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This week on a special edition of “Off the Cuff,” Allie, Beth, and Karen, are joined by 2024-25 NASFAA National Chair Kristi Jovell of Middlebury College and National Chair-Elect Heidi Carl of Purdue University to break down the latest development from the Department of Education (ED) concerning batch corrections and the 2024-25 FAFSA.

The Department of Education (ED) in a second update to its electronic announcement from June provided additional guidance concerning required additional steps to resolve specific instances of conflicting information. The addressed instance occurs when an applicant or contributor had federal tax information (FTI) data reported on their Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) and also manually indicated that they did not file a U.S. tax return in fiscal year 2022. According to the August 1 update, schools must review corrections that were submitted prior to July 24, that were made without having appropriate documentation. According to ED’s guidance it is “incorrect to assume that any of the additional fields are ‘0’ if they are blank.” If a school has already disbursed aid to students with ISIRs that were impacted by conflicting information, the school must still contact the student to request documentation and make any necessary corrections. These updates were in response to questions the department received concerning their notice on July 24.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday advanced its education budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2025, which would boost funding for the federal Pell Grant program and student aid administration.

Used by hundreds of institutions, CSS Profile supports schools in providing additional data beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Now, CSS Profile is delivering a shorter application experience intended to increase access and equity while reducing barriers to financial aid. In this upcoming webinar, on August 8 at 2 p.m. ET, attendees will hear from College Board experts and a panel of financial aid leaders at CSS Profile institutions that have implemented the lighter application. Learn more and reserve your seat today!

Looking to prepare for the certification exam? Then be sure to sign up for the NASFAA FAAC® Exam Preparation Online Workshop. This facilitated, virtual experience will be led by NASFAA training staff members and currently certified FAACs. Participants will also receive complimentary access to the exam preparation guide, a practice test (only available to workshop attendees), and the knowledge exam. The workshop takes place in weekly online meetings via Zoom from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. ET between October 1 and October 29, 2024. Reserve your seat today.

Please join us in congratulating: Helen Faith, FAAC®, formerly the director of student financial aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who will be the associate vice provost for enrollment and student financial services at the University of Virginia; Dr. Robert Hamilton, formerly the director of federal and state programs at Texas Tech University, who is now the executive director at Wayland Baptist University; and Elizabeth Rihl Lewinsky, FAAC®, formerly the assistant vice president for financial aid at Saint Joseph’s University, who is now the associate vice president for member engagement at the Tuition Exchange. Celebrate your own career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form to share the news with your colleagues.

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