President's Welcome

SASFAA Friends,

Please consider joining me for the SASFAA 2010 Annual Conference, "Racing to the Future: Change, Collaborate and Celebrate!" in Louisville, KY. The conference runs from February 21-24, 2010, and is at the beautiful Louisville Marriott Downtown.

A one and a half day Mid-Level Workshop will be offered preceding the conference for those who feel they need a refresher or further knowledge in financial aid beyond our New Aid Officers Workshop training. We will also, offer a one day New Aid Officers Workshop for those who have never had the opportunity to receive any type of "formal" training outside their office.

The committee has added a preconference workshop entitled "Best Practices in Implementing HEOA Final Regulations." This workshop is presented to assist you in learning how your colleagues have devised methods to implement the many regulatory provisions which emerged from the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). We will be joined by an official from the U.S. Department of Education to provide an overview of the requirements, and by colleagues who will share their experiences and solutions in implementing them.

At the conference we will be joined by guests which include; Jeff Baker and David Bartnicki and Carney McCullough from the U.S. Department of Education, Joan Holland Crissman, NASFAA, Interim President & CEO, and our own Dr. Barry Simmons, NASFAA Chair. We also welcome our NASFAA Board interregional guests, Barbara Miller, EASFAA and Sharon Kienow, RMASFAA.

By conference time, answers to currently proposed legislation and other changes will be available. How will the possibility of student loan reform, further simplifying the FAFSA and need analysis formula, overhaul of the Perkins Loan program and increasing and indexing the Pell Grant program affect you and your campus? Come find out the answers to these questions plus many others.

Brenda M. Brown and her committee are working hard so we can have a quality conference despite our economic challenges. If anyone needs a letter to help justify your attendance, please let me know as I will be glad to help you.

Best Regards,
Keith Reeves
SASFAA President