From the Fall Conference

Session: The View from the Hill
Presenter: John Dean, Principal, Washington Partners, LLC

This reauthorization of the federal higher education laws is proving to be very different from the previous endeavors. Right now, we can not state with any certainty when it will be completed. The process is fluid and can be characterized as not going well. Right now, Congress is not geared up to take on reauthorization issues and there is no consensus on the key issues. Presently, we are at the mid-point of a pre-game show. For many reasons, if the process is not completed by the end of 2004, then we might be starting all over again and not see a final reauthorization until sometime in 2006.

Reauthorization will take on major initiatives, not tinker with small pieces of legislation. Final reauthorization will also not come from a single piece of legislation, but from a series of different bills. The major themes will be on college costs, quality, access, adequacy of the current aid programs, loan consolidation, and FFEL vs. the Direct Loan programs. Accountability will be one of the key components for the Bush Administration.

- Frank Cuozzo

Session: How to Award Endowed Funds
Presenters: Janice Hilbrink, Assistant Director of Endowed and External Scholarships, Pace University, and Christopher Barto, Director of Student Financial Services, Pace University - New York Campus

In the session How to Award Endowed Funds Effectively, Janice Hilbrink and Christopher Barto shared with us new ways to manage and award a university’s endowed funds. Pace University has created an Endowed Scholarship Web site, where students can search and apply for scholarships online.

This process has improved student retention and morale, provided motivation for students to improve their GPA’s, and encouraged students to limit debt. It has been beneficial to the aid office as well. It has improved the image of the aid office; helped to further personalize counseling and student services - counselors now have more real options to present to students and parents who are seeking additional aid; and connecting the right students with donors has improved donor relations and contributed to increased donations.

– Karen Weber

Session: Reauthorization Panel
Presenters: Carmen Panlilio, Director of Financial Aid, New Jersey City University and Rich Woodland, Director of Financial Aid, Rutgers University – Camden

By the time of this session, we had had the opportunity to hear the spin on reauthorization twice. With that said, still a good number of members were present, and we did not disappoint them! Not to be outdone by HESAA and their usual fun update, Rich and Carmen took over the same informal atmosphere, sitting on a couch to simulate a TV talk program. The membership was extremely fortunate to have two such well-briefed minds bringing us up-to-date on this subject. Rich accepted the appointment to the NASFAA Reauthorization Task Force, not realizing that it may well be a life appointment! It could well be 2006 before we see the completion of reauthorization this time around. Questions from the audience were good. Thanks for that since it is always good to know that the audience was paying attention. Basically what we all need to keep in mind is that we as aid officers realize the importance of the topic and need to keep abreast of the updates and encourage our colleagues and others in our schools to do the same. We are listened to, folks! Thanks to Rich and Carmen for their expertise.

– Lissa Anderson

Session: True Colors
Presenter: Bill Leipold, Director of Continuous Improvement and Professional Development, Rutgers University

Harmonious (blue)… Responsible (gold)…Curious (green)… Adventurous (orange)…

True Colors participants discovered their preferred management and leadership styles in a lively, interactive “double” session on Wednesday afternoon. Led by Bil Leipold, Director of Continuous Improvement and Professional Development at Rutgers University-Newark, participants identified their “primary” color that Bil later explained represented a specific management style. Everyone has a preferred style of functioning, which may change depending on the situation we face, and each style is necessary within an organization. We are more effective in communications and relationship building when we recognize others’ styles and adapt our own style accordingly.

Those in attendance enjoyed the exercise and Bil’s presentation as evidenced by the volume of laughter that emanated from the Longwood Room!

– Jo-Ann Craig

Session: Profiles in Higher Education
Presenter: Fran Andrea, Chief Operating Officer, HESAA

Fran Andrea presented a look at the structure of higher education in New Jersey and how we compare with similar states. HESAA has reporting responsibility to both the Governor’s Office and the Legislature. The states which provide the most need-based aid dollars and are most successful at getting money for state aid programs have similar reporting structures. New Jersey ranks second in the percentage of low income families participating in college. Twenty-five percent of all full-time students in New Jersey receive a TAG award, and TAG recipients have preformed well academically.

From 1999 until 2011, it is projected that New Jersey will rank eighth nationally in the number of high school graduates, a twenty-three percent increase. We need to take into account these and many other variables as the financial aid community considers its next steps. We also have to remember that every time dollars are in short supply, there are policy changes.

– Frank Cuozzo