WASFAA Presidents Blog

2010-09-23T22:35:00.002-05:00

2009-04-19T18:12:00.000-05:00

THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR!

The new WASFAA logo!

2009-04-04T09:48:00.008-05:00

Part of my duties as President listed in our handbook on page 19 are to "store and make available WASFAA banners (WASFAA logo and NASFAA award)". The banners are always lost, sort of. There are hard to keep track of. After conferences they go away. They always pop up at the last moment when needed. I'm really not sure where the banners are right now.

The logo is a different story. The WASFAA logo was needed a few month ago for the Spring conference. I could not find it. Nope. Gone. No one had an electronic copy of the logo. A copy of the logo could be gleaned by scanning an old piece of stationary. I told my self "I don't think so."

I knew we could do something about the logo. A decision was made to start the process of getting a new one. A designer was commissioned to produce a variety of logos for review. At the February 2009 Executive Committee meeting we viewed and discussed our options. Several designs stood out as being viable. The decision was made to involve the entire WASFAA community in a poll to determine our new logo.

The winner is................

Letter from Senator Kohl

2009-04-03T16:35:00.007-05:00

The following was received from Senator Kohl in response to WASFAA's March 26th letter concerning FFELP.

　　
April 3, 2009
　　
Mr. Lloyd Mueller
273 East Erie Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-6003
　
Dear Mr. Mueller:

I share your concern about funding for higher education. A
struggling American economy has threatened the flow of credit in
all markets, including student loans. I believe all hard-working
students should have access to college, and federal aid is critical to
this goal. As private lenders tighten their credit practices, it is
imperative that students have a means to pay for college.

Making college affordable is a priority of mine, which is
why I was proud to support the College Cost Reduction and
Access Act (CCRA), which was signed into law on September 27,
2007. It provides more than $20 billion in new aid to students,
paid for through reforms to the student loan industry.
Additionally, the Higher Education Amendments of 2007 extended
a variety of important programs, such as work study, Perkins loans
and TRIO. The Higher Education Amendments bill was signed
into law on August 14, 2008 as part of the reauthorization of the
Higher Education Act.

I also recently cosponsored S. 250, legislation to
consolidate and expand the three existing tax credits for higher
education. This legislation would merge the HOPE Credit,
Lifetime Learning Credit, and college tuition deduction into one
easy to understand $4000 credit per student - a positive step
towards simplifying the tax code. The legislation will expand the
benefits available to most families, covering textbooks and
graduate level education.

Also, the Federal Reserve is implementing the Term Asset-
Backed Securities Loan Facility, which provides capital to private
lenders to increase consumer lending and student loans. This is a
temporary program to address the financial crisis, and it is
currently set to expire on December 31, 2009.

During this recession, funding for education remains a
priority of mine. I appreciate knowing your thoughts on this
important issue, and please do not hesitate to contact me again in
the future if I can be of any further assistance to you.
　
　
Sincerely,
　
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator

　
After polling the WASFAA Executive Committee, the following letter was sent to the Wisconsin Congressional delegation. Here is the letter sent to Senator Kohl.

The Honorable Herb Kohl
United States Senate
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4904

March 26, 2009

Dear Senator Kohl:

I am writing on behalf of the Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA). Our association has members from over 70 public and private colleges and educational institutions in Wisconsin.

I am requesting that you oppose President Obama’s budget proposal to eliminate the successful Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). The budget proposal suggests that all federal loans created after June 30, 2010 would be issued through the Federal Direct Lending (DL) program.

Access and availability of low-cost federal student loans is more important now than ever.~ Federal student loans play an increasingly important role in the ability of students and families in Wisconsin to make the dream of college a reality. During 2007-2008, students and parents utilized 13.7 million loans totaling 64 billion dollars from FFELP lenders to cover higher education costs. If the flow of these student aid funds were halted, or even slightly disrupted, the effects would be devastating to students and colleges.

FFELP has been in existence for over 40 years providing a choice for students and families. It has provided a means for students from Wisconsin to achieve their higher education dreams. Eliminating FFELP would extinguish healthy choice and place unnecessary hardship on students, families and higher education institutions.

In addition, FFELP providers have partnered with schools to address default issues and offer default aversion services to borrowers.~ Default rates are at historic lows as schools, lenders, guaranty agencies, and servicers have implemented sound proactive default management practices and support to reach students before loans become delinquent. During FY2007 more than $52 billion in delinquent FFEL loans were resolved as a result of these types of services.

