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CASFAA President's Highlights

by Anafe Robinson, CASFAA President

Hello CASFAA. Winter came and went. It’s definitely been a challenging time and I hope you all are taking time for self care where you can. We have some of the most dedicated student service professionals and we know you are all working to ensure students are as minimally impacted by current events as possible. Please know you are in good and strong company. We encourage you to keep connected with colleagues, even if that is done more online than usual. Your executive council is also here to help, so please reach out to us if you have questions.
 
In other news, I had the pleasure to attend the NASFAA Leadership and Legislative Conference and Expo along with Wendy Wang, our Treasurer-Elect.  We both attended the Association Leadership Pathway which gave us the skills and knowledge to support our roles for the association.  Following the intensive two-day conference, we joined WASFAA for the Hill Visits at the Capitol and met with staffers from the Senate HELP Committee and the House Committee on Education and Workforce Committee.  The purpose of the Hill Visit is to advocate for continued access to financial aid for our students to ensure student success, as well as provided recommendations to policy and administrative issues relating to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.  Go to NASFAA's Advocacy webpage to additional information.

DOE Offers Coronavirus Interim Guidance

by Deb Agee, CASFAA VP Federal Issues

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, our state and institutions of higher education are taking action to afford protections and resources. As of Thursday, March 12, 51 people have died in the U.S. in connection with the virus and more than 30 states have identified cases. Governor Gavin Newsom recently declared a State of Emergency to provide formalize emergency actions already in progress across multiple agencies and departments. President Trump also declared a National Emergency to open federal funding for impacts of the virus.

In response to a faculty member testing positive for COVID-19, Stanford University became the first institution in the nation to move classes online (if possible) for the last two weeks of the term. Finals will be offered in a take-home format. Campus tours have been canceled, as have events for prospective students originally scheduled for April. Many other universities have followed suit since.

In response to this rapidly changing environment, the Education Department (ED) issued interim guidance March 5 offering flexibility to assist financial aid administrators as we grapple with how best to provide support services to our students. Scenarios covered in the interim guidance include: 
  • A student was enrolled or was supposed to begin a travel-abroad experience and either the student has been called back to the U.S. or was never able to begin the travel abroad experience;
  • A student was enrolled in a program and met the requirements for full-time enrollment; however, due to the COVID-19, one or more classes – such as an internship, a clinical rotation, student teaching or fieldwork – have been cancelled and now the student has fallen below the 12 credit hour minimum and is no longer considered to be a full-time student;
  • A student is quarantined and misses class or a student is incapacitated due to COVID-19 illness;
  • A campus temporarily stops offering ground-based classes in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
  • A foreign school that serves U.S. students who participate in title IV programs temporarily suspends operations due to COVID-19.
Intentional and collaborative planning are key during this uncertain time. If you have questions about how other campuses may be preparing and are not in contact with other colleagues from other campuses, feel free to contact your segmental representative or executive council members.

Tax Training for Professionals


Last month over 500 Financial Aid Professionals from across the state attended “Tax Training for Professionals”!  Robert Weinerman, Director of Training for Iron Bridge Resources, tackled some of the most important hot topics including the new 2019 tax form, such as changes in the tax code to revised kiddie tax rules (not kidding)!  None of our workshops would be successful without the generosity of school hosts who provide free space on their busy campuses.  

Fun Fact: Did you know that CASFAA is the only state association that offers this high level extensive tax training to its members?  More to come at this year’s conference. See you in Santa Clara!
-- Kim Thomas, Tax Training
 

High School Relations Update

 

by Jennyfer PulidoLuanne Canestro, CASFAA HS Relations Co-chairs 

The 2020 High School Counselor Committee is busy working with CSAC to deliver financial aid training this fall for our high school counselors and community partners. Training will begin mid-August and run through early November. This year we anticipate hosting about 50 workshops. We will be adding 4 new locations including Mendocino College, Barstow Community College, San Jose City College and Cerro Coso Community College. 

We are always looking for volunteers to host and present on federal updates, review of the FAFSA and special circumstance situations.  Volunteers receive in depth speaker notes and training. If you’ve been thinking about ways to get involved with CASFAA with sparse time, enjoy presenting, or want to grow professionally, please reach out to one of the committee’s co-chairs to get plugged in!

State Issues Update


by Bronwyn Garrison, CASFAA VP State Issues

Day at the Capitol 2020- Let your voice be heard!
 
CASFAA continues to partner with CCCSFAA to advocate for financial aid topics related to students and our professional community. If you have areas of concern on current financial aid legislation, please reach out to your Executive Council Segmental Representative or you can email me. We take feedback from our members, deliver it straight to Sacramento and advocate on behalf of you and our students. It is a great opportunity to have your voice heard by those who craft state policy.
 
Update on Cal Grant Proposed Reform

In addition to Day at the Capitol,  CASFAA segmental representatives in partnership with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will provide recommendations on Cal Grant Reform to our State Legislature. These include consolidating the seven different Cal Grant programs into two awards where financial need is based on EFC. One program will be geared for students attending a community colleges which will no longer have GPA or age requirements. The second program is geared towards four-year institutions in the state which will continue to provide funding for tuition, adding the first year funding for Cal B students. Want to learn more? Visit CSAC’s site for the proposed plan.
 
In other news

The CA Dreamer Service Incentive Grant Program applications should be available starting July 2020. Additionally, plan for manual processes similar to the Student with Dependents program for the fast approaching Golden State Teacher Grant. Students will be able to apply to CSAC as early as the second week of March, with online training coming soon.
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Copyright © 2020 California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, All rights reserved.


CASFAA mailing address for payments is:
Stanford University
c/o Carl Gottbrecht
Montag Hall/Financial Aid Office
355 Galvez Street
Stanford, CA 94305-6106

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