcing. The group delves into what types of operations are the best fit for outsourcing within the world of financial aid, and what is needed in-house to properly manage and oversee third-party workers. The group also discusses how to handle changes with outsourced vendors, such as when ending contracts or moving from one partner to another, and how to best make the case to executives for outsourcing certain tasks.
2018-11-1640 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 5: Is Teleworking Right for Your Office?In this episode of "Director Download," Justin, Beth, Joelle, and special guest Jim White delve into the myths and realities of teleworking, and discuss how offering opportunities for employees to work from home can both inspire more productivity and invite new challenges. Plus, the group hears from career specialist Brie Reynolds who emphasizes the need for constant communication to build a successful relationship with teleworkers, and explains how investing in the right technology can make your whole team—wherever they are—feel closer together. Questioning whether you should be offering your employees remote opportunities, or looking for ways to make...
2018-11-0142 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 4: Is Enrollment Management a Friend or Foe to Financial Aid Leadership?In the latest edition of NASFAA's "Director Download," 2017-18 National Chair Billie Jo Hamilton and National Chair-Elect Paula Luff join Justin and Allie for a discussion on how enrollment management is impacting the financial aid world. The group talks over whether enrollment management is a passing trend, or something that will stick with the financial aid profession for years to come. How do you maintain access while ensuring institutional success? What do aspiring leaders need to know about building a student population to meet both institutional and student goals? Listen on to find out the answers to these questions...
2018-10-2641 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 3: A Hug or a Handshake?In the latest episode of "Director Download," Justin, Beth, and Allie are joined by special guest Julia Judish, special counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and NASFAA's longtime HR attorney. In this episode the group discusses how to manage professional relationships, maintain a healthy and safe workplace culture, and how to identify and navigate tricky situations when it comes to personal space and appropriate interactions. Julia breaks down best practices for communicating with others in the office, recognizing the impact of power dynamics, and how and when to speak to someone should you feel uncomfortable.
2018-10-1247 min
NASFAA's Director DownloadEpisode 2: Achieving a Successful Work-Life BalanceIn the second episode of "Director Download," Justin, Beth, Joelle, and special guest Brad Barnett discuss an eternal issue leaders face everyday — finding a fulfilling work-life balance and helping to instill a healthy work culture at the office — in anticipation of NASFAA's Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo. In this episode, the group talks about what it means to achieve a work-life balance, why there is guilt associated with disconnecting during vacation, and how to serve as a role model for others in terms of taking breaks on the job. Life-coach, author, and entrepreneur Elizabeth Saunders also joins Justin for a one-o...
2018-09-2149 min