FFELP partners provide workshops, presentations, loan counseling, financial literacy, career exploration, outreach programs, funding for college access, and research to improve access and retention of low income and first generation college students.

Therefore, WASFAA urges you to vote against the Administration's Budget proposal to eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan Program. We would encourage a bipartisan emphasis to preserve a strong private sector-based federal student loan program that provides student and parent borrowers a meaningful choice in paying for an education.

Any decision to modify or eliminate FFELP should include thoughtful review, discussion and analysis of viable alternatives.

If you have questions or concerns about this request please contact me at (414) 847-3270 or llmuelle@miad.edu
Sincerely,

Lloyd Mueller
President
Wisconsin Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
273 East Erie Street
Milwaukee Wisconsin 53202　
　

Medical College of Wisconsin & WASFAA Executive Committee Winter Meeting

2009-03-01T09:51:00.018-06:00

WASFAA Executive Committee

Every February WASFAA likes to break up the long winter with an exciting Executive Committee meeting. We held a meeting on February 27, 2009 at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The WASFAA Executive Committee is composed of elected officials and committee chairs. The committee at the winter meeting as has its primary responsibility the establishment of a budget for the upcoming year. It was a long and thoughtful process. The economic realities all around us had to be reflected in the budget. The new budget will be presented to the entire membership at the spring conference in Madison this April. Along with the budget, WASFAA committees report on their activities and other topics are discussed and voted on. This meeting was especially lively. Hot topics included the "late fee policy", associate member concerns, elections, and a new WASFAA logo. If intensity of discussion can be used as an indicator of the health of our organization we are not in need of the services of any of the Medical Colleges graduates. Much was accomplished.

Presidential visit: The Medical College of Wisconsin

How could I have a meeting without visiting the FA office? Here are some pictures from my visit.

WASFAA Spring Conference 2009

2009-01-29T16:23:00.009-06:00

WASFAA Spring 2009 Conference

April 6-8 2009

Concourse Hotel, Madison Wisconsin

For more information:

http://www.wasfaa.net/events/conferences.asp

Edgewood

2009-01-29T10:42:00.023-06:00

Presidential visit to Edgewood College

Art and financial aid? I know they go together.

I was in Madison on January 29th dropping off a painting at the office of the Arts Program Administrator for the City of Madison. I was talking art talk and generally catching up on the vivrant art scene in the states capitol, when I was asked; "would I like to go to an opening at Edgewood College?" Never one to miss an opportunity to see some art we headed over to the campus.

The show I saw was good. "30 Below: Staying Warm the Eco-Way" was a collection of student work utilizing recycled materials to create clothing or shelters that would work in our cold environment. Nice.

http://www.edgewood.edu/community/studioArt/30Below.aspx low.aspx

Here are some images from the show.

As I was taking in the work, what do I see. Right next to the gallery is the Edgewood financial aid office. An unexpected opportunity presented itself for a Presidential Visit. No one seemed to be in the office. It was late. I was ready to just write a little note and slip it under the door and go back to the art. As I was contemplating what to do, the door to the office opened and out stepped Katie Sprunger. Whew! She was working late, getting ready for a financial aid night in the community. This was an opportunity for as real visit. She showed me around the FA office. Even let me see Kari's office. I felt privileged. We talked a little financial aid and I was on my way.

Thank you Katie for the tour!

A visit to WCTC

2008-11-18T13:18:00.024-06:00

The WASFAA President was in attendance at the 2008 Fall NASFAA Training "Aspects of Student Eligibility" held at Waukesha Technical College on November 18, 2009. This was the last in a state wide series of trainings held throughout the month of November. NASFAA trainings are traditional fall financial aid gathering places. In attendance were about 100 financial aid professionals.

Thanks go out to Melissa Haberman from UW-Colleges and Ed Schroeder from Great Lakes. They were our trainers.

Presidential visit

Never one to miss an opportunity to make an unannounced visit, WCTC's fine financial aid operation was briefly observed by the WASFAA President. The "one stop shop" WCTC has developed is something we all could learn from.

MASFAA 2008

2008-10-20T15:08:00.010-05:00

I had the privilege to represent WASFAA at the annual conference of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators October 12-15 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The conference theme was "MASFAA Aboveground: Overcoming Ignorance Through Education."

The conference was attended by about 450 financial aid professionals from across the Midwest.

As WASFAA President I am a member of the MASFAA Executive Board. The board has elected representation from the nine MASFAA states: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Being on the board provides insight into what others are doing regionally. All financial aid organizations state, regional and national are facing tough decisions as the world of financial aid evolves around us. Membership in our organizations must be maintained, value must be delivered to members, and the major focus of helping all of us make financial aid available to students must not be forgotten.

