This article is the third of a three-part series based on the book, "Basic Guide to Financial Aid," which recently won NASFAA's Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award. The contents within are adapted from the publication, with additional emphasis on the impact federal student aid administration has on non-financial aid professionals in higher…

The Administrative Capability Task Force was convened by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) to deliver a report containing recommendations that could provide better support for financial aid offices, ensuring they are able to meet administrative capability standards. The task force comprised a geographically…

The upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 provides opportunities and presents challenges for financial aid administrators. This article outlines steps that aid administrators can take and challenges they may face in preparing for and responding to new legislation.

More than three-quarters of postsecondary institutions (79 percent) would prefer expanding the current Perkins Loan program rather than replacing it with the Direct Perkins Loan program being proposed in Congress, according to a recent survey of NASFAA-member schools. In fact, increasing unsubsidized Stafford Loan limits (80 percent) and lowering…

In December 2005, purchasing agents at Florida International University issued a request for proposals seeking banks and student-loan companies for a list of "preferred lenders" that the university planned to give to prospective borrowers. The request alone was not unusual. Many colleges use competitive bidding to secure attractive terms…

This study was conducted to determine how often federal financial aid recipients received aid that was greater than their federally defined need and what cost or other implications might result from changing the Higher Education Act (HEA) to limit such aid. Data came from the 1999-2000 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study for full-time,…

This manual addresses federal sources of aid for undergraduate students seeking to study overseas with emphasis on the requirements and administrative aspects of programs funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. These issues are addressed in five chapters: (1) "Governmental Financial Aid: Kinds, Sources, and…

The third of a 17-module self-instructional course on student financial aid administration, this module offers a systematic introduction to the management of federal financial aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act to novice financial aid administrators and other institutional personnel. It teaches the administrator to…

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) has initiated a program in which practicing student aid professionals, on request, conduct a thorough review of a college or university's student aid operation, using comprehensive assessment materials and tools developed by NASFAA. The review examines program compliance,…

This guide is intended to assist institutions of higher education as they evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of their administration of financial aid programs and compliance with federal laws and regulations, especially Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The guide goes beyond federal requirements to include other good administrative…

This guide is intended as a self-evaluation questionnaire for those institutions conducting internal reviews of financial aid programs and of their compliance with federal regulations. It addresses recommended good administrative practices with a view to minimizing incidents of misrepresentation and providing a clear audit trail. Title IV programs…

This Congressional hearing report is intended to provide a broad overview of the current state of higher education and establish a foundation for future hearings on more specific topics concerned with the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Issues addressed in the report include: costs of going to college; characteristics of those who go…

This report lists recommendations approved by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and is intended to be submitted to U.S. Congressional hearings scheduled for fall 1997. It covers nine major areas: (1) grant-loan imbalances; (2) level playing field loan issues;…

This report on the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) Program in the California community colleges discusses the repayment of student loans and recommends strategies for reducing default rates. Introductory material highlights the following trends: (1) financial aid programs for low-income students have failed to keep pace with demand; (2) by 1983,…

This guide to undergraduate and graduate student loan programs focuses primarily on program administration and management in the context of student loan repayment and collection. By incorporating regulatory requirements with practical suggestions on managing student loan programs, the book provides a framework and a guide for those who are…