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Members of the Association recognize that one of the purposes of the Association is to provide training and informational services to its members through training conferences and periodic written and electronic material. While the Association shall utilize its best efforts to provide its members with the most current information available, there can be no assurances or warranty that any such information provided to the members is correct or has not been superseded or that more current information is not available. Furthermore, the Association can give no assurances or warranty that its interpretation of any rule, regulation, or statute will be in conformance with any present or future interpretation of such rule, regulation or statute by any appropriate governmental authority. Accordingly, each member shall hold the Association harmless from any claims, damages, or liability resulting from such member’s use of any information, data, or interpretations as provided to such member by the Association.
Type: Concurrent Session clear filter
Wednesday, May 21
 

3:15pm EDT

Do you know how to use the SAVE system?
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room Q
Have you had students come in with that dreaded C-Flag for secondary confirmation of Immigration Status? Do you second guess what you should do with it and pray that the student just 'disappears' or pays and doesn't ask questions? Then this session is for you! Come learn what to do when you get that flag and how to use the SAVE system.
Moderators
TY
Presenters
ES
CR
MP
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:15pm EDT

FISAP Tips & Tricks
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room D
Join us for a focused session where essential tips and tricks for Financial Aid Administrators (FAAs) are shared in navigating the FISAP process. Learn how to effectively utilize spreadsheets, SQL, and other tools to streamline your submissions and enhance accuracy. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your FISAP completion skills!
Moderators
NF
Presenters
NS
JW
BT
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room D Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:15pm EDT

Getting to Know Private Student Loans: Myth vs. Fact
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room R
Private student lending has grown exponentially in the last few years as the need gap has grown. This session will address the common concerns and misconceptions that schools may have regarding creating a list of pre-screened private student loan lenders. Students often rely solely on internet searches to make the important decision of which loan is best for them. The session will: Explain why it is important for FA Offices to assist students with this important decision, discuss tools FA Offices can use to pre-screen lenders, provide information on tools for application, lender choice and ensure schools remain in compliance when assisting students in choosing a lender (ELM, Scholarnet, etc.), address the questions most often asked by schools during RFI process of screening lenders for their list
Moderators
EB
Presenters
AW
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:15pm EDT

Navigating R2T4 with Modules: Beyond the Basics
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room F+G
In this session, we are going beyond the basic R2T4 calculation and diving deep into the module rules and exemptions. Learn how to identify students who do and do not meet exemption requirements and enjoy really specific and weird examples with multiple modules.
Moderators
CG
Presenters
JM

Jaime Missimer

MS President-Elect
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Room F+G Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:15pm EDT

State Program Regulations & Procedures
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Mahler Hall
A delivery of the FY 2026 (7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026) Program Regulations and Procedures with upcoming Enhancements.
Moderators
BC
Presenters
PS
Wednesday May 21, 2025 3:15pm - 4:10pm EDT
Mahler Hall Floor 1
  Concurrent Session

4:20pm EDT

GA Independent, Private, & Proprietary
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room R
Georgia Independent, Private, & Proprietary Institutions Sector Meeting
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:20pm EDT

TCSG
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room Q
Technical College System of Georgia Sector Meeting
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:20pm EDT

USG
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Rooms K+L
University System of Georgia Sector Meeting
Wednesday May 21, 2025 4:20pm - 5:00pm EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session
 
Thursday, May 22
 

9:00am EDT

Hey...Focus! Finding professional and personal success through managing 'squirrel moments'
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room F+G
Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) face unique challenges that can impact their productivity and overall well-being. Managing these conditions at the workplace requires a comprehensive understanding of their characteristics and the implementation of appropriate strategies. In this presentation, we will explore practical approaches that can help all individuals who simply lack in focus. All can thrive in the workplace, enhancing their professional potential while maintaining personal wellness. Together, employers and employees can cultivate an inclusive work environment that will benefit both individuals and the organization.
Moderators
JS
Presenters
LM

Lou Murray

Earnest
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room F+G Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

9:00am EDT

Leadership: Navigating Teams in a Chaotic World.
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room D
This session will explore effective tools and guidance leaders can use to navigate their teams in a chaotic world. Figuring out how to lead effectively in an increasingly polarized world is challenging. One of the toughest challenges that leaders of all organizations face is managing diverse perspectives. This session will explore what leaders can do to turn down the temperature on outrage and foster productive disagreement. A discussion will be led on an overview of the current state of outrage in society, understanding outrage, strategic leadership in a polarized world, and practical steps for leadership.

