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State News
Colorado | Montana | North Dakota
COLORADO
September 2001
Fall Greetings:
"You work at a college. It must be nice to have the summer off."
Aaarrgghh! How many times have you heard that refrain? Welcome to fall and the demands of the season. Fall brings us students, a new year (for most of us) and a Colorado update.
NASFAA Conference - Nashville (July 22-25)
I represented CAFAA at the NASFAA Conference in July. Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, endeared us with his tales of Irish youth and Buck McKeon, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning, provided political reality. Informative sessions, new products and services, committee meetings, networking, meeting old friends and finding your way around the "Opreyland Hotel" kept us very busy.
Federal Update: Congress returns and I'm not optimistic about funding for higher education. We were pessimistically predicting a $100 increase in the Pell grant, and now we're more pessimistic. Good news on that low loan interest rates, and we're pleased that there may be a limitation on the Drug Conviction Act - you may murder your mother, but stay away from drugs. Lots of savings plans out there - start your 529 now. And, we are Fedup. This year will be a pleasant reprieve before Reauthorization.
- State News:
- Funding 2001-02. We garnered an overall increase of 4.3% in overall education funding for 2001-02. Roger Koester thanked the Commission at their June meeting for their support in increasing the financial aid pot.
- CSOBA offers the Loan Incentive for Teachers (LIFT) program, a pilot teacher loan forgiveness opportunity for teachers in high demand disciplines. Beginning June 1, 2001 Colorado teachers may receive up to $2,000 in loan forgiveness per year.
- ColoradoMentor is a web-based program designed to provide students with an early awareness of educational opportunities within Colorado, inform students of the affordability and cost of an education, and help them apply for admission and financial aid. CSLP has purchased ColoradoMentor from XAP Corporation and the plan is to have it available January 1. Several other states have implemented the Mentor program with proven success. Most schools in Colorado will participate in providing information - there will be a session at the Fall Conference on Mentor.
CSLP 2001 Policy Conference (September 8-10): Thanks to Bob Fomer and Colorado Student Loan Program (CSLP) for hosting a Financial Aid Roundtable (this weekend as I write) for Colorado financial aid folks to develop an agenda, goals and objectives for financial aid in Colorado. CSLP and friends are paying for financial aid folks to attend the conference. Let's hear it for Bob and Friends! Now for us to create and implement a vision for financial aid in Colorado. More after the Roundtable.
CAFAA Conference: Pirates of the CAFAABBEAN. (October 8-10) Colorado folks will be meeting in Breckenridge at the Beaver Run Resort. Debbie Erickson and Committee have put together a great agenda. Biggest on the list is the Fashion Show on Tuesday - What to Wear in Financial Aid. The correct answer is clothes, though students today create a new definition of "what to wear...". Sessions on Verification and Taxes, Athletic Programs, Voc Rehab and an update by the Department and CCHE are on the agenda. Great to see old friends, too. Breckenridge in October is worth the trip!
Wishing for a summer off -
Karon
MONTANA
Conferences
The MASFAA Annual conference was held April 18-20, 2001 in Helena. Our 2002 conference will be held in Havre on April 17-19, 2002.
Officers
The MASFAA Execute Board:
Projects
MASFAA will offer Support Staff Training in Billings on October 1st and Helena on October 2nd. Trainers are Dana Freshly, MSU Great Falls, Shauna Savage, Montana Tech and Rikki Jones, Western Montana College.
Our High School Night committee met in July to discuss our MASFAA High School Night presentation and hope to have this ready for our fall high school visits.
The MASFAA website has a new address: www.masfaaonline.org
Janet Riis, Carroll College, will join Keith Carparelli, Student Assistance Foundation of Montana, as co-chair of the RMASFAA 2003 conference in Big Sky, MT.
NORTH DAKOTA
NDASFAA held it's annual conference in Dickinson April 9 - 11, 2001. The Professional Development Committee presented their final report regarding the Financial Aid Nights that were presented in January and February. There were 92 information nights held with a total of 6,853 miles traveled to the respective sites. There were 3,403 individuals personally contacted during these visits. Attendance ranged from four to 200 with an average attendance of 37.
Another event celebrated at the conference was the banquet and awards night. The following presentations were made by the out-going president, Bruce Helgerud:
Rookie of the Year Award - The purpose of this award is to encourage continued individual support to the financial aid profession. Within the last year the recipient made a significant "contribution" to the Association. The recognition can be either for an important single contribution or significant multiple contributions.
The 2001 recipients were Holly Schirado of Student Loans of North Dakota and Mary Anne Whitman of Education Assistance Corporation.
President's Award - The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has provided distinguished service to the membership of NDASFAA by their hard work, initiative and dedication. The person has exemplified their professionalism, high standards of conduct and service to the institution, students, and the State of North Dakota and NDASFAA.
The 2001 recipient was Jeff Jacobs of Bismarck State College.
The 25 year service award is given to recognize those individuals who have served in the financial aid profession and NDASFAA for 25 plus years.
The 2001 recipients were Jeanne Enebo of North Dakota State University and Bob Neas of North Dakota State University.
The current officers for NDASFAA are as follows:
President - Ryan Graalum, President-Elect - Lynn Aaberg, Treasurer - Ruth Gress, Secretary - Bob Parisien and Associate Member - Char Feist.
The newly elected officers for NDASFAA are as follows:
President - Lynn Aaberg, President-Elect - Katie Nettel, Treasurer - Ruth Gress, Secretary - Don Flaherty and Associate Member - Jean Rock.
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