FA 102 A Social and Philosophical Approach to Delivering Aid Roadtrip CASFAA Conference 2006 Ontario

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FA 102 A Social and Philosophical Approach to
Delivering AidRoadtripCASFAA Conference
2006Ontario, CAPresented byAddalou Davis
Ron Lee Retired/Consultant Customer Relations
Manager CASFAA USA Funds
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Whats Your Day Like?

• Reviewing procedures?
• Collecting forms and data?
• Delivering funds or crediting accounts?
• Reviewing, creating and sending files?
• Talking with students and parents?
• Designing/Implementing a new system?
• Calculating refunds?
• FISAPs and Audits?

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Why Do You Do What You Do?

• Its a job.
• Because its in my job description.
• I dont know, I just do it.
• Students need me.
• I dont know, its what I do.
• I love it!
• No one else will do it.

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What Kind of Training Did You Get?

• None, I got thrown out there on my first day.
• Some, but only for the technical part of my job.
• I went to the Summer Institute but a lot was over
  my head.
• Im getting training every day.
• Thats what Im here for.

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The Reality of Our Industry

• Data, data, data Data management and data
  movement.
• Do more with less.
• Fiscal responsibility and accountability.
• Record retention.
• Audit preparedness.
• Customer service.
• Its just not the same anymore!

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Back to Basics a Social and Philosophical
Approach

• Higher education supports the basic tenets built
  into the Preamble of the Constitution.
• Financial aid supports higher education.
• Families have a responsibility to provide for
  themselves.
• Society has a responsibility to provide for
  society.

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Whats in the Preamble?

• Establish justice.
• Insure domestic tranquility.
• Provide for the common defense.
• Promote the general welfare.
• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
  our posterity.

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Higher Education Develops.

• Educated, skilled creative workforce.
• Social contributors, not social takers.
• Enlightened citizens.
• Higher standards of living.
• Law abiding socially tolerant citizens.

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What Does Financial Aid Do?

• Provides access to higher education.
• Provides freedom of educational choice.
• Reduces financial barriers.
• Allows society to cultivate the otherwise
  untapped talent and human potential.
• Supports the higher education industry.
• spent is turned over in the local economy.

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What Role Does Need Analysis Play?

• Based on federal formula (a means test).
• Determines family financial strength family
  (personal) responsibility (EFC).
• Determines public responsibility (need).
• Establishes a balance between personal
  responsibility and public responsibility.

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Federal Methodology

• A fair process based in logic and social
  economic awareness.
• Considerations -
• Income and assets.
• How much it costs to live and to earn a living.
• Age of wage earners saving for retirement.
• Family size
• Number in college.
• Hard work deserves to be rewarded.
• Investment in the economy

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EFC an Economic Approach

• Income Protection.
• Allowance based Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• What it costs to maintain a minimum to moderate
  standard of living, adjusted for family size.
• Asset Protection.
• Allowance based on age of older parent what it
  costs to buy an annuity to fund retirement (w/
  Social Security) at a moderate standard of
  living.
• Removal of home equity.
• Preferential treatment of business and
  farm assets.

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EFC an Economic Approach (cont.)

• Available income assessment.
• Only a portion is targeted for educational costs.
• More from student less from parent.
• Progressive assessment.
• Asset assessment.
• Only a portion is targeted for educational costs.
• More from student (20) less from parent (7).

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Title IV Eligibility Why?

• U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Enrolled as a regular student in an eligible
  degree/certificate program.
• Beyond the age of compulsory attendance or have
  high school diploma/equivalent.
• Not be in default/owe an overpayment on Title IV
  award.
• Drug conviction standards.

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Title IV Eligibility Why? (cont.)

• Satisfactory academic progress.
• Enrollment status requirements.
• Possess a valid Social Security number.
• Register for Selective Service (if required).
• Sign statement of educational purpose.

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Title IV Eligibility Why? (cont.)

• Ensures federal is spent consistent with
  public policy.
• Assessment of risk/return on investment.
• Minimize waste.
• Maximize public benefit.

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Professional Judgment

• Federal rules apply to the majority of cases.
• Society puts its faith in the aid administrator
  to override the rules when the publics best
  interests are served.
• Are you ready for the responsibility?
• How is your public policy barometer?

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The US Department of Education

• Must administer an 80 Bagillion budget.
• Must carry out Congressional intent.
• Must not pass overly burdensome administrative
  rules/regulations.
• Must hold participants accountable be
  accountable to Congress.
• Must compete with private industry (FFELP).
• Must develop policies and processes that are
  fair, equitable and consistent to all
  participants.

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How Do You See Your Job?

• Do you function more as a student advocate?
• You always try to find ways to increase awards.
• You see/use PJ only to increase awards.
• You blame the man for not providing enough .
• Or a steward of public funds?
• Students need to justify the need for loan
  monies.
• Its almost like spending your own money.
• You try to document every aspect of a
  students file.

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If You See Yourself As a..

• Steward of public funds.
• Be careful not to create unreasonable or
  arbitrary barriers to student access.
• Set up the student for success.
• Student advocate.
• Be careful not to forget that you, as a taxpayer,
  are paying the bill.
• Set up the taxpayer for success.

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Whats the Goal?

• Promote access and choice.
• Help students be successful in their higher
  education pursuit.
• Demonstrate responsible spending oversight of
  public funds.
• Further the tenets of the Preamble to form a
  more perfect union.

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When You Certify Eligibility

• Youre saying -
• This person is a good risk
• Its OK to spend public dollars on this person
• Youve weighed the balance between personal
  responsibility and public responsibility

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Lets Talk..

• Has this discussion changed your perspective or
  understanding of our profession?
• What moral or ethical dilemmas have you faced?

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Last Thoughts

• Dont let managing data and record keeping cause
  you to lose focus on promoting access, choice and
  success in higher education (dont lose the
  forest through the trees!)
• Remember to find the balance between personal
  responsibility and public responsibility

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• Thank you!!