Crossing the Finish Line - The FAO Role in Retention MASFAA11/07/2007 Allene Begley Curto Springfield College

We Keep Our Eyes on the Goal! Meet Enrollment Goals with:  Successful Completion of the Program  No Balance Due  Manageable debt upon completion

What Does the FAO Do? Determine Eligibility and Need, Award and Process Aid Determine Eligibility and Need, Award and Process Aid Monitor: Federal requirements on academic eligibility, admission status, enrollment changes, data reporting Monitor: Federal requirements on academic eligibility, admission status, enrollment changes, data reporting Respond to inquiries from students, campuses and outside agencies Respond to inquiries from students, campuses and outside agencies

What does FAO need from other departments/offices?  Admissions  Registrar  Academic Affairs  Bursar  Student Affairs (Dean of Students/Housing)  Information Technology Services

What can the FAO do for those other departments?  Notify students of eligibility as soon as possible  Provide assistance to resolve eligibility problems for students/applicants  Assist in tracking students who fail to enroll, fail to attend  Use federal academic requirement for FA to support academic counseling  Offer options if aid does not cover costs  Request assistance and follow-up for “at-risk” students  Identify areas that have problems in data entry and assist in resolution

Volume 2 Chapter 3, General Participation Requirements Volume 2 Chapter 10, Administrative Capability

Admission Status  FAO uses the entry date to prioritize new students  Financial counseling can help families make realistic decisions  Financial Aid Nights and Early Awareness activities help to promote the institution!  Working relationships help to encourage referrals for families that have problems – and reduce the referrals that are only “spinning our wheels”!  ACG data!

Registration/Enrollment  Registration Status can have an impact on aid eligibility  College officially reports enrollment to US ED and is responsible for accuracy  Are they really here? Do they just look like they’re here?  We need the documentation for students who drop/add/withdraw

Why Should We Monitor Attendance if NOT Required?  Academic imperative for successful completion  Aid eligibility  Requirement to return aid if stops attending/withdraws …but who will do this?

Who Knows When We Need to Return Aid?  Complete withdrawal from all courses in any term – what is the process?  Failure to successfully complete at least one course in any term – who monitors and reviews?  Drop of course may change eligibility – how does FAO know?  Failure to begin attendance – who knows?  Beginning and then stopping – who knows?

Academic Status and Eligibility for Aid  SAP policy for FA should support the academic standard for the institution  Academic policies can be different but should not conflict or contradict  FA notifications should direct students to academic support services  FA Probation should require a component that assists academic improvement

What Outside Aid must be reported to FAO? By Whom?  Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits  Veteran’s Educational benefits  AmeriCorps Vouchers  Employer Tuition Benefits  Outside Scholarships  Third Party Billing  Anything that is only provided due to the enrollment in school

What is some of the Data That Needs to be Correct for Students?  Name, Address and Phone valid and correct  Social Security Number/Date of Birth correct  Admission data (entry term, status, etc.) correct  Registration, Attendance coded correctly and on time

Assistance to Students and Staff  What do staff in different offices need in order to properly counsel students?  Where do they find it?  How and When do we train staff, give them new information?

The Tough Ones  The family that wants your school but can’t afford your school  The student who hits the wall academically  The student who has a personal or family crisis/tragedy

How Do We Become Partners?  Identify the offices  Find the allies  Outline the requirements and the benefits  Meet with the stakeholders  Review periodically

Wrap-up  Questions  Answers  Comments  Discussion Contact information: Allene Begley Curto