This guide provides information for schools considering whether to participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, and it offers advice on how to plan for and operate the loan program at an individual school. The information in the guide is presented in a way that follows the steps that need to be taken in planning and implementing the…

Peer counseling is an effective way for financial aid offices to increase productivity and enhance the quality of their services. Students turn naturally to other, more experienced, students for advice, but unless their peers are properly trained, they can provide erroneous or biased information. Training for financial aid peer counselors should…

The Office of Financial Aid at the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is effectively providing service for a population of over 11,000 students each quarter, making and maintaining more than 1,500 combined initial and mortified awards packages and processing over 2,000 applications during the academic year. The philosophy of…

The author discusses the impact of the reauthorized Higher Education Act on financial aid, especially as it applies to proprietary schools. He suggests ways that such schools' administrators can update themselves on this topic. (CH)

As computer systems play a larger role in student financial aid, the aid officer needs at least some expertise in computer programing. The advantages of the BASIC computer language for learning computer programing are discussed. The kinds of programs that can be written by the financial aid officer are identified. (MLW)

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,…

A survey of financial aid directors at all two-year colleges in four states measured differences between the administrators' desired and actual role functions. Analysis and implications of the results are presented. (MSE)

This primer is intended to provide college financial aid professionals with a background in fundamental areas of economics. Its goal is to provide a stronger understanding of the key principles that shape need analysis systems. Part 1 presents basic economic concepts and discusses their application to college enrollment and student aid. These…

Colleges can and should do much to improve the management of financial aid offices in a time of reduced funds. Exemplary programs provide a framework for improvement, consisting of two key elements: assessment of office management needs based on the overall campus structural development and good basic management procedures. (Author/MSE)

Five thousad position advertisements, which appeared in "The Chronicle of Higher Education," were examined. Three aspects of the positions advertised in financial aid were examined: the time and location by state of the advertisements, the nature of the position being advertised, and areas of skill, knowledge and job responsibility. (MLW)

The growing sense of professionalism within the financial aid community has led to the development of professional associations gathering periodically to talk about standards and procedures. Ethics related to the management of financial aid are discussed. (MLW)

Discusses complexity of federal financial aid programs; differences between financial aid and other student services; relationship of federal government and financial aid offices; verification procedures; the role of auditors; and needed simplification and improved administration of federal financial aid programs. (ABL)

The present and future training needs of financial aid practitioners (financial aid officers, counselors, and support staff personnel) at Arizona colleges and government agencies were assessed. Attention was directed to the literature on training and programs for financial aid practitioners, as well as the possibilities of developing a…

The latitude (professional judgment) aid administrators might exercise in departing from the need analysis formula for campus-based financial award purposes is discussed. Three areas are discussed: politics, practice, and principles. (MLW)

It will be easier for financial aid offices to have automated interfaces with federal systems than to maintain manual, paper-based exchanges. Guidance on how to structure a planning process that will take advantage of this new environment are provided. Institutional decisions will depend on past and current practice. (MLW)