Bananas, Garlic, Onions,

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Bananas, Garlic, Onions, A Deck of Cards
Other Secrets to Developing Your Professional
Judgment Framework in Graduate Education
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First things First

• Why are you here?

• What do you want from the next 40 minutes?

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Student aid 101A brief history

• UM to CM to FM

• USDE Special Conditions Form

• HEA 65 Reauthorized in 1992
• Finally August 14, 2008

• Remains Principally Unchanged

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Immutable truths

• The Reasonable Person Standard

• Perception is Everything

• Not Rationing Device for Available Funds.

• Responsibility of the Authority

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Customer Service 101

• Courage to Challenge

• Perception / Reality Thing

• Satisfaction
• Reality Expectations

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Counseling 101

• No Talking to Crazy People

• Hurt People (pause) Hurt People

• When in Doubt, Ask for Documentation.
• (Paper is an unemotional advocate)

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Keep in mind(there are differences between)

• Unwilling vs. Unable

• Actionable vs. In-actionable

• Institutional Policy vs.
• Professional Judgment

• Role of Choosing

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And now. To the nuts bolts

• What Meets the Measure of an Exception?

• Is There Documented Support from the Academic
  Authority?

• What Does Professional Judgment Look Like?

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And now. To the nuts bolts

• HIGHER EDUCATION ACT of 1965, As Amended
• Section 479A. DISCRETION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL
  AID ADMINISTRATORS.
• In General.- Nothing in Part F, "Need
  Analysis" shall be interpreted as limiting the
  authority of the financial aid administrator, on
  the basis of adequate documentation, to make
  necessary adjustments on a case-by-case basis to
• the cost of attendance
• the values of the data items required to
  calculate the
• expected student or parent contribution (or
  both)
• to allow for treatment of an individual eligible
  applicant with special circumstances.

• However, this authority shall not be construed
  to permit aid administrators to deviate from the
  contributions expected in the absence of special
  circumstances.

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And now. To the nuts bolts

• How Is it Exercised?
• Mitigating Circumstances (Dependency Issues)
• Cost of Attendance
• Income / Assets

• How Is it Exercised?
• Repeatable / Reliable / Unrelenting

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Back to. To the nuts bolts

• So, How Good Does Your Professional Judgment
  Have to Be?

• Is There a Prescribed, Document-Driven Process?

• Are Peers Involved?

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So, What are the highlights?

• P.J. Can Only Occur With The Collection of
  Supplemental Information

• It Is Critical You Know Your Institutional
  Policies Process

• Policy Formation (or Invoking Policy) is NOT P.J.

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So, What are the highlights?

• The Tale of the Nun The Violin

• Your Decisions Must Be

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Toolbox 101The Big four (4) gots to know

• Your Institutional Polices, Processes Procedures

• The Federal Law HEA65
• CCRAA
• HEOA08

• Where to Seek Guidance

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Toolbox 101Final toolbox Thoughts

• The financial aid administrator is expected to
  provide leadership in
• the development of institutional policies
  guidelines for exercising professional judgment
• to ensure the consistent application of those
  policies.  
• When questions arise involving professional
  judgment, the financial aid administrator may
  find it helpful to consult colleagues at similar
  institutions.
•  
• A continuing dialogue among financial aid
  administrators will prove beneficial in refining
  professional judgment

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Toolbox 101two (2) final toolbox Thoughts

• The objective is to serve students more equitably
  compassionately.
• Professional Judgment in Eligibility
  Determination And Resource Analysis
• November 13, 1993, Monograph Number 10
• Updated June 1997

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Toolbox 101two (2) final toolbox Thoughts
The aid administrator should be able to
distinguish between changes in a familys
circumstances that are a function of choice, and
those that are a function of necessity. Using
this distinction in expenses will help the aid
administrator make better decisions. Professio
nal Judgment is not intended to be a
rationing device and therefore should not be
tailored to available financial aid
funding. Professional Judgment in Eligibility
Determination And Resource Analysis October
2007, Monograph Number 21
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Monograph A N A S F A
A S e r i e s
http//nasfaa.org/Annualpubs/monograph.asp
Constructing Student Expense Budgets April
1993, Monograph Number 9 Updated June 1997
Professional Judgment in Eligibility
Determination And Resource Analysis November
1993, Monograph Number 10 Updated June
1997 October 2007, Monograph Number
21 http//www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/Monograph21.pd
f
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Monograph A N A S F A
A S e r i e s
http//nasfaa.org/Annualpubs/monograph.asp
http//www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/Monograph21.pdf
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One Last thing as you go
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Questions, Comments, concerns?
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Thanks
P.M. Simenson Director for Campus,
Professional School Services Training Penn
State University (pms2_at_psu.edu)