NJASFAA SPEAKERS BUREAU
2005/2006 ANNUAL REPORT
2005/06 has been another successful year for the NJASFAA
Speakers Bureau. We have exceeded 50
members – NJASFAA colleagues who make themselves available to help “spread the
word” about the realities of financial aid and strategies families should
consider in meeting the costs of a higher education, in New Jersey and
elsewhere. We have speakers available
for all 21 of
John Iacovelli and David Sheridan presented a session at the Fall Conference, “How to Conduct a Financial Aid Night.” It was designed for less experienced presenters seeking tips on public speaking and conducting successful presentations. We hope that those who attended found it informative.
But even 50+ strong aid professionals volunteering their time and expertise leave a gap. There are hundreds of high schools in our small state. When a financial aid professional is not available, high schools often turn to self-described “consultants” who provide families with the “secrets” of what they portray as the financial aid “game.” They frequently characterize financial aid administrators – the only people who actually give anyone any aid – as the family’s enemy. One such firm actually states in their brochure, “Relying on the help of a college financial aid officer is like hiring the IRS to complete your taxes!” and go on to infer that everything we do is tainted and biased against the student. At best, these people are helping families turn need-based aid into greed-based aid. At worst, they’re taking their clients’ money in exchange for advice that’s illegal.
The Speakers Bureau was created four years ago to help assure that high schools, professional organizations and civic groups who are looking for accurate financial aid information can locate a real financial aid professional to provide it. You may think that many of your colleagues already perform this service, why do you need to sign up? If not you, then who should? You are one of the experts, you make aid decisions and help students every day…as opposed to “consultants” who read up a bit on the web, find the EFC formula, figure out how to fill out a FAFSA, but never have to make a decision…or face a program review. Financial aid professionals are the ones who need to be providing the accurate, complete and ethical assistance based on their first-hand knowledge of helping families pay for college.
Please consider joining your colleagues in this important project next year. There are no meetings to attend, joining the Speakers Bureau does not obligate you to conduct any number of presentations, and those looking for an aid professional for a Financial Aid Night contact that member directly. For more information, visit the Speakers Bureau web site at http://www.njasfaa.org/docs/toc_speakersbureau.html.
David Sheridan, Speakers Bureau Chair 2005/06