NASFAA, Partners Award Training Grants to Katrina States

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) announced a total of $18,300 in training grants to the Alabama Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the Mississippi Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The grants, funded by the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP) and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), were used to cover expenses associated with NASFAA training provided last fall, including materials, training of trainers, and related costs.

Colleges and universities that were damaged by high winds and flooding due to Hurricane Katrina, particularly in the New Orleans area and the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast regions, are reeling under the toll the disaster took on their operating budgets. Without these training grants, many financial aid administrators in the affected areas would have been unable to participate in last fall’s training series.

Under a “decentralized” training model, NASFAA develops training materials and hosts training-of-trainers in Washington, D.C., while state and regional financial aid associations that choose to participate actually conduct the training workshops. Normally, the state and regional associations bear the costs of training-of-trainers while materials and other costs are covered by registration fees, association dues, and/or sponsorships. Additional costs for participants include travel and per Diem.

The topic of last fall’s training was “Administrative Capability: Campus-Wide Compliance.”

“We are grateful to NCHELP and KHEAA for having made the fall training series possible in states that were affected by Katrina’s devastation,” said NASFAA President Dallas Martin. “It is a fortunate coincidence that the theme of this year’s series is administrative capability, a capacity that many institutions are now rebuilding after losing both infrastructure and records as a result of the storm,” he continued.

NCHELP President Brett Lief concurred. “Appropriate and timely training is an ongoing responsibility for all of us,” he said. “We all gain when financial aid professionals are up-to-the-minute on the skills required for compliance with the myriad federal regulations governing student aid programs, and the need is that much more urgent this year than in most others. Our members wanted to support their school colleagues as they continue to meet the challenges resulting from Hurricane Katrina.”

KHEAA Executive Director Joe L. McCormick praised the state financial aid associations and the individuals participating in the training workshops. “After all they have experienced?and continue to experience?these organizations and their members are moving on, proceeding with their plans, and getting the training they need and deserve,” he said. “We at KHEAA are pleased to partner with NASFAA and NCHELP to give something back to the community.”

Please visit http://www.NASFAA.org/falltraining.asp for more information on NASFAA’s fall training and how to purchase the reference materials distributed at the workshops.

About NASFAA. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 11,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. Each year, NASFAA members help more than eight million students receive funding for postsecondary education. For more information, visit www.NASFAA.org.

About NCHELP. The National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs represents a nationwide network of guaranty agencies, secondary markets, lenders, loan servicers, collection agencies, schools, and other organizations involved in the administration of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). NCHELP members promote student access and choice for postsecondary education and training. For more information, visit www.NCHELP.org.

About KHEAA. The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority is a public corporation and governmental agency and instrumentality of the Commonwealth established in 1966 to improve students? access to higher education. To that end, KHEAA administers Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships, need-based grants, work-study, savings, and Federal Family Education Loans, and disseminates information about higher education opportunities. KHEAA also administers the Alabama Student Loan Program. For more information, visit www.KHEAA.org.