Book Reference-The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World by Karthik Ramanna.
Moderators
LD
Presenters
WP
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room D Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

9:00am EDT

NASFAA Core: Direct Loans
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room R
Join us for a fun and engaging session all about the NASFAA Direct Loan Credential! Get ready to dive into the essentials of federal student loans, mastering loan origination, and understanding borrower benefits. We’ll cover key topics like loan limits, eligibility, and the intricacies of repayment plans. Let’s unlock the ins and outs of Direct loans together!
Moderators
MP
Presenters
JR
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

9:00am EDT

SAI Calculation
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room Q
Would you like an insider's look at how the Student Aid Index (SAI) figure is calculated? Have you completed numerous EFC hand calculations but now you need to learn how to calculate a SAI? Then this session is for you! In this hands-on session, we will walk through how to calculate the SAI for two students. These hand calculations will be based upon real-life examples.
Moderators
JR
Presenters
MP
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

9:00am EDT

State Program Regulations & Procedures
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Rooms K+L
A delivery of the FY 2026 (7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026) Program Regulations and Procedures with upcoming Enhancements.
Moderators
SB
Presenters
PS
Thursday May 22, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

10:15am EDT

From Confusion to Clarify: How Targeted Financial Aid Counseling Impacts Student Retention and Aid Eligibility
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Rooms F+G
This session will focus on preliminary data from a doctoral research project that evaluates a new financial aid counseling intervention for first-year students at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. The study aims to discover whether students’ lack of understanding of the financial aid process and eligibility requirements for federal, state, and institutional aid may be a contributing factor to poor retention and increased withdrawal rates. We will discuss retention and eligibility data for students who both did and did not attend a counseling session, as well as students’ attitudes towards the financial aid counseling based on survey data.
Moderators
CS
Presenters
JM

Jaime Missimer

MS President-Elect
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Rooms F+G Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

10:15am EDT

Identifying and Supporting Delinquent Loan Borrowers: Strategies for Effective Intervention
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Room Q
It's happened, finally.....everyone has gone back into repayment as of October 1, 2024....or did they? Let's talk about "How to pull data from NSLDS", "What to do with your NSLDS data regarding your current open cohort years" and "How to move forward" - where do we go from here? We will talk about all the updates and changes with servicers, repayment plans and how to get ahead before your CDR isn't zero any longer.
Moderators
SH
Presenters
SJ
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

10:15am EDT

Managing the GA College Completion Grant
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Rooms K+L
GSFC Team, Amber Sumner, David McMillion share how GCCG funds work. Colleges sharing their process for awarding, tracking and future plans.
Moderators
KR
Presenters
DM
PS
AS
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

10:15am EDT

Unlocking the Power of SQL in Banner
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Room R
Ready to elevate your SQL skills? Join us for an engaging session focused on intermediate/advanced scripts within Banner pages (RORRULE, RORALGO, etc.). We'll tackle complex queries, making this the perfect opportunity for those looking to make Banner work towards your advantage! Let’s crack the code together!
Moderators
BB
Presenters
DM
KT
Thursday May 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

2:45pm EDT

Introduction to Financial Aid
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room F+G
Designed for new financial aid professionals, this session provides an overview of the fundamentals of financial aid administration. Attendees will learn about the FAFSA process, types of financial aid (grants, loans, work-study, scholarships), need analysis, cost of attendance, and packaging strategies. The session will also introduce key compliance requirements and best practices for student advising, ensuring that new staff members build a strong foundation in financial aid principles. Also introducing key websites for training and information: NSLDS, COD, FSA Partners, Studentaid.gov, NASFAA, FAFSA Partner Portal, GA Futures, GSFC.
Moderators
DM
Presenters
JR
avatar for Casey Worley

Casey Worley

Executive Director of Financial Aid, Chattahoochee Technical College
Casey is the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Chattahoochee Technical College. She has been in the financial aid department at Chatt Tech for almost 15 years. She currently serves on the 2024/2025 GASFAA Executive Board as Treasurer-Elect, was the GASFAA Secretary 2023/2024... Read More →
MH
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room F+G Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

2:45pm EDT

NASFAA Core: Direct Loans pt. 2 (Examples & test questions)
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room Q
Are you ready to implement the information learned earlier in the day? In this session, we'll focus on the test questions, examples, and answers! This session will prepare you to test for the credential once you receive your voucher after conference.
Moderators
BV
Presenters
JR
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

