The document discusses various roles and responsibilities within financial aid departments at different universities, highlighting the need for flexibility, collaboration, and communication among staff. It emphasizes the challenges faced, such as changing demographics and budget constraints, while stressing the importance of student success and adaptation to the evolving financial aid landscape. Additionally, it references resources and professional organizations that support financial aid administrators and related professionals.

1. StudentAffairsSub-Unit:
Financial Aid

2. South Dakota State University
Bowdoin
College
Florida Atlantic
University

3. Suzanne Paton Beth Vollan
Andrea Cross Stephanie Haines
Bowdoin
Senior Associate
Director
Bowdoin
Associate Director
SDSU
Assistant Director
FAU
Compliance
Officer

4. Job Duties
“It depends on the time of year.”
Financial counseling
State auditing and Federal reporting
General trouble shooting
Need to wear a lot of different hats

5. Career Path
Masters in Criminology
Bachelors in Religion
Bachelors in History and Political Science
Masters in Political Science
Bachelors in Political Science
Masters in Higher Education
“Most people
just kind of
stumble into
Financial Aid.”
Bachelors in Physical Education
Masters in Physical Science

6. Financial Aid
Department of Education
The Institution
Students
Institutions in the State System
Student
Affairs
State
Regulations
Federal
Audits

7. Schools in their state network + Digests
State, regional, and software conferences
Staying Updated

8. Staying Updated

9. Leading Journals

10. Hot Topics
Support:
Changing demographics
Funding:
Loans and borrowing
Government:
Veterans Benefits

11. Challenges
“No one really has time or budget to go
to [conferences] anymore...”
“Even if you give a lot of aid it doesn’t
mean they won’t struggle.”
Budget Students Struggling Emotionally Draining

12. Overall, Financial Aid collaborates with certain
offices depending on the time of the year
Collaboration
BursarDean of Students Off-Campus Studies

13. When you work for an institution, it's
not that you have to be the best.
You have to work together to achieve
the common goal:
student success
“
”

14. Best Aspects
“Making the work happen at the right
time for the right people.”
“Working with a team of people to
accomplish something &
accomplishing something GOOD.”
Opening Doors Future Planning Collaboration

15. Hiring
Teamwork
Multi-tasking Flexibility
Communication

16. Career Advice
Need a sense of humor & willingness to be independent
Integrity (FERPA and sensitive materials)
You can’t make mistakes - if you do you HAVE to own it
“You have to be able to explain these confusing financial aid terms
to people of all walks of life and levels of education.”

17. Thank you

18. Alex M Stewart
Assistant Residential Education Coordinator
Housing and Residential Education
alexandriast2018@fau.edu
Bit.ly/alexmstewart

19. Resources and References
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO):
professional organization for college and university business officers and financial administrators
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA): leading association
for student affairs professionals
National Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA): Professional
organization for financial aid administrators
National Association of Fellowship Advisors (NAFA): national organization for college
personnel who advise students who are applying for prestigious scholarships and fellowships
National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP): national
association for state grant and loan programs

20. Leading Journal References
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) College and
University Journal: ideas, innovations, and opinions on things relating to registrars, admissions officers, and enrollment
managers nationwide
NASFAA Journal of Student Financial Aid: areas of significance in the field of postsecondary financial aid
Journal of Higher Education: topics and information on Higher Education and Student Affairs
The New York Times Blog – The Choice: college admissions advice blog that has information on contemporary issues
on both the internal and external areas of financial aid

21. Hot Topics References
Support: Financial Aid and College Persistence
Funding: The Unaffordable Era
Government: The Academy in Crisis