February 20, 2003
Executive Council Meeting Minutes
In attendance: Lissa Anderson, Gloria Green, Gisele Joachim, Helen Mikulak, Maribeth Quinn, David Sheridan, Karen Weber, Debra Wulff.
Since Sue Barschow was absent, the meeting was called to order by David Sheridan. A quorum could not be established, since only five voting members were in attendance.
Officer Reports:
Secretary: Corrections of the January 16, 2002 meeting compiled by Gloria Green were sent to Ida.
Treasurer: (Helen) – All sponsors have now paid past debts. Total assets now are
$281,422.55. Working with First Union as our bank is good. We are now earning interest. All bills have been paid for the Fall Conference. The deposit for the Spring Conference has also been paid.
President Elect Report: (David) – David is working with Audrey Loera to request people to run for office for the next election.
Committee Reports:
Awards and Recognition: (Gisele) – We have submitted our organization of the NJASFAA Speakers Bureau for consideration of the NASFAA State Award. All plaques needed for the Spring Conference have been ordered.
Conference: (Debra) – It was decided that the fees should remain the same as last year for the upcoming Spring Conference, Thursday, April 3, 2003, at Pines Manor, Edison, NJ. Registration will be out shortly on the web. The late registration date will probably be as of 3/27/03. The agenda is set as follows:
Register & Visit Exhibitors
General Session – Fiscal Awareness/Financial Planning/Literacy Issues
NJASFAA Business Meeting
Concurrent Sessions
Session 1 – The Impact of Credit Card Usage Among College Students
Session 2 – It Takes All Kinds (Dealing With People)
Session 3 – Federal Regulations of 11/1/2002 and Their Impact
Annual Scholarship &Awards Luncheon
Concurrent Sessions
Session 1 – The Impact of Credit Card Usage Among College Students
Session 2 – It Takes All Kinds (Dealing With People)
Session 3 – Federal Regulations of 11/1/2002 and Their Impact
General Session – HESAA Update
Next year’s Fall Conference will be at Bally’s on November 11, 12, 13 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Joe Roberto is working on the signing of the contract. EASFAA will also be held at Bally’s in 2005.
Electronic Initiatives: Larry will be asked to remove any outdated information.
Federal Relations: (David) – At the most recent meeting of FRC the following issues were discussed:
Pell funding – shortfall from the 2003 budget is appearing in the 2004 budget.
There is discussion of a possible increase of $50 to the top cell.
Loan Issues: HR12 has been reintroduced. This was the Fed-Up Initiative of reinstating the expired loan single disbursement and 30 day delay. Loan limits has hit a snag since all groups need to be on the same page to give Congress a uniform proposal in order to increase the limits.
Affirmative Action Issues: Some of our schools may have certain scholarships targeted to special groups. These schools may have a real problem with this and should re-look at the way these are awarded
David and Debra will be attending the NASFAA Leadership Conference in March. Meetings have already been set up for “hill visits.”
Newsletter: (Maribeth) – We will have our last hard copy newsletter the end of
February. In the future issues will be on line.
Nominations: The deadline will be March 4th.
Public Relations: There was very good media coverage on Financial Aid Awareness
Week and the Hotline.
Scholarships: (Gloria) – All information has been sent to 67 institutions. It has also been
posted on the web site and will be included in the upcoming Newsletter. There will be
six awards of $2000 each. The committee will review applications on March 7th at
HESAA. Recipients will be asked to say a word when awarded if they want to.
State Relations: (Karen) - A meeting set for last Tuesday was canceled due to the snow.
Training: (Maribeth) – The Support Staff training will be held on 3/21/03 at Rutgers.
The Federal area will be handled by JoAnn Craig; the State by Gisele Joachim; and a
lender will be asked to cover loans. Additionally Customer Service will be discussed.
Verification training will be held on 4/30/03 at Raritan Valley C.C. Registration on line
will be available after registration for Spring Conference has been on the web. It was
decided to have paper registration applications available at Spring Conference. EASAA
is offering training on FWS/Community Service; Default Management; and Consortium
Agreements on 4/11/03 at Raritan Valley C.C.
HESAA Update: (Gisele) – The Board is meeting on 3/26/03. On the agenda will be a
review and proposal of the World Trade Center regulations. The goal is to have the
program in place by September. Any/all calls that come to the campus should be re-
directed to Gisele. NJ Best is now in partnership with Franklin Templeton and there
should now be more aggressive investment.
Governor’s Budget Proposal – TAG funding has a proposed increase due to the expected
approximate 2000 new students and to maintain level funding. OSRP will be reduced
due to the fact that there will be no new awards. Current students will be grandfathered.
We should see a slight cut in the Bloustein/Urban Scholarships. HESAA is currently
modeling as to what that cut may be.
Student Advisory Committee – Applications will be sent out to the aid offices.
Reconfirmation Letters – Be sure to return these to HESAA stating staff access to the
system.
Old Business: - There was discussion on the position paper on consultants and the need
for it to be completed. We also discussed the status of the ad-hoc committee formed to
study the position of Associate members allowed voting and elected officer positions.
The Council has requested that this committee have its formal request by the March
meeting.
New Business: - It was requested that for next year members of the Executive Council
RSVP for all meetings so that issues can be voted upon with an established quorum.
Meeting Adjourned
Respectfully Submitted
Lissa Anderson (In absence of Ida Pabon)