Best Practice Solutions

Update from the NASFAA Leadership Conference! ?? Our Financial Aid Consultant, Mischa Brown, has just given us an update from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Leadership Conference with more important information: FAFSA Updates: Contact Center Expansion: The team has doubled agents to 1,600, resulting in an average hold time of just 1.5 minutes! ?? Best to contact outside peak hours for even faster service. Top Rejection Reason: Missing student signature – tell students, don’t forget to sign! ?? 2026-2027 FAFSA: On track for an October 1, 2025 launch as mandated by Biden’s FAFSA Deadline Act. System Enhancements: Signature section will be removed from the review summary page (not the signature page). More flags to alert users when information is missing. IRS import page will remain. Married parents who are not direct contributors will be invited but only need to add their DOB. Loan Repayment & Forgiveness: IDR Plan Challenges: Transition from SAVE to REPAYE is complicated, involving six systems. Forgiveness Under IDR: Statutory process remains in place. PSLF & SAVE Issues: Borrowers in SAVE not receiving credit for PSLF and IDR. SAVE Plan Status: Payments currently suspended, and loans are in general forbearance. Other Updates: Pell Grant Updates: Hoping for new amounts by March, but not confirmed. SNAP Eligibility Notifications: Emails will be sent to students who may qualify. 2025-2026 FAFSA Gender Options: Only Male or Female will be available due to the presidential executive order. Students who previously selected non-binary will have to choose one. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. We will continue to navigate these changes together! #NASFAA2025 #FinancialAid #HigherEducation #StudentSupport #FAFSAUpdates

News from the NASFAA Leadership Conference Our Financial Aid consultant, Mischa Brown, is attending the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Leadership Conference and has some valuable insights to share: 1?? There is little concern that Title IV programs will be canceled, as they have strong bipartisan support. 2?? The Reconciliation Bill remains a key discussion point. 3?? The federal budget has been very tight over the last few years, impacting funding decisions. 4?? An estimated PELL shortfall projected for the 2025-2026 award year may affect future allocations. The main takeaway from today’s discussions so far has been that the dismantling of the Department of Education primarily involves K-12 funding and does not currently impact Title IV funding. However, there is concern that the estimated lower PELL amounts could affect schools and recruitment efforts for the 2025-2026 school year. And here's a little visual treat from Mischa's trip - a stunning shot of the Washington Monument! ?? Keep an eye out for further updates and insights from the conference. #NASFAA2025 #FinancialAid #HigherEducation #StudentSupport #WashingtonDC

Exciting News! Robert Mirabile, Ph.D. and Jed Liston from the Best Practice Solutions team are thrilled to be attending the 2025 CIC (Council of Independent Colleges) Presidents Institute in sunny San Antonio, TX, January 4–7! ?? We’re looking forward to engaging in meaningful conversations about the future of higher education and sharing insights on how to tackle today’s challenges with innovative solutions. If you’re attending, let’s connect! We’d love to hear about your goals for the year ahead and explore how we can support your institution's success. Drop us a comment here or send a message to [email protected] to schedule a time to meet up. See you there! ?? #CICPresidentsInstitute #HigherEducation #Networking #BestPracticeSolutions

Thinking about things you’ll look forward to in 2025? Add the 4th annual BPS Symposium to your list! We’re thrilled to announce our 4th annual 2025 BPS Enrollment Management Symposium, happening in summer 2025 at the iconic Gleacher Center in Chicago! This two-day event is packed with insightful sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store: ?? Thursday, July 24 Afternoon kickoff at 1:00 PM with engaging sessions and discussions. Evening networking aboard the Wendella Architectural Boat Tour, featuring delicious appetizers, refreshing drinks, and breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and architecture. ?? Friday, July 25 Start the day with complimentary professional headshots. Dive into more thought-provoking sessions with industry leaders. Wrap up in style with an exclusive evening in a private suite at Guaranteed Rate Field for the Crosstown Classic rivalry game—Cubs vs. White Sox—complete with food, drinks, and great company. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and gain valuable insights with peers and leaders in higher education. ?? Interested in joining us? Click the link below. Happy New Year!