2:45pm EDT

Student Demographics & Invoicing
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L
How to know when your invoice reject is a demographic issue and how to resolve for rejected invoices
Moderators
JH
Presenters
AS
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

2:45pm EDT

What we learned in 2425 and looking forward to 2526
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room R
Are we dreaming, or did we truly survive the saga of 2024-2025? Join us in this session as we explore the lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Education, C-Flags, SAR comment codes, and the adventures that lie ahead for 2025-2026! May the Force be with us as we prepare for what’s next!
Moderators
AW
Presenters
JC
Thursday May 22, 2025 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:45pm EDT

Building Resilience
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room D
This session on Building Resilience will highlight the essential traits of resilient individuals and explore effective strategies to enhance emotional strength. Discover practical tips for improving stress management, fostering connections, and increasing positivity in both personal and professional settings. Enhance your well-being and productivity with us!
Moderators
MG
Presenters
CW

Concepta Williamson

Citizens Bank
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room D Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:45pm EDT

Compliance Adventure: Navigating Consumer Information
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room Q
This session will explore two critical pillars of Title IV compliance: Consumer Information and Administrative Capability. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of institutional responsibilities related to Title IV eligibility and effective strategies for implementing compliance measures. The session will emphasize the importance of transparent consumer information disclosures, ensuring administrative capability, and fostering interoffice collaboration to meet federal requirements. Through this interactive session, attendees will acquire actionable insights and tools to strengthen their compliance programs.
Moderators
avatar for Melodie Pirone

Melodie Pirone

Financial Aid Director, Southern Crescent Technical College
Certified Financial Aid Administrator®Southern Crescent Technical College12 yrs 3 mos12 yrs 3 mosAssistant Director Of Financial AidSep 2018 - Present · 4 yrs 9 mosFinancial Aid SpecialistJun 2013 - Sep 2018 · 5 yrs 4 mosFinancial Aid technicianMar 2011 - Jun 2013 · 2 yrs 4 m... Read More →
Presenters
KK
JT
CW
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

3:45pm EDT

From Info Overload to Informed: Streamlining Student Communication & Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L
With students facing an overwhelming amount of financial aid information, this session focuses on strategies to simplify and personalize communication. Participants will explore best practices for email, text, and portal-based messaging to engage students effectively with using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The session will highlight Slate, demonstrating how it can be used to automate outreach, track student interactions, and improve response rates. By the end, attendees will be equipped to create a streamlined, student-friendly communication plan that enhances engagement and reduces confusion with the help of AI!
Moderators
MH
Presenters
ES
JH
Thursday May 22, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:45pm EDT

AI’s Role in Financial Aid Succession Planning: Unlocking Leadership Potential
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room D
Given the well-documented staffing challenges in student financial aid, the need for effective and efficient succession planning has never been more critical. Prudent use of innovation through AI can help ensure organizational stability and continuity by identifying, developing, and preparing employees to fill essential leadership and other crucial staff roles.

This session will cover how AI can significantly improve succession planning by offering data-driven insights, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making to ensure the right people are prepared for key roles. Our panel will compare and contrast the traditional framework of staff management to available AI tools that have the potential to make succession planning more proactive, data-driven, and equitable.
Moderators
TI
Presenters
SH
BA

Bill Ayers

College Ave
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room D Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:45pm EDT

Game On! Turning Financial Aid Learning into a Fun Experience
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room Q
Financial aid training doesn’t have to be boring! This session introduces interactive learning techniques to make financial aid concepts engaging and memorable for both students and staff. Attendees will explore gamification strategies, including quizzes, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, and team challenges, that reinforce critical financial aid knowledge while increasing participation and retention. By incorporating competition and rewards, financial aid offices can create a culture of continuous learning and enthusiasm.
Moderators
KG
Presenters
MH
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room Q Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:45pm EDT

HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship & Grant CHECS Files & Data
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L
A review of the CHECS files and data provided for calculations in determining eligibility.  Includes the information CHECS needs and the information CHECS provides and how to use CHECS data for eligibility.
Moderators
BD

Becky Davis

Ascendium Education
Presenters
DM
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Rooms K+L Floor 2
  Concurrent Session

4:45pm EDT

Understanding SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) and Appeals
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room R
Why it’s important: SAP policies impact student retention and aid eligibility. This session would cover qualitative and quantitative SAP standards, the appeal process, academic plans, and best practices for advising students at risk of losing aid.
Moderators
AG
Presenters
NF
CS
CH
Thursday May 22, 2025 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT
Room R Floor 2
  Concurrent Session
 
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