Re-charging the Batteries for 2012-2013: A Grad/Professional

Roundtable DiscussionPresented by: Meghan Petsko, Villanova University

A little humor to kick things off…

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So long, farewell, Loan Interest Subsidy

July 1st 2012 marks the end of loan interest subsidy for Graduate and Professional Students– How are you communicating this to your

students? How are they responding?– Does anyone have Summer Loans that

begin or disburse before July 1, 2012? How are you handling those?

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Verification, also time to bid adieu?

Verification Still Required IF– Awarding Perkins Loan and FWS Funds or

other need-based institutional funds– If only awarding Federal Direct

Unsubsidized Loan, TEACH Grant or Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, kiss verification good-bye!

– Will you still be verifying grad and professional students?

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Source: NASFAA News 9-29-11

Preparatory Coursework

Students can borrow limited Federal Direct Loans for preparatory coursework for entry into undergraduate/graduate degrees in accordance with FSA Handbook

– Does your school process pre-req aid requests?

– If so, how do you manage these requests? Can your software handle these without manual manipulation?

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Certificate Programs

– Do you offer financial aid for certificate programs? Are they undergraduate or graduate level programs?

– Has your policy changed with the launching of GE?

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Institutional Awards and Need Analysis

– Do you award need-based gift aid to grad students at your school?

– If so, do you ask for parent information on the FAFSA, or on your own form?

– Does your office manage tuition scholarships and assistantships, or are they managed by departments?

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SAP Policies for Graduate Students

– Do you have a different policy for graduate students versus your undergraduate students?

• What about doctoral students?

– Standards for Repeating Coursework, how are you enacting these?

– How often are you measuring SAP?

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Budget Increase Requests

– What is your policy? • What questions do you ask yourself?

• What will you allow? What won’t you allow?

– How do you finally say no to a student who requests above and beyond what is acceptable?• Does this ever cause a retention issue that you

know of?

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Communicating with Graduate Students

Always a challenge!– Do you present at

orientation sessions for graduate students?

– Anyone using text messages, Facebook, youtube?

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Financial Literacy Programs

– What do you offer on your campus?

– Do you offer workshops specifically for grad students?

– What strategies have worked for your students?

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Managing Repayment

– How do you reach out to your students?• Do you offer in-person exit counseling?

– How do you communicate info about Public Service Loan Forgiveness/IBR?

• Have you spoken with students who are using IBR?

– The Special Consolidation Loan: are you notifying your previous students?

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In closing…

Questions?

Any topics we missed?

Thank you for attending!

Meghan Petsko

Meghan.petsko@villanova.edu

610-519-3305

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