Cincinnati is a beautiful place to hold a major conference. The city sits on the banks of the beautiful Ohio River.

Kathy's new son!

2008-09-11T17:19:00.011-05:00

The Presidents blog has not been used for a while. Now is the opportunity to really put something on it.

I have to say, financial aid can be a wonderful experience. We get to know those we work with. Students and co-workers. They become our extended family. It gives me great pleasure to tell the WASFAA community some truly good news about my friend and colleague Kathy Peterburs.

On Sunday September 7th, around 7 PM, Carson Jacob Peterburs was born. 8.5 pounds. 21 inches. I had the opportunity to talk to Kathy at about 8:30 Sunday night. Kathy, her husband Craig, and their beautiful new son were doing well.

Do I see the look of a financial aid administrator on his face?

NASFAA 2008

2008-07-08T09:57:00.009-05:00

A National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Conference is a mix of many things. Meetings, seminars, eating, socializing, vendor/donor visits, theorizing, sleep deprivation, and way too many other things to even remember. I attended the conference held in Orlando on July 7-9 as the Wisconsin State President. This was a wonderful experience. I had a special ribbon on my name badge. This may not sound like a lot but it meant a lot to me.

On Tuesday July 8th I was invited to a 7:00 AM breakfast with the other state and regional presidents. The breakfast had been a fixture at past NASFAA conferences but had not been held for several years. It was hosted by the new NASFAA CEO Dr. Phillip Day and NASFAA President Michael Bennett. This was a working breakfast. Dr. Day told us about a new NASFAA initiative “"National Conversation on Access and Aid for Student Success." Financial aid professionals must participate as leaders in all aspects of the decision making process involving financial aid. Decisions will be made with or without us. We can not be afraid to be part of the process.

After breakfast, it was right to the NASFAA business meeting. The business meeting is an annual event with many things happening. National awards are made in many categories. I was truly caught off guard when the State of Wisconsin was announced as a winner of the “State Award”. Wow! The State Awards are presented each year to state associations that submit projects to be evaluated by NASFAA's Awards Committee. The awards recognize individual state associations for outstanding projects that contribute to the financial aid profession. The association offering the winning project receives a banner to reside with the state association and a $500 prize check. Its hard to describe how proud I was to be representing WASFAA.

Here is what NASFAA had to say about our project.

“Service to the Financial Aid Profession: The Wisconsin associations "Student Employees in the Financial Aid Office: Capitalizing on our Resources" recognizes that many financial aid officers got their start in financial aid as work study students in the financial aid office. Member institutions were asked to offer a one-day registration to work study students in their office to attend the association's conference. The students had an opportunity to attend sessions which took them through some of the basics of financial aid, to hear some of the issues of concern to the profession, and to witness the camaraderie throughout the membership. The association realizes that this is an underutilized opportunity with great potential to encourage and educate work-study students, and to promote the financial aid profession as a career path, and to grow and secure the future of the financial aid profession. Our congratulations to the Wisconsin association!”

Sara Beth Holman submitted the project which was conducted at the fall 2007 WASFAA conference in the Dells.

2009 WASFAA Presidents Retreat & Campus Visit

2008-06-21T08:42:00.084-05:00

One of the duties of the WASFAA President is to facilitate a yearly retreat. Whew! How could I pull this off? I was thinking lots about this. Way lots!

On June 19th and 20th the WASFAA Presidents Retreat was held on the campus of Saint Norberts College in De Pere. The retreat is an annual WASFAA event held to bring together WASFAA elected officials and committee chairs. This year the event was used to acquire information about and discuss two critically important issues. The ever growing loan crisis and WASFAA outreach activities, specifically College Goal Sunday.

Saint Norberts is a wonderful place for a gathering of working professionals. Facilities are excellent. We stayed and met on campus. Housing was great. Food was very good. The campus beautiful. The surrounding area hospitable. For further information on St. Norberts College, St. Norbert (who was St. Norbert?), or the Abbey please click on one of the links below.

http://www.snc.edu/

http://www.abbeybar.com/

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11100b.htm

The Retreat

Dick George, President and CEO of Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation was our guest on Thursday afternoon. Dick gave us an overview of how the problems in the world of student lending started, where we are now, and the possibilities of what will happen in the future. Dick's insights into the industry are profound. Contemporary financial aid is tied to student lending. Most financial aid we work with is some form of loan. The more we know about what is occurring around us the better we are able to serve our students.

Friday morning was devoted to College Goal Sunday. CGS is a major component of WASFAA. Funded by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, CGS reaches out to low income, first generation, college bound students and families with assistance in completing the FAFSA. The CGS committee was invited to the retreat and was asked to make a presentation on all aspects of what CGS is. The presentation was comprehensive. Many questions and much discussion happened during and after the presentation.

I would like to thank Dick George and the WASFAA College Goal Sunday Committee for participating in this years retreat. Their contributions can't be appreciated enough.

A special thanks and many hugs go out to Michelle Hermes. She was invaluable in all aspects of planning the retreat. In fact the retreat could not have happened without her.

Dick George's presentation on the current loan crisis and the CGS PowerPoint presentation are available. Please contact me through my blog if you would like a copy.

The Visit

What WASFAA Presidents activity would be complete without a campus visit?

Jeff Zahn, St. Norberts financial aid director graciously invited the President to come to the "Green Knights" financial aid office. So after the retreat on Friday afternoon, Bill Henderson and I took a leisurely walk over to John Minahan Hall. I have to say I was impressed. It seems that Jeff, Renee, and Karen have taken student financial aid to a whole new level.

WASFAA President visits Department of Education

2008-06-07T07:47:00.008-05:00

On Friday, June 6th, along with other WASFAA colleagues I ventured down to the regional offices of the U.S. Department of Education in Chicago. We participated in a "Regulatory And Legislative Update". The update gave us the opportunity to hear in person the many changes brought about by past and recent legislative actions.

I personally had hoped to hear more about the current state of affairs in the student loan industry and the Departments response. The training did not address this. Interacting with those in attendance provided a snapshot of the troubles that are occurring all around us. Many in attendance had "horror stories" involving lender partners, or should I say past lender partners. It seems "Dear John" letters/emails/phone calls are becoming all to common.

The update provided in depth coverage of the TEACH Grant. The complexity of its administration became obvious to all in attendance.

Not a bad day. Much information.

The following photographs are; The only way to go to Chicago, Bob Mercer (UW-Parkside) listening to a security guard telling me pictures are not allowed. Danielle Kupkovits (MSOE) and Ben Dobner (WCTC) anxiously awaiting the start of the update, and TEACH handouts.

My first real visit.

2008-05-22T13:38:00.001-05:00

A Presidential visit was past due. I really haven't gone to an FA office since the spring conference. The MIAD office doesn't count.

Cardinal Stritch. May 21st, 2008. The opportunity to do two thing with a single visit won't happen often. Stritch provided just such an opportunity.

I looked around the Stritch financial aid office. Paid my respects to all present. Very nice place. A well oiled machine. Things were in order.

A meeting of the Fall 2008 WASFAA conference committee was also being held. I was invited. The conference will be a good one. The location in Door County is beautiful. The Landmark Resort is very good, http://www.thelandmarkresort.com/ Nice rooms. The conference facilities will provide much opportunity for interaction among all who attend. I'm especially interested in the Presidents reception. It will be held at the Door Peninsula Winery, http://www.dcwine.com/ A trolley ride there. A tour of the place. Wine and food. What else could we want? Maybe a fish boil. A fish boil will held on one of the nights. Hmm....... I wonder. Fish boils are good. A Door County Tradition. What kind of fish? There will be beer.

I almost forgot. The conference committee members in attendance were Amy Hoss, April Newburg, Susan Teerink, Steve Taylor, Debbie Murphy, Kevin McShane , Bill Henderson, and me. By the way. It was Bill's birthday. Oh man. A cake. A home made cake. Nice. Presents. How old was Bill? You have to ask him.

2008-04-28T11:46:00.001-05:00

Where do you start? All the WASFAA schools? I don't know where to begin. It took me all morning to visit my own office. But I did it. Here's the proof. Kathy P. is good. I'm good.
We're done as of this AM with the continuing students awards. Summer is a mess. Not done yet. Registration is hard to figure out. Short classes. Mixed up schedule. Registration changes never end.

Welcome to my blog!

2008-04-18T11:11:00.000-05:00

WASFAA. What is WASFAA? Maybe over the next year this blog will help all of us figure out what WASFAA is. Maybe?

Over the next year as I visit each school and their financial aid office, I will be posting my observations on this blog. By the way, did I tell you, I have a goal of visiting all of the financial aid offices in the state.

Do you think I can do it? Visiting all of those schools might be hard.

All of you will be able to post stuff here. I hope you do.

Will there be pictures? Yes. Will there be video? Yes.

I think I can do it.