1. National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Advocacy and YOU RMASFAA Conference Slide 1 © NASFAA 2011

2. Political Climate Three climate drivers: 1.Partisanship & Brinkmanship 2.Budget Politics Dictating Policy 3.Election Season has Begun Slide 2 © NASFAA 2011

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4. Budget, Budget, Budget Slide 4 © NASFAA 2011 Deficit Reduction FY 2011FY 2012 Debt Ceiling

5. Agenda 1. What is Advocacy? 2. Why does NASFAA Advocate? 3. Examples of NASFAA Advocacy 4. Tips for Successful Advocacy at the Grassroots Level Slide 5 © NASFAA 2011

6. What is Advocacy? 1. To recommend or support publicly 2. A person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter 3. A person who intercedes on behalf of another Slide 6 © NASFAA 2011

7. What is Advocacy? 1. Lobbying v. Advocacy 2. You don’t need to be in DC to be an effective advocate Slide 7 © NASFAA 2011

8. What is Advocacy? Advocacy is proactive AND reactive Slide 8 © NASFAA 2011

9. Why Does NASFAA Advocate? The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) supports the training, diversity, and professional development of financial aid administrators; advocates for public policies and programs that increase student access to and success in postsecondary education; and serves as a forum for communication and collaboration on student financial aid issues. Slide 9 © NASFAA 2011

10. Why Does NASFAA Advocate? Our advocacy efforts center around these major policy areas: Increasing access to higher education, including early awareness and outreach Simplifying student aid systems Encouraging college persistence & completion College savings and financial education Minimizing student indebtedness and emphasizing grant and work aid Supporting the primacy of need-based aid Slide 10 © NASFAA 2011

11. NASFAA Advocacy Administration ◦ Department of Education ◦ Office of Management and Budget Congress ◦ House & Senate Education Committees ◦ House & Senate Appropriations Committees ◦ Super Committee Other Higher Education Associations & Organizations *Takeaway here: Not just Congress Slide 11 © NASFAA 2011

12. NASFAA Advocacy Tools Letters Statements Testimony Social Media Educational Materials Coalitions & Partnerships Hill Visits Slide 12 © NASFAA 2011

13. NASFAA Advocacy Examples Letter to Super Committee Administrative Cost Allowance One-Pager Elimination of Crossover Regulation for Summer 2011 National Profile & Congressional Staff Orientation Recent Budget Bill Hill Visits Save Student Aid Facebook Page Budget Center Committee for Education Funding & Student Aid Alliance Participation in Award Letter Discussions Slide 13 © NASFAA 2011

14. Advocacy and You Visit our Facebook Page! Write letters to your delegation and to Super Committee members Get students involved! Visit our “Take Action” page and “Budget Center” to stay up to date on legislative news Use our tools as examples Slide 14 © NASFAA 2011

15. Advocacy and You Build relationships with your lawmakers now by delivering information sheets on how their constituents—the students and families you serve—benefit from the student aid programs. Follow the latest legislative developments by reading Today’s News, the NASFAA Advocate, and following us on the NASFAA Facebook page and the Save Student Aid Facebook page. Share with NASFAA all your correspondence with lawmakers so we can support you and understand how to better work with your Congressional delegates. Visit NASFAA’s “Take Action Page” to stay up-to-date on NASFAA’s latest calls to action Slide 15 © NASFAA 2011

16. Advocacy and You “Action is the catalyst that creates accomplishment. It is the path that takes us from uncrafted hope to realized dreams.” - Thomas Huxley Slide 16 © NASFAA 2011

17. Question and Answer Segment Questions & Discussion Questions & Discussion Slide 17 © NASFAA 2011