I agree that both admissions and our instructors can work harder to make sure that our students are easy to locate with any address or phone or email changes. If we can't find these students we can't remind them of their obligations.
Jennifer,
You make a very good point! Once the admissions office has developed a good rapport with students, the ‘hand-off’ to Financial Aid will be smoother than if students had to seek out the Financial Aid team on their own.
Kellee Gunderson
Admissions works very closely with the Financial Aid teams in order to ensure that every time they speak with the student, that Financial Aid also has the option to speak to them as well. By building these relationships and open communication lines it allows for the students to not only build a better understanding of their Financial Aid but it also allows them to be comfortable enough with the department to reach out for help.
Julie ,
Weekly meeting are a great way to keep on top of things and make sure everyone is on the same page. That's a great practice to have in place.
Cheryl Kesson
We meet on a weekly basis and discuss strategies, new ideas, best practices and case management in order to be on the same page and best provide services for the students.
Merilyn,
This is such a great example of all departments working together towards a common goal. It sounds like you have a great cooperative work environment. Thank you for sharing.
Cheryl Kesson
In our school, our admissions team get involved by updating our database with the correct address when they find out that the mailing address initially entered is incorrect. After students enroll, they send out a welcome letter and when it's returned for incorrect address, admisisons update the system and we also get to update COD.
Our faculty are very much involved as well. They allow us to come in their classrooms to make sure students are complying with our request. They also help us distribute important information to the students when needed. Sometimes they even escort the student to our offices.
I believe it's up to us to create that "supportive committee" by respecting each co-worker and treating them like they are very important to you. If they feel important and special to you, they they will return the same favor. I've read something that says this: "you will reap what you sow!"
Maria,
I agree that admissions can be a great place to collect references as it is looked at as part of the enrollment process. It's great that you already have a good working relationship with both staff and faculty and can continue to build on that for continued sucess.
Cheryl Kesson
Ileana,
Great idea to involve them in some meetings! Every department has something they can contribute to manage default successfully. It may even be something they are already doing without realizing how they are helping.
Cheryl Kesson
Sergio,
I think the Financial Aid is almost always looked at as being in charge of default rates. It is important that all departments realize how their efforts can contribute to a lower default rate. Effectively working together is key to sucess.
Cheryl Kesson
These are both wonderful resources to aid in default. The admissions since they are the first point of contact and often are the department with that would be able to get the most references. When I am unable to get a hold of a student because my information is incorrect I contact the admissions department to assist me with these details. I also at times require the assistance of the faculty when I am not able to contact students. I would build on these two established methods and increase the communication with both departments.
In my Institution, the Financial Aid Office is on charge of all default prevention efforts. The Faculty and Admissions Office have very little participation. To increase their involvement in our Default Prevention Plan, we will include periodic meetings with those departments to let them know how important is for the student and the school to continue our default prevention efforts. In addition, we will encourage them to get involved and share their ideas with the Financial Aid Office.
In our institution, the Financial Aid Office is the one in charge of default. It is a very great idea to use either the faculty or the Admissions Office (or both) to collect information on contacts. I will arrange a meeting with the Admissions Director