Financial Aid
can an Admissions Representative speak to a student about information retrieved from NSLDS?
STEPHANIE,
Financial aid is the subject matter expert. Since each students financial situation is different, they are to guide and direct the prospective student through the process.
Patty Aronoff
When it comes to very specific questions, I feel it is the Financial Aid department's responsibility to speak with the student directly. However, if it's pertaining solely to the NSLDS, I feel that the admissions department should be knowledgeable on how to explain this to students because it is a vital decision-maker strategy for enrollment on students worried about their pell & loan remaining eligibility. Especially with the new SULA regulations, I feel that the admissions department can play a very important supporting role in financial aid if they could discuss the NSLDS with the student.
Chiquita ,
Financial aid is very complex and very individualized. It is better that the student sit down with a subject matter expert to go over their personal financial situation and find the best resolution.
Patty Aronoff
I think it's best that all Financial Aid questions be handled by that department.
VIANKA,
It really makes a very confidential conversation easier in the financial aid office. When dealing with financial responsibility of paying for school, the conversation should be conducted in a private area with subject matter experts.
Patty Aronoff
Generally that conversation is held in the financial aid office.
I agree Andrew! We do not discuss any thing financial aid related at all. I always direct any financial aid questions to our financial aid department. I would never want there to be the slightest compliance issue, so I just prefer to completely keep it separate.
Alex,
Excellent! That is a best practice. Provides transparency and separation.
Patty Aronoff
Andrew,
Many schools feel the same way. There is to be separation between the two.
Patty Aronoff
I feel it it vital to keep both dept very separate because there has to be a checks and balances to the admissions process. This will aid in keeping transparency.
Our school is also very strict about keeping the 2 depts. separated.
Latoya,
That is the best practice. We leave the financial aid questions to the subject matter expert in that particular department.
Patty Aronoff
At my school we do not answer questions about Financial Aid in the enrollment department. We have a student Finance department that answers questions on FA.
Margaret,
It is very common to have the separation of activities with the student. Financial aid is very complex and it is better to have the student meet with the financial aid expert.
Patty Aronoff
My school is very strict about the separetion of FA and Admissions - the Admissions Director schedules appointments with FA as part of the admissins process.
anauris,
Is a good practice to maintain. The financial aid office is the subject matter experts for all things in finance.
Patty Aronoff
phillip,
That is determinate upon your schools processes. Generally that conversation is held in the financial aid office.
Patty Aronoff
Most times I let the Financial Aid Department talk to teh students about financial AID. The FA Department sometimes can provide me with the NSLDS information to pass on to the student but I try my best to stay out of potential FA discussions because students tend to want specific information
