Financial Aid Office
Memo
To:Roger Miller, Dennis Bertch, Carol Mallinson, Karrol McKay, Michael McCall, Steve Doherty, Ron Miazga, Carol Heeter, Heidi Stevens-Ratti, Mike Collins, Lisa Gartland
From:Sue Newington
CC:Institutional Research Council, Archive, Steven Gerike
Date:10/21/2018
Re:Financial Aid Advisory Council Minutes – February 14, 2006
Present:Miller, McCall, Newington, Miazga, Bertch, Mallinson
Absent:Collins, Stevens-Ratti, Gartland, McKay, Doherty
Approval of Minutes
Minutes from December 13, 2005 were approved as submitted.
Old Business
College Goal Sunday
Miller reported, KVCC hosted the third annual College Goal Sunday on February 12, 2006 from 2:00 – 4:00 in the Student Commons. There were approximately 105 people in attendance. There were 62 people in attendance for the Financial Aid Presentation and 67 people were assisted with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. Bob Bechtel did a fine job coordinating this event. Other KVCC staff in attendance were Joy Arra, Roger Miller, Mike Collins, Lisa Gartland, Natasha Kaur, and Sue Newington.
Balance Check Delivery Survey
Mallinson reported she did not keep copies of the survey results, however, she said it was an overwhelming majority of students who wanted to still obtain their balance checks in person at the Pay Station, rather than having them mailed.
Attendance Monitoring E-CARs
Miller reported that Electronic Class Attendance Reports (E-CARs) were tested during the initial attendance monitoring period of this 2006 winter semester by 12 faculty members. Faculty were very cooperative and complimentary of the new mechanism and provided useful input. The E-CAR system is in its final stage of development with plans for full implementation for the 2006 summer semester. He welcomed any thoughts or suggestions on how to promote the conversion from paper to electronic format. Miller stated this new mechanism for collecting attendance information will be a win-win for students, faculty, and administration.
Bookstore purchases at ACC using financial aid bookstore authorization
Miller reported students were able to use their financial aid bookstore authorization at the ACC during the first two days of the winter semester, January 9 and 10. About 50 students accessed their book authorizations at the ACC during this period. This will be continued for the first two days for the fall 2006 and winter 2007 semesters. It is unknown at this time if book authorizations will be available at the ACC for the summer semester. Miller stated this is another example where multiple departments at the College worked together to improve service level to students.
New Business
Scholarship Update
Newington distributed a listing of scholarships that are currently being promoted through the Financial Aid Office with a deadline date of February 24, 2006. Some of these scholarships did not have any eligible applicants during the fall semester, so they are being re-promoted for the winter semester. If we still don’t receive any eligible applicants, these scholarships will be reviewed with Steve Doherty to examine the eligibility criteria.
2006/2007 Federal Title IV Campus Based Program Authorization Tentative Funding Notification
Miller reported the tentative funding notification for the 2006/2007 Federal Title IV Campus Based Programs was received by the College. We received $138,661 in the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program, an increase of $3,609 over this year’s allocation. In the Federal Work Study program we received $169,720, an increase of $5,669.
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Newington distributed the Financial Aid Office Survey Summary from the 2005 fall semester. Discussion followed regarding conducting this survey through Zoomerrang. Newington will follow up on this.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Newington distributed the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress summary results from the 2005 fall semester. Newington noted that students in “good standing” were 7% less than the previous fall semester, but there was a 7% increase in those students who reached “maximum time frame”. Letters were mailed to those students who were on “probation”, “maximum time frame” and “terminated” prior to the Christmas break. Newington thanked the Financial Services Office for sending out bills, prior to the Christmas break, for those students on “maximum time frame” and “termination” status to allow them extra time to either pay their tuition bill (since their financial aid was backed out) or so they could contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if an appeal was warranted. Newington reported she reviewed 119 appeals regarding “maximum time frame” during the month of January, with the majority of them being reviewed the first couple of days upon return from Christmas break.
Attendance Monitoring – Winter 2006
Newington distributed a summary reflecting those students who were administratively dropped from their 2006 winter semester classes due to non-attendance. She reported 216 students were dropped. Out of these students, 98 of them had their financial aid adjusted based on their remaining enrollment. 17 students now owe money ($2,923.94). Newington sent these students letters stating the amount of money owed, and that holds have been placed on their accounts. Miazga mentioned that we need to remind faculty the definition of “pursuit of class”. This should be reviewed with department chairs as well as during seminar days.
Michigan Nursing Scholarship
Newington reported that she was able to award an additional four students (who were previously on the waiting list) the Michigan Nursing Scholarship for 2005/2006. A total of 42 students were awarded this scholarship for a total of $132,000 for 2005/2006.
Summer Awarding
Newington reported the Financial Aid Office is now accepting Summer Intent forms from students who are interested in financial aid for the 2006 summer semester. Summer Intent forms are available in the Financial Aid Office or on our website. Summer awarding will begin in early March. Newington reminded the group that all summer awarding is done manually.
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
Miller reported that President Bush signed into law the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on February 8, 2006. Administration projects the approved bill will reduce the federal deficit by $39 billion, with approximately $12 billion coming from the federal student loan programs over the next five years. The bulk of the $12 billion savings will come from cuts in government subsidies to lenders. Miller stated the bill carries multiple implementation dates of enactment, July 1, 2006 and others. At present, the watch phrase is stay tuned, we’re on hold until Department guidance is released.
On the topic of Federal legislation, Miller referenced the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended as the primary legislative piece governing Federal Student Financial Aid programs. He shared with the group that HEA is not permanent law and by design, has periodic expiration dates which requires reauthorization. This allows for review by vested parties and ensures that programs and funding remain true to its mission and purpose. The current HEA authorization is scheduled to expire March 31 of this year. He stated that it is our understanding that Congress will reauthorize in the near future rather than extend current law
Banner 7.0 Issues
Miller reported that Brenda VanderRoest has done a good job staying on top of banner issues that affect financial aid. She has worked diligently with Action Line to resolve outstanding issues. Dataloads and disbursements have been two of the most recent issues that have needed her attention. We are still working on the disbursement issue.
Other
Miller reported Gary Doll, our SCT Banner Trainer, will be on campus March 10, 2006 to assist with the annual financial aid roll-over to 06/07 and other banner operating system issues.
Miller reported that Bob Bechtel and Joy Arra recently attended the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association winter training session held in Kalamazoo at the Radisson on Jan. 29 – Feb. 1.
Miller reported the Department of Education released2004 “Draft” Cohort Default Rates. Our draft default rate was reported at 5.5% with $70,625 in default by 18 borrowers. He also mentioned that the Federal Government is beginning to look at the amount of dollars in default rather than just an institution’s default rate. This approach offers a more complete look at the default issue.
Miller reported that loan processing volume in the Financial Aid Office, as of the end of January, has increased 61.4% over last year.
Agenda Items Next Meeting
Miller asked that any agenda items for the next meeting be submitted to him or Newington.
Possible agenda items for next meeting: 1) Bob Bechtel report on information he learned from Banner Summit Training, 2) Scholarship Information Distribution.
Next Meetings
April 11, 2006 2:00 in Room 4370.
Meeting Adjourned
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