Blog
Using the CSS Profile to Bolster Need-Based Financial Aid Projections
As we approach the 2025-2026 academic year, financial aid offices across the country are facing a new challenge: the delayed release of the Free Application for ...
Preparing for the Upcoming FAFSA Release Cycle: Six Lessons Learned from the FAFSA Simplification Roll-out
As financial aid professionals, we know the critical role the FAFSA plays in helping students afford higher education. With the recent FAFSA simplification roll-out problems, many ...
Building Partnerships for Financial Aid Success: How Financial Aid Offices and State Student Access Commissions Can Collaborate to Support Financial Aid Application Goals
Access to higher education is one of the most powerful tools to uplift individuals, families, and entire communities. However, the cost of education can be a ...
Understanding Changes in Other Financial Assistance for 2024-25:Key Regulatory Updates for Financial Aid Administrators
Effective during the 2024-25 award year, the FAFSA Simplification Act introduced significant updates to the terminology and definitions around what constitutes as financial aid. One of ...
FAFSA Verification Update for Financial Aid Administrators: 2025-2026 Award Year
As we prepare for the 2025-2026 FAFSA cycle, the U.S. Department of Education has issued important updates on verification requirements. Here’s what you need to know: ...
Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness in College: 7 Strategies for Financial Aid Administrators
Navigating college is challenging for any student, but for those experiencing homelessness, the road is far more daunting. In fact, the U.S. Department of Housing and ...
Express Yourself: How to Make Your Email Communications More Effective
In our blog, The Lost Art of Communication, we discussed the many ways we can communicate with each other in the office. The most used mode ...
New Regulations for Special Circumstance Appeals: A Focus on Net Income (or Loss) from Business and Farms
Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, significant changes are being introduced in how financial aid applicants must report net income (or loss) from business or farm ...
It’s That Time of Year: Fiscal Operations Report for 2023–24 and Application to Participate for 2025–26 (FISAP)
On July 31, Federal Student Aid (FSA) published Electronic Announcement CB-24-16 to alert financial aid professionals that the FISAP due on October 1, 2024, is now ...
The Clery Act and You
On June 26, 2024, Federal Student Aid (FSA) issued an Electronic Announcement reminding institutions of their responsibilities under the Clery Act, which entails the following: Compilation ...