Developing Highly Competent Financial Aid Professionals Eric K Cooper Clifton Jones Bridgette Ingram Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Get Out Your Cell Phones What are the characteristics of a Highly Competent FA Professionals? Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Agenda Characteristics of a Highly Competent Financial Professionals Texas A&M University- San Antonio Texas A&M University- Central Texas Texas A&M University Resources What we have heard from others Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Characteristics of a Highly Competent Financial Professionals Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

What we heard Listener Hard worker Dedication Inquisitive (question everything) Accept new challenges Solution oriented Time manager Lead by example Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Competence What do you consider competence? Detail Oriented? Accuracy? Ability to follow direction? Leadership? Sometimes, it may come naturally. Use your True Colors, StrengthsQuest or DiSC characteristics to get people in the right spots on the team. Other times, it has to be taught. And there are plenty of resources for teaching what you need! Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Texas A&M University- San Antonio Leadership and Assessment Two of the most important; in my opinion. You’re the Director: A Guide to Leadership in Student Financial Aid Start with good staff with those characteristics you desire! Look for those qualities necessary for competence! Don’t settle! And then assess what is going on – training, data, service. knowledge, etc. Communicate and then push for success. Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Texas A&M University- Central Texas Personalized Development Plans Go beyond performance evaluations Interests Goals (Short and Long Term) Training needs Cross Training Aligned with function or interests Internal or External Promotion Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Texas A&M University Training specialist Leadership Development 3 day orientation, 6 day basic advisor training, specific training in team Leadership Development Lunch and learn for supervisors Supervisor training Cross training/ shadowing Job aids, resources drive Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Resources Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Resources NASFAA online resources SWASFAA TASFAA IFAP Online courses Ask Regs SWASFAA Boot Camp TASFAA Regional trainings ABC IFAP Handbook Dear Colleague letters Internal policies and procedures Conferences Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

What Others Are Saying Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Get Out Your Cell Phones What is the one thing you learned today that you will implement? Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Thank you! Eric Cooper: eric.cooper@tamusa.edu Clifton Jones: Clifton.jones@tamuct.edu Bridgette Ingram: bingram99@tamu.edu