The Early Awareness Committee is focused and committed to offering regional workshops this fall for the high school counselors throughout the state. This year, we are planning these earlier than years past so counselors can prepare for PPY. After reviewing survey responses from the high school counselors, we were able to set dates and the locations for the 2016 MASFAP Fall Workshops. We also have started planning the agendas based on what the counselors want to learn more about from MASFAP. We strive to stay on top of the changes and make sure they are well aware of what is happening in the ever-changing Financial Aid World! In addition, the Early Awareness Committee is conducting a Priority Deadline Survey to all colleges in the state to provide all high school counselors updated information when they attend their fall counselor workshop. If you have not replied to Laura Steinbeck with your priority deadline, please do so ASAP so your school can be included in this information to the counselors.

Waking to the assault of our alarm clock, we try to prepare for the day ahead. From those morning chores that just don’t seem to get done unless we do them (dressing/feeding the kids, letting the dogs out, fixing breakfast, etc.) to the expectations at work, including emails, phone calls, meeting with students and talking to other administrators on campus not to mention our fellow staff members. The fight for our attention is endless, unforgiving and at times unbearable, not to mention exhausting. The attack doesn’t end here – it continues after work as we shop for/prepare dinner, clean the house, do laundry, help with homework and of course be a supportive partner to our other half, until we fall into our bed beaten into submission from the pressures we face and almost take for granted, each and every day.

How do others do this? I see my colleagues who approach each day with such joy and smiles, one might think what am I NOT doing here…???

Things get busy and I don’t always skim NASFAA News. A while back I saw the article titled “Important Federal Perkins Loan Reminders Provided at NASFAA Conference” so I clicked on it (https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/9350/Important_Federal_Perkins_Loan_Reminders_Provided_at_NASFAA_Conference) to be reminded (of what I thought I already knew from the DCL GEN-16-05).  Two important “reminders” (#4 and #5 in the article) weren’t addressed in DCL GEN-16-05.  I feel like these items warranted another DCL.  Did anyone else catch this? What’s your opinion?  Do you routinely go back and review FAQ lists on a regular basis to see what’s been added? Just something I wanted to pass along in case you missed it. I hope you are all off to a fantastic fall semester!

Submitted by Kathy Elsea, MASFAP Delegate

We are the Champions my friends………… (Que the music)! With 450 Credentials earned the state of Missouri is leading the nation in NASFAA Credentials!!! The state of Georgia has 430 so they are on our tail. Don’t miss out on more opportunities to get yourself credentialed through the Professional Development committee and keep us as #1!

Registration Live Now: Administrative Capability and Professional Judgment – June 28th

Thank you to all who braved the ballot, it is because of your time and dedication our association is such a success. Please join me in congratulating our newly elected officers of the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel:

While we wait on candidate notification before announcing election results, I am pleased to announce each proposed change to the MASFAP Constitution has passed! Thank you for voting!

For a reminder, this is what you have approved:

How many times have you thought to yourself, I wonder what other people are going to do?  Well the research committee is here to answer those questions.  While often not the most glamorous of committees, it is certainly imperative to the success of the association.  Without knowing what our membership wants, the executive board has a difficult time planning professional development opportunities.  We want to work for you, and this is one avenue we have to ensure we are meeting your expectations.  So while filling out a survey isn’t the most fun thing you can do, it is really important.  The next time you get an email asking for a few minutes of your time to answer some questions, it’s your opportunity to have a voice in the direction our association takes.  If you ever have any questions you’d like answered, please let me know.  I’m happy to take suggestions on what we can look into more in depth and see what options we have to find out more.

Greetings MASFAP!

One of the most time consuming duties of the Awards Chair is ensuring that the information reported in the MASFAP database is correct in hopes to recognize the right people at the conference. This is a very simple and yet a daunting task and never seems to be 100% accurate. As you prepare for the upcoming academic year, I would like to request that you include MASFAP membership updates to your checklist.

Last week was a bit crazy…the auditors on campus and SAP processing for the end of the semester to name a few items! Thanks Mya for the blog on reducing stress…this is something I can relate to, especially this time of year.

Hopefully you all had a chance to read the May MASFAP Communication regarding the benefit for MASFAP members to attend MASFAA. The MASFAA Conference will be October 2-5 in Kansas City. I am so excited about this opportunity for MASFAP members to attend MASFAA this year in our home state! I hope this announcement is timely and you are able to budget for both MASFAA and of course MASFAP this year. MASFAP is a little later this year to accommodate both awesome conferences in our state – MASFAP is December 12-14 at the Lake! In looking at my own institution’s budget, you really cannot beat the training we can get this year so close to home. I think there is also an opportunity to room together to save on costs at MASFAA.