An overview of the options and opportunities postsecondary institutions should consider when developing plans for student aid automation is provided. The role of automation in the financial aid office, interfaces with institutional and external systems, alternative approaches to automation, and the need for an institutional strategy for automation…

The Graduate Funding Resource System, a relatively inexpensive solution to the problem of identifying potential financial support for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty at the University of Washington is described. Plans are underway to offer the search service on a wider basis. (MLW)

Characteristics of student financial aid systems are reported and a framework for evaluating student financial aid systems and classifying major data processing designs is presented. The goals of a student financial aid system are discussed, including improved service to students, increased utilization of available funds, compliance with…