A Few Questions with Shauna Savage
Financial Aid Specialist at Montana Tech of the University of MT
President of the Montana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

1. Exchange: Shauna, how long have you at Montana Tech? What other jobs have you had in the world of financial aid?

Shauna: I have been working at Montana Tech for 15 years, including time as a work-study student. I began my Financial Aid career as a work-study employee in May of 1991. In December of 1993, I joined the team as a full-time employee and was responsible for the work-study and regular student employment on campus along with being the first contact person for the office. In November of 1995, I was hired as the Scholarship and Loan coordinator. With this position, I was responsible for the FFELP, Perkins and Peter Potter Loans and all of the outside and campus scholarships. On July 1, 2005, I was hired as the Financial Aid Specialist. Now I oversee all of the other job positions that I have held and I am responsible for Pell reconciliation, working with COD, EDConnect, all of the testing for Banner, and all access reporting. I really do love it and love that it is always challenging.

2. Exchange: This year, you are serving as the President of MASFAA. What are some of the projects and initiatives that you hoped to accomplish in your role?

Shauna: We had what seems to be a record amount of turnover in the Financial Aid Offices in Montana. Getting all of the new staff around the state trained and networked became the priority. Therefore, last October we held support staff training in Helena and had more than 50 in attendance.

3. Exchange: Tell us about Montana Tech of the University of Montana. What are a few things that you think are unique about your school?

Shauna: Montana Tech is mostly known for its science and engineering, although many other programs have become more known such as our Nursing program and Health Care Informatics. Our students participate and excel in national and international academic competitions. These students always amaze me. Our faculty is also outstanding. They really take an interest in each student. Our small student-to-faculty ratio probably helps this significantly. In fact, it was one of my professors that recommended me for the work-study position in FA. I am also continually impressed with our students. They work hard, go after good internships, and are very successful.

4. Exchange: How many folks work in your office? Tell us a bit about the team.

Shauna: Our office consists of the Financial Aid Director, Mike Richardson, two Administrative Assistants, Tressa Johnson and Sylvia Hiltz, one Financial Aid Specialist, me, and a work-study student, as soon as we can get one hired. Tressa, who is on the RMASFAA training committee, was our work-study student for almost 5 years, and lucky for us, she was scheduled to graduate right when we needed a new permanent employee and she wanted to stay in Financial Aid. Sylvia was a work-study student in the learning center at our College of Technology. She graduated at the top of her class in May and joined our team last September. They both are very committed to our students and I think that we all work very well as a team. Everyone is very willing to bring something forward that needs attention or a better way to do it. Mike is very supportive of all of us and allows us to run with an idea.

5. Exchange: What are a few of the challenges and changes you see on the horizon for your office?

Shauna: Hopefully none for awhile, at least in personnel. I think the past year has been enough of a challenge. Everyone in a new roll and having so much to learn, plus we started using electronic award letters and Perkins Promissory Notes. However, change will happen with technology and new programs. I think that making sure the two new grant programs are administrated correctly could be the biggest challenge. Also, after 15 years of saying $2625 for freshman, it’ll be a challenge for me to remember to say $3500. I like to think positively that although it probably is not the path I would have liked to see, at least some students will receive more funding for school.

6. Exchange: How about Montana Tech as whole? What challenges and changes are they facing?

Shauna: This semester we had a very positive challenge. It has been finding enough room for our largest incoming freshman class in ten years. Our residence halls are bursting at the seams. New changes for the campus in the next few years will be, hopefully, a new Natural Resources Building and a new Alumni Center.

7. Exchange: Tell us about your family and what you do for fun and relaxation.

Shauna: I have been married for ten years to my very supportive husband, Randall. We have two beautiful and outgoing girls, McKenna and Megan. McKenna is seven and has just started second grade. She is involved in dance, Irish Dance, swimming, basketball and baseball. Megan is three and will be starting pre-school this fall. She can’t wait to follow her sister’s foot steps. She’s just thrilled that she will be starting dance this year just like her big sister.

For fun as a family, we are football season ticket holders for the University of Montana Grizzlies. I think the girls’ first words may have been “Go Griz!” We also love to travel. My friends claim my girls have been more places than they have. We also spend a lot of time watching dance performances and games. For "just me" time, I enjoy scrapbooking all of our memories.