Unlocking Opportunities at NASFAA: Networking, Learning, and Staying Ahead in the World of Financial Aid
June is ending, which means that the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) conference is right around the corner, offering an opportunity to learn and network with others in financial aid. With the pending implementation of FAFSA simplification, new cost of attendance requirements, proposed rules on gainful employment, and Federal Student Aid only offering virtual events, the NASFAA conference has gone from nice to attend to a necessity.
Lately, I’ve been finding there is so much going on in financial aid that I am too overwhelmed to prioritize and focus. I will create a plan only to have it derailed by the Department, who drops a thousand pages of proposed gainful employment rules with a thirty-day comment period. And surprise – they have included all kinds of proposals that have nothing to do with gainful employment. Each time this happens, I return to my to-do list and reprioritize, leaving me little time to create a plan of attack for the best networking and learning opportunity I will have this year at NASFAA – until now. With my plan created, I thought I would share my approach with you in case you are in the same boat.
Add your no-duh sessions
When I built my schedule, I started with the general sessions everyone needs to attend. The federal update and the keynote from Federal Student Aid’s Richard Cordray made the cut.
?I have little hope that we will learn anything earth-shatteringly new or that will make financial aid easier, but I have my fingers crossed and feel like I must live-tweet these sessions. Hopefully, we get a more detailed update on the mysterious date in December the FAFSA will be released (we all know it will be 12/31, but there is always a chance it will change). The best news is they are back-to-back in the same location.
Networking is a must
I know, I know, with all the changes going on, I just heard half of the readers gasp and clutch their pearls. Take a deep breath; it will be okay. I have seen a lot of disruption in financial aid over the last 20 years. Several things are consistent – rules and regulations are constantly changing, the system is complex no matter how much “simplification” is done, and my network of trusted peers is the most important asset I have acquired. I use them to bounce ideas off regularly. Over the years we have built trust, and I know they will tell me when I am about to do something stupid, point me in new directions, and share information and ideas I can benefit from. They truly have been amazing. So whether you are new to FA and building your network (consider the first-time attendee networking session on 6/29) or looking to expand and diversify – finding time to connect with new people is imperative. NASFAA has given us lots of time to network and connect, so use it.
领英推荐
Stay focused when adding sessions
Looking at all the session options gives me a bit of anxiety. There are so many. To help prioritize and stay focused, I use a framework to help decide where to spend my time. I am using the Student Financial Success (SFS) framework this year to create focus. For those unfamiliar with it, student financial success is a model that focuses on eliminating financial friction, the number one barrier to a degree. The model has three primary pillars that help reduce friction in the funding journey for students. The pillars of SFS are: cut through complexity, chart personal paths, and unlock every dollar. Here are my top session picks based on those goals:
Cut through complexity
Chart personal paths
Unlock every dollar
?See you in San Diego!
I know what you are thinking. You already said that networking was a must. But if those large group networking activities are not for you and you want to connect, let me know. I would love to meet new and old friends at NASFAA. You can find my contact information on my digital business card or connect directly with me: