Not new, but attending a conference for the first time? Feel free to join us! Interested in being part of the Membership Committee? We'd love to have you!
A session designated to first-time conference goers and new members to learn more about WASFAA, the committees, and how to get involved.
MENU: Soup and Sandwich Bar Veggie burger, sliced roast beef, turkey and ham, tuna and chicken salad, assorted sliced cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, breads, rolls and pickles + condiments; choice of 2 soups (Tomato Bisque and Creamy Chicken and Rice)
Stressed? Busy? Want to resign from… adulthood? You may be struggling with a case of Adultitis™.
Make your escape! Find out how you can overcome Adultitis, that dreaded condition that leaves its victims jaded and overwhelmed, with super high stress levels. Jason believes life doesn’t have to be this way. He will help you begin to rediscover secrets from childhood, resulting in a more happy and fulfilling life. Relief is within reach, no matter how busy you may be.
By masterfully combining hilarious anecdotes, uplifting stories and powerful imagery, Jason shares witty observation and real-world techniques that will both entertain and inspire you to: -Get more done while having more fun. -Ignite passion and optimism for your work. -Lead a richer, more balanced life. -Learn easy tips on how to melt away built-up stress and fatigue.
Did you know there are countless rules you’re dutifully following every single day…that don’t actually exist? Even worse, they’re stressing you out, sapping your energy, and keeping you from living your best life. Jason will help you shed light on some of these surprising rules, and give you the tools you need for instigating what he calls small rebellions. Discover what small but mighty actions you can take today to turn your life into the fun, adventurous and exciting story you deserve.
If you have a clock hour program or if one is coming to your school, come to this session to learn about packaging, disbursement, and other rules associated with these programs.
Protecting student privacy is paramount. Understand what needs to be included in your school’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy and gain a working knowledge of how to ensure FERPA privacy requirements are met in real-world scenarios. Consider this course not just an introduction to the basics of FERPA, but also an in-depth guide to understanding the rights of students and their parents regarding student education records. The materials presented have been vetted by our privacy specialists to ensure that you get the most accurate and comprehensive assistance available.
This session will answer the following questions about repaying Private Loans: Why can’t lenders just adjust the loan terms to make it easier for students when they run into difficulty? What is a Private Consolidation Loan? Why consider a Private Loan Consolidation? What is the right time to complete a Private Consolidation Loan? You will leave this session with an understanding of Private Loan Consolidation so you may provide guidance to your students about what questions to ask when considering consolidating their Private Loans.
If you’ve got social media questions, we’ve got answers! Drop in for some one-on-one help with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, even Instagram—from starting an account to managing your office’s social media presence. If you have a question you’ve been afraid to ask in front of an audience, this is the place. Want someone to walk you through how to set up an account? We’re happy to do that too.
The Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety report was released in November of 2007 after the tragic event that occurred at Virginia Tech. Since that time, NWTC has developed a Behavioral Intervention Team (RISC) to identify and assess students of concern. This presentation will focus on the formation of a BIT, the process for identifying students that pose a threat to themselves or others, and the response of the BIT to create a success plan for all involved. Resources, training, and case studies will be shared to illustrate the learning path that NWTC has been on while navigating this very challenging topic.
People have different ways of handling conflict…This session looks at identifying your own communication style and how you tend to deal with conflict. It will also assist in identifying the communication style of people you encounter. Strategies for dealing with conflict will be discussed according to the situation and desired outcome.
Over the past year the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars has been working with various campus staff to create an alternative to the 'paper screen shots' currently used to provide FFWS with the financial aid data for the FFWS Grant recipients. In this session we will demonstrate the newly developed method and provide you with the information your campus will need. This session is designed for the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars campus contacts who are responsible for administering the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Grants at the WI Technical College campuses.
Create Connections with MASFAA by contributing your voice to MASFAA leadership. What services can MASFAA provide for WASFAA? What can MASFAA do to get WASFAA members involved?
On July 6, 2012, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was enacted which added a limit on first time borrower’s eligibility for Subsidized Direct Loans. On January 17, 2014, final regulations were published on the 150% Subsidized Loan Limit. This session will provide an overview of the requirements of this program.
The Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety report was released in November of 2007 after the tragic event that occurred at Virginia Tech. Since that time, NWTC has developed a Behavioral Intervention Team (RISC) to identify and assess students of concern. This presentation will focus on the formation of a BIT, the process for identifying students that pose a threat to themselves or others, and the response of the BIT to create a success plan for all involved. Resources, training, and case studies will be shared to illustrate the learning path that NWTC has been on while navigating this very challenging topic.
Over the past year the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars has been working with various campus staff to create an alternative to the 'paper screen shots' currently used to provide FFWS with the financial aid data for the FFWS Grant recipients. In this session we will demonstrate the newly developed method and provide you with the information your campus will need. This session is designed for the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars campus contacts who are responsible for administering the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Grants at the UW System campuses.
Are the complexities of working in a multi-generational environment leaving you frustrated? Although those differences can sometimes cause tension, they also create significant opportunities! This session will illustrate ways we can learn from each other and provide even more value in working with our students!
Unlike more visible under-represented groups, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and similarly identified (LGBT+) persons cannot be readily recognized. The goal of this session is to promote inclusivity and advocacy for LGBT+ people and their allies, as well as lay out some basic foundational knowledge for staff to more sensitively deal with issues faced by LGBT+ identified students and families. In addition, we will facilitate discussion of some issues specific to Financial Aid, including recent changes due to Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and other topics pertaining to LGBT+ students such as name changes, Dependency Overrides, and shelter instability in the LGBT+ communities.
In 2013-2014, the Member at Large roles were expanded to Coordinator roles for WASFAA Committees. Each Member at Large communicates with 3 committee co-chairs to help with structuring goals, present updates to the Executive Committee, and ask for any required resources. These meetings are an open invitation for the membership to learn about these committees – accomplishments over the past year and goals for the future. The Members at Large will moderate these open sessions. Visit one or more to learn how you too can play a greater role in your profession!
In 2013-2014, the Member at Large roles were expanded to Coordinator roles for WASFAA Committees. Each Member at Large communicates with 3 committee co-chairs to help with structuring goals, present updates to the Executive Committee, and ask for any required resources. These meetings are an open invitation for the membership to learn about these committees – accomplishments over the past year and goals for the future. The Members at Large will moderate these open sessions. Visit one or more to learn how you too can play a greater role in your profession!
In 2013-2014, the Member at Large roles were expanded to Coordinator roles for WASFAA Committees. Each Member at Large communicates with 3 committee co-chairs to help with structuring goals, present updates to the Executive Committee, and ask for any required resources. These meetings are an open invitation for the membership to learn about these committees – accomplishments over the past year and goals for the future. The Members at Large will moderate these open sessions. Visit one or more to learn how you too can play a greater role in your profession!
In 2013-2014, the Member at Large roles were expanded to Coordinator roles for WASFAA Committees. Each Member at Large communicates with 3 committee co-chairs to help with structuring goals, present updates to the Executive Committee, and ask for any required resources. These meetings are an open invitation for the membership to learn about these committees – accomplishments over the past year and goals for the future. The Members at Large will moderate these open sessions. Visit one or more to learn how you too can play a greater role in your profession!
This session utilizes John Kotter’s Eight Stage Process for navigating major change to give you a practical guide to how you can become a change agent on your campus. With so many challenges facing financial aid offices, it’s good to have a plan to lead major change initiatives for your office!
Are the complexities of working in a multi-generational environment leaving you frustrated? Although those differences can sometimes cause tension, they also create significant opportunities! This session will illustrate ways we can learn from each other and provide even more value in working with our students!
An overview of major veteran and active duty benefits, especially benefits that are specific to Wisconsin public system campuses and how these benefits impact financial aid.
Representative Joan Ballweg (R-41st Assembly District) serves on the Assembly Committee on Colleges & Universities and served as a member of the 2012 HEAB Commission on Financial Aid Consolidation and Modernization. Senator Fred Risser (D-26th Senate District) serves on the Joint Legislative Council and introduced TIP Grant bill to modify continuous enrollment. Several bills pertaining to the WI Higher Education Grant, the Talent Incentive Grant and the new Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship program have been introduced in the WI Legislature this year, along with a measure to create the WI Student Loan Refinancing Authority, designed to help residents refinance federal and private loans at the lowest possible rate. Join Representative Ballweg and Terry Tuschen, Senator Risser’s Chief of Staff, in a behind-the-scenes view of how legislative activity takes place at the state level and find out how members of the financial aid community can participate.
Human beings are social creatures. We live and work in community with one another. Relationships are critical to our emotional and mental well-being. Study after study has shown that a strong social network is a major factor in good health and longevity. But relationships are not always easy. We inevitably disappoint and fail in our interactions. We have unreasonable expectations. Transgressions left unaddressed begin to fester and create divisions among us. In contrast, healthy relationships are built on trust, grace, and a commitment to work through any issue that may come up. The ability to relate intelligently is foundational to one’s personal, professional, and organizational success. Like so many worthwhile pursuits in life, maintaining healthy relationships is challenging, but infinitely worth it.
This session is for offices that already use social media to communicate with students and want some advanced training. Learn how to optimize your messages for social media, efficiently manage multiple accounts (including the pros & cons of linking them), increase your exposure on campus, and start to think about how you’ll assess your efforts. If time allows, we’ll have an open discussion about the successes and challenges you’ve faced while using social media for the financial aid office.
Successful people have certain characteristics in common. These individuals are in our circles. They encourage us, inspire us...we are better for having known them. Over ten years ago, I made a list of my favorite people on earth and began to examine their influence and what made them so special. They achieved much in their personal lives as well as in their work. I found that each of them was a S.T.A.R. and I uncovered their secrets on how they became that way. Join us as we unpack essential, practical, and life-altering information that you can put into practice today.
Join members of the Federal Issues Committee to discuss the hot topics surrounding verification. What information are you requesting to verify students with a V6 tracking flag? Are you encountering a lot of questions regarding Unmarried Parents Living Together? Are you selecting students for verification when the marital status does not match the tax filing status? Come ready to participate in this panel discussion on the 14-15 verification changes!
Are your students confused about how to answer dependency questions on the FAFSA? When should you consider a dependency override? We’ll review ways to help your students while maintaining compliance.
We as financial aid professionals know our students need financial literacy education, but do our students know what financial literacy means? Do you want to help educate your students that financial literacy is just as important as their academic career? Attend this session to learn how two Wisconsin colleges used grant funds to hire financial literacy coaches. These financial literacy coaches function as gatekeepers—requiring students to visit them before being allowed to access emergency grant applications, academic plans for satisfactory academic programs, loan counseling, and more. Learn how to educate your students in getting fiscally fit!
Come hear how these financial literacy coaches are inserting financial literacy lessons into other processes – including emergency grant applications, academic plans for satisfactory academic progress, loan counseling, and many more.
Participants will learn how the coaches collaborate with all offices on campus, including the financial aid office, to ensure students are learning the skills they need to be successful while in college and after graduation.
