I learned that there needs to be good communication between every department so we can all get to the same understanding with the balance of regulation and helping students.

One thing I learned from this section was that the admissions process must abide by the rules and regulations set in place in order to remain in compliance. If the admissions process is not in compliance, it jeopardizes the good standing of the program and institution. 

Default prevention does not end the moment the student leaves school. It is very important that students understand how to remain responsible for their loans throughout the duration of their repayment period. This can be geared towards deferment, forbearance, lower payment options, loan consolidation, and more. This helps borrowers remain in good standing with their loans and avoid consequences of default. 

I have learned that you should read the guidelines, laws and regulations as they are. There should not be any interpretation or reading between the lines. Also, I learned to take answers from multiple sources and interpret what we learned to use it as people do not know everything and ultimately we are the ones who made the decision ourselves. 

Exit counseling is necessary for borrowers to identify the repayment for their federal loans, whether they complete the program or leave school. Exit counseling should be completed no more than 30 days after the last day of attendance. This is a great way to refresh the students on their rights and responsibilities when borrowing with the federal government. 

I have been working hard on familiarizing myself with students' names, and I can tell it makes a difference! It seems like they feel more trusting and willing to be open and truthful, especially when they have the impression that you really know them. Our school utilizes sending home reference sheets for students to fill out and return before their packaging appointment, which definitely helps them take more ownership and responsibility for their participation in the process, alongside us as staff. 

By starting with a clean and clutter-free environment, this alone can help the students feel more at ease when discussing student loans and financing. Alongside that, it is important to continue to emphasize the importance of students remaining responsible for their student loans, not just at the beginning or the end of the process, but throughout the duration of their time with the school. Appropriate communication and repetition of financial aid tools can help students out for the long run. 

Through this module I learned that Title IV compliance is an institutional responsibility requiring a well-chosen cross-functional team. The CEO/President’s best role is assisting the Financial Aid Director in selecting members rather than running meetings or serving as the Capable Individual (who must have already demonstrated success in the role). Faculty should be included so they understand their impact on SAP through grades and attendance, and they are expected to follow the school’s written attendance policy. Typical members include the Registrar, Academic Deans, and Director of Public Safety, while roles like the media library director are usually not needed. I… >>>

It is surprising how much impact the Financial Aid Office can have on the student experience, even through small details: from the office environment and the way we communicate our messages to the empathy we show addressing each situation.

Our role is not limited to simply determining or managing tuition charges. We are part of the student experience from the very beginning, and maintaining transparent, clear, and consistent communication can lead to very positive results, not only in terms of student perception and satisfaction, but also in the university’s day-to-day operations.

As a financial aid person, I appreciate getting the more global view that includes Academics and Admissions and seeing how they need to interact and communicate well with each other and financial aid as well as our students.