Gilda,
Great approach. I agree all three are important and understand the need to focus on service. It is important to make students and parents to feel that they are being assisted throughout the process. It is great that you ensure superior service regardless of the outcome.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
Although they are all important we here stress SERVICE as the most important. The student are the reason we recieve a paycheck. Therefore SERVICEis our #1 priorty. Even if a student does not qualufy for any type of financial aid we make sure that they know "WHY". Every individual receives the same "SUPERIOR SERVICE" regadless of the outcome.
LAUREN, I would agree with you that accuracy is the most important characteristic when you dealing with ED and an audit. Your Financial Aid office also has to ensure that you are providing your students with timeliness and good customer service. I would say that all three go hand-in-hand. It is important to balance all three and not overlook any of these characteristics. Best of luck in your pursuit of continued financial educationl knowledge.
Sincerely,
David McGuffee
Accuracy is the most important as far as the Dept. of Education is concerned since they issue findings solely based on that and unfortunately, do not award schools with excellent timeliness or customer service.
ricardo,
I think the group on a whole agrees with your position. A success Financial Aid Office requires all three characteristics to provide outstanding service to students (and parents). Several members of the group have focused on the customer service aspect; however, when providing good customer service you are striving to process timely and accurately. The items all go hand-in-hand when meeting the needs of your students and their families.
Best wishes in your continued online education process related to financial aid.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
All three are very important; the reason is because when you work with customer services all have to be perfect, in my opinion. This helps us work faster and effective for the student.
Marni,
Most of the post from other participants reference the importance of all three aspects; however, our point of view may differ based on our roles. I understand your comments since I have worked in all aspects of the Financial Aid process from campus to servicer. When you are overseeing the FA process at a corporate level you interaction is minimum with the students so I can see the importance timeliness would play in your role. You want to ensure that the students' funds are delivered timely which in term benefits the customer service and accuracy part of he process.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
As I work in the corporate office for our school, and we have four different locations, for me timeliness plays a large part in keeping our financial aid process running smoothly. When overseeing a new start date, that is happening simultaneously for four schools, receiving the student's valid ISIR in a timely fashion is crucial in facilitating the financial aid process. Good communication and prompt follow up with the financial aid advisors at our schools, I find, is what keeps us on track for receiving funding on time and when expected for all our students.
Jenifer,
Most of the participants agree with your assessment. If you and your team are focused on assiting the student and ensuring a successful experience related to the Financial Aid process it is almost impossible to do this without satisfying all three aspects. Each day all members of the college team should focus on meeting all three of these characteristics to guarantee the students a winning experience.
Best wishes in your continued online educational experience.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
All three items are very important to my process. I believe that all three items are equal to each other because if you are missing one item then your process will not run smoothly & can create issues to arise for you and the student.
Sarah,
Accuracy is important and all three of these go together. If you are processing your students in an accurate manner you are providing good customer service and timely. Most FA Professionals will try to focus on all three when taking care of their students.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
I find Accuracy to be the most helpful to me. I find if I am accurate with my information reporting it enhances both the level of service to my students and the timeliness in which my reports are received.
Sharon,
Being able to make a student feel comfortable, important and excited about FA is a wonderful trait to possess. All three aspects are important and the need to work toward all three is necessary for the overall success of your students. Great job!
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
All 3 are just as important. You want to be able to get them packaged ASAP while they are still excited. My school always ask for all documents needed up front therefore we are accurate. You must make the student and/or parent comfortable with you by asking open ended questions. make them excited about what they are eligible for and make sure they understand everything.
All 3 is just important of each other. You want to be able to get the student in your office ASAP.You want to ask open ended question to help them to open up with you. My school request for all the documents as if they were all verified from the start, therefore your work will be done with accuracy from the start. I make each person sitting in my office feel comfortable, and important, and excited about their out come with F/A
Veronica,
Your selection is very similar to most of the participants in this discussion forum. Most of the participants have commented on the need for service and that timely and accurate processing comes along with giving good service. In order to be providing good service you must be accurately and timely handling the student packaging, awarding and disbursing process.
Your thoughts are appreciated by the group.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
All three are the most important in my process.
I selected Service.
A high quality on excellent customer service.
Any where you go in life its all about great service you want to be treated with respect.
JoAnne,
On a whole most of the financial aid professionals have been in agreement with your position on the most important characteristics of Financial Aid. Through service we as aid administrators have the ability to change lives and assist students in obtaining their goals. It is a great to provide a service to students. Also, if you are truly providing service to your students you are definitely processing timely and accurately.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
I feel the most important item in my FA process is service. While timeliness and accuracy are certainly critical steps within the process, exceptional service goes a long way in creating a report with the applicant, and securing a positive relationship thruout their program. Not to mention the invaluable and inevitable sharing by the applicant/student to family, friends, and potential students of the caliber of service and support they've received within our school.
Miriah,
Your feedback is excellent and it is refreshing to hear of methoud you use to insure your students are getting good service. This type of service will definitely guarantee your students will come to you when they have issues or need assistance.
Sincerely,
Chyrl Ayers