??? Celebrating the Holiday Season: Favorite Traditions from the BPS Team ?? William Mortimer : “As a kid, my dad took us to the zoo every Christmas Eve. Now, we wrap 24 Christmas books and every night the kids open one to read—carrying on a tradition my mom started with us.” ? Melissa Dix: “Homemade Tom & Jerry’s, made by my uncles using my Grandma and Grandpa's special Tom & Jerry set.” ? Jessica Brady: “Picking out our yearly ornament—17 years strong! Each one commemorates special moments or is just for fun. My mom started this for me, and my husband and I continued the tradition when we got engaged.” ?? Jed Liston: “We unveil a new holiday book every Christmas Eve and read all the previous ones leading up to it. Eric Carle’s Dream Snow is a family favorite.” ?? Jeremiah Wilson: “We read from the same 'Twas the Night Before Christmas my mom bought when I was born.” ?? Vicki Gack: “Our Christmas Eve is filled with the Olm family Championship! The winner of the coveted Christmas Cup picks the next year’s game. The cup comes with a diary of past champions and was designed by my late husband—a tradition we hold dear.” ?? Sarah Parker: “I rage bake a ridiculous amount of cookies, freeze them, and assemble cookie boxes for 15+ family and friends. Then we spend a whole day delivering them together.” ?? Stacey Hubbard: “Driving around on Christmas Eve to see lights was a childhood tradition with my grandparents – cousins and cocoa-filled carafes! These days we ride golf carts through a full light show on the golf course—hot toddies in hand—thinking of Granny.” ?? Jeanne Locarnini, MEd, PMP, FAAC: “Christmas Eve is extra special as we celebrate my daughter’s birthday! When in Australia, we pick up seafood for a BBQ, swim at the beach, and visit the animal sanctuary for a family photo with a koala.” ?? Shanell Cartagena Dopson, MBA, CCP: “On the night before January 6th, Three Kings' Day, my dad and I would gather grass and water to leave out for the camels as they arrived. It's one of my favorite childhood memories with him, something I fondly recall doing together in my hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.” ?? Robert Mirabile, Ph.D.: “We have a tradition of watching the classic holiday movie Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase every year. Two years ago, we attended a special viewing of the film with Chevy Chase himself, which was an unforgettable and hilarious experience." ?? April Cozine: “I always love making & decorating Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve with the kids, writing a letter to Santa and making reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn. It's the best on Christmas morning seeing what Santa wrote back!” ??Mischa Brown: “One of my favorite holiday traditions is driving around to see Christmas lights on Christmas Eve with my family. Afterwards, we put on matching pajamas and watch Christmas movies together.” Wishing you & your loved ones a joyful & memorable holiday season from all of us at Best Practice Solutions!

Thanks Allison Turcio, Ed.D.! Great teamwork drives great outcomes! By providing students and their families with early financial aid insights, Siena is helping them better appreciate the value of a Siena education and make more informed decisions moving forward with their college selection. Kudos to the whole team! #HigherEd #FinancialAid #BestPracticeSolutions #EducationExcellence #SienaCollege #Collaboration

So excited for Jessica Brady! This was amazing!

So excited to to have you as part of our team, Stacey Hubbard!

Best Practice Solutions is thrilled to be attending AACRAO-SEM in Boston from November 3-6! ?? Stop by our booth (#404) to connect with us and explore ways we can support your enrollment and institutional goals. We’d love to meet you! ?? Presentation Alert Our own Robert Mirabile, Ph.D., in collaboration with Erin Finn Saraceni, Amy Lloyd, and Dr. Boyd A. Bradshaw, will be presenting: Differentiating Enrollment Goals & Forecasts in Budgeting: Exploring the Enrollment Manager’s Role in Institutional Decision Making With shrinking enrollment markets and forecasted higher education declines ahead, realistic goal-setting and budgeting are more essential than ever. This session will share actionable insights, tips, and strategies for enrollment leaders to adapt and thrive in the evolving landscape. We hope to see you there! #BestPracticeSolutions #AACRAO2024 #EnrollmentManagement #HigherEd

?? Happy Financial Aid Day! ?? Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of financial aid professionals across the nation, including our incredible team here at Best Practice Solutions (we're looking at you Jeanne Locarnini, MEd, PMP, FAAC, Vicki Gack, Mischa Brown, Jeremiah Wilson). Your tireless efforts make higher education accessible for countless students, helping them achieve their dreams. To all financial aid staff at colleges and universities, thank you for your commitment to guiding students through the complex world of financial aid, answering endless questions, and offering support every step of the way. Your work changes lives, and we’re grateful for all that you do! #FinancialAid #HigherEd #StudentSuccess #ThankYou #EducationMatters #FADay