Advocacy & Legislative Issues Tool Kit

Submitted by the Advocacy and Legislative Initiatives Committee

When we hear legislative issues or advocacy, many of us think “no, thank you.” But what you may not realize is that by virtue of working in financial aid, you’re likely advocating for your students every single day.

No matter your role within a financial aid office, the primary goal is to assist students in securing funds to enable them to enroll and complete their educational endeavors.  For most students, this entails helping them to understand the financial aid process — from completing the FASFA, navigating verification, understanding their award letter, completing a master promissory note and entrance counseling if borrowing, paying their university charges, and managing any refunds.  It may also involve helping them to apply for scholarships and secure a work-study position.  Lastly, when they complete their education, it involves making sure those who have borrowed have the information necessary to repay any loans.

Aside from helping students and their parents understand the sometimes changing landscape of financial aid, another important piece in assisting students is advocating for financial aid programs that assist them while enrolled.  Sometimes advocacy involves internal conversations within the office to determine the most efficient way to award available funds.  Sometimes it involves educating those in other offices on the requirements needed to maintain compliance.  Other times, meetings with an institution’s administration to advocate for student-friendly policies or additional funds are required.  But as everyone who works within the sphere of financial aid is aware, most of the daily work is a result of laws and regulations enacted at the state and federal levels.

No matter which realm your job description fits into, YOU are an advocate for the students you serve at your institution.  But how do you do this?  Where do you start?  What if you don’t consider yourself a political expert?  Can you still make a difference?  The answer is YES.

Feel like you might be ready to take your work to the next level? The Tool Kit is to assist you in getting started.  You know the challenges you face in doing your job and you hear the challenges your students express when navigating the financial aid journey.  Advocacy is nothing more than sharing the story of how to make things better.

Coming later this year, our committee will offer a “toolkit” to help you navigate the advocacy process. Depending on what institution you serve and your role in that institution, advocacy might look different for each one of us. Watch for our session at the MASFAA conference this year to talk through our toolkit and hear tips from some of our experiences.