1. Doing Financial Aid Nights and Presentations
Kristin Bhaumik, University of Michigan
Ingrid Clover, MI Student Aid, Michigan Department of Treasury
Kevin Singer, Hope College
Doing Financial Aid Nights and Presentations
Msfaa summer conference 2018
Crystal mountain resort

2. What’s in your program? Different types of financial aid
Grants and Scholarships, Work Study, Loans
Reading an award letter
Understanding free money, earned money, borrowed money
Affordability and loans
Balancing degree earned, debt, and income
State aid programs
TIP, MCS, MTG
Program Content
§  Different types of financial aid
§  How to read an award letter
§  How affordable are those loans
§  State Aid programs
·       TIP
·       MCS
·       MTG
·       FFF

3. Program Planning MI Student Aid Statewide Regional One-Stops
Criteria for selecting events
Event promotion:
Websites
Social Media
Outreach to HS counselors, college advisors, and college access stakeholders
Statewide Regional One-Stops
o   Rubric for selecting events
o   Helping to promote events
§  Website
§  Social media
§  Outreach to counselors and college advisers

4. What common items should be presented at FA Nights?
Why are you there?
Application/FAFSA
Overview of Federal/State Programs
What families can expect in the financial aid process
Other avenues for financial aid
What common items should be presented at FA Nights?
Why are you there?  Admissions/Recruitment purpose?  Service to the community?
Application/FAFSA
Overview of Federal/State Programs
What families can expect post-application from the Aid Office(s)?
Where else can families look for aid (academic from institutions, scholarships from local community organizations, etc).

5. NASFAA Presentation: Why you may not want to use it
Time management
Attention management
How much is “too much” for an event like yours?
Why you shouldn’t use the full NASFAA presentation
Keeping time and attention into perspective (1 hour presentation max, time for Q/As, etc).
Considering how much may be “too much”
What can you provide that will provide families with the help that they need...without overwhelming them?

6. Be a Resource Post-Presentation
In what ways can you provide ongoing assistance to families and counseling staff with additional questions?
Provide contact information.
If you have indicated you will follow up with an answer…please follow up!
Post-Presentation
Assistance to families and counseling staff
Offering your contact information

7. Referrals to Other Resources
There is a large network of support to refer families to.
Local college access and financial aid partners.
Trusted publications, websites, and social media
Text messaging for 12th graders through MI Student Aid

8. The new “FA Night”: FAFSA Filing Events
When is an information presentation appropriate?
When is a FAFSA filing event appropriate?
When is it appropriate to do a combination of the two?
Moving to the new “FA Night” (FAFSA Filing Event)
When is it appropriate to do a presentation?
When is it appropriate to do a FAFSA Filing event (similar to College Goal Sunday)?
When is it appropriate to do a combination of the two?

9. Miscellaneous Just the Facts
A comprehensive history…interesting, but not needed.
Consider expectations from families attending
Be fully engaged
Q&A – the large group and the individuals
General Items regarding presentations
Just the facts
Offering an agenda -- sneak preview
A comprehensive history...not needed.
What families are looking for by attending.
Being fully engaged.
Large Group Q&A Session
Being prepared to allow for one-on-one Q&A time
Especially if a large group question can not be answered...or if it would be more appropriate to offer information one on one.

10. Additional Outreach: Options and Opportunities
Ask your professional network for help.
Consider virtual outreach – videos, online content, etc.
Be creative identifying target populations and event opportunities.
Tag along…with admissions, academic advisors, anyone!

11. FA Nights and the Early FAFSA
Pre-Early FAFSA – Busy in January
Now – events begin in September/October
March 1 – the State deadline
How does the FA Night best coincide with Early FAFSA?
Before - January
Offered these nights compacted during January
Now - October
These nights can be offered during October-November-December timeframe
All considering the March 1st suggested FAFSA Deadline in the State.

12. Do your homework Do you visit your feeder schools?
What is the average graduating class at a HS where you are holding an event?
Are you also being asked to wear a recruitment hat during the event?
What information has admissions or the counselors already shared with the audience?
Additional Items to know:
Average graduating HS -- how many attend In-State?  Out-State? Private? 4 Year Public? CC?
What are the “common” private colleges that HS feeds to saying -- complete FAFSA by March 1?  ASAP?

13. Be Creative
Our typical audience is at a high school, but consider other event opportunities as well.
Community Organizations
Libraries
Investment firms and credit unions
Local media
Additional Items to know:
Typically held at/through high schools -- but consider other options:
Community Organizations
Libraries
Investment Firms
Local Media Shows
Typically accept upon a passive invitation...but what connections do you already have that would be appropriate in this regard?

14. Questions? What are some of your best practices and/or programs?
How do you entice people to attend your events/how do you market your events?
What are some challenges you face?

15. Contact us: Krissy Bhaumik – kbhaumik@umich.edu
Associate Director, Office of Financial Aid
University of Michigan
Ingrid Clover –
Department Analyst, MI Student Aid
Michigan Department of Treasury
Kevin Singer –
Assistant Director, Office of Financial Aid
Hope College