A growing and often unidentified segment of students on campuses who are hidden in plain sight are those who are homeless. In 2019, the national average for homelessness at two- and four-year institutions in the United States was between 14-16% (Baker-Smith et al., 2020). For these students, very small issues can become huge problems, such as the…

The violence of incarceration creates greater responsibility for higher education administrators in supporting students who are in prison. Using focus group data with incarcerated students and formerly incarcerated alumni who participated in or are actively participating in Second Chance Pell, we explore their perceptions and understandings of the…

Financial aid programs are supposed to improve access and affordability in higher education (Gillen, 2009). The effectiveness of these programs is increasingly being questioned as college attainment figures stagnate and the financial burden on students and families continues to climb year after year. The purpose of this study was to examine the…

In what kind of job environment are financial aid administrators (FAA) currently working? How satisfied are they with their jobs? What motivates them and what factors are considered morale dampers? How are financial aid (FA) functions viewed by campus' top administrators? Does FA get similar respect and appreciation from their campus peer offices…

In a personal reminiscence, a financial aid officer describes the initiation into a profession proliferated by paperwork and jargon. Comparisons are made between experiences in a small college and an urban university. (LBH)

A survey designed to identify financial aid administration strengths and weaknesses specific to New York is summarized. Survey questions focused on the work environment and the training needs of the state's financial aid community. Results cover profile of respondents, training needs, salaries, job-related characteristics, conferences attended,…

The findings of a 1988 survey of minority financial aid administrators are summarized as part of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) in addressing the needs of the minority financial aid community. The results are compared to those of a 1982 Task Force study which also…

The results of the most recent survey (summer and fall of 1988) by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators to investigate national patterns of salaries and staffing in financial aid offices are presented. Information is on 2,481 financial aid offices is organized into the following categories: characteristics of responding…

The revised immigration system, the requirement that administrators verify the accuracy of information on student aid applications before they distribute money, and demands on administrators to spend more time helping students to budget their money were discussed at the annual meeting of the National Association of Student Financial Aid…

The fifth and final article in a series on the role of the chief business official presents the officials' rating of the relative importance of eight major issues over the next three years. (MLF)

The interactions of student financial aid offices with other campus offices, government agencies, and private groups are described. Campus groups that interact with the financial aid office include the following: campus veterans affairs office, student affairs office/dean of students, recruitment staff, campus registrar, chief executive officer,…

Virginia has developed a state training program for student financial aid administrators. It is coordinated with two previously separate programs, is cost efficient, and has resolved the issues of who should train, what materials should be included, when training should be conducted, and where training should occur. (JMD)

The role of middle-management in college administration is addressed. Focus is on financial aid officers who are good representatives of the major dilemmas faced by middle-managers. For example: their contact with students is limited by paperwork duties; they must look off-campus for training and recognition; and federal regulations greatly affect…

The institutional programmatic and workload factors that have influential effects on the costs of administering the student financial aid (SFA) service were studied, based on a survey of 51 public universities. Thirty-two of the sample were chosen due to their similarities with the University of Florida, and the remaining were members of the…

The fourth in a series of articles on the chief business official in public school districts examines the officials' access to computers. Data are summarized in seven tables that categorize responses by enrollment size. (MLF)