Missouri Update 2015

Amy Hager

The Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel (MASFAP) hosted their fall conference at the Lodge of Four Season, at Lake Ozark, Missouri, from November 9 - 11th. Fitting with the theme, “May the Funds Be With You,” there were sessions for all levels:  the Yodas (Directors/Seasoned Financial Aid Administrators); the Lukes (Mid-Level Personnel), and the Jedi Padawans (Financial Aid Newcomers). The conference was highlighted by many distinguished guest speakers holding a variety of positions throughout higher education. Keynote Speaker Anya Kamenetz, who is an Educational Futurist, Lead DIGITAL Education Reporter for NPR and an acclaimed author, shared her expertise and passion for understanding the complexities of how we learn, work, and live in the new millennium as well as her insightful views about the future of higher education.

-- More info about the conference can be found in November's MASFAP Monitor.

2015 was the first year MASFAP offered just one conference; in the past, we hosted a spring and a fall conference. Our Professional Development Committee stepped up to the task and offered numerous training opportunities throughout the year, which helped ease the transition from two to one conference. Among the PD events offered were Business Office Training, Registrar Office Training, You Be the Auditor/Program Review Panel Discussion, Director’s Roundtable, and a MASFAP Town Hall. Additionally, MASFAP offered several NASFAA Credentialing opportunities at no cost for members. The events were well attended and, to date, MASFAP members have earned 225 credentials in the following courses: Verification, Packaging, Federal Methodology, Professional Judgement, Direct Loans, Campus Based Programs, Federal Pell Grant Program, R2T4, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Cost of Attendance and Student Eligibility. We are very proud of our training programs which stimulate further professional growth for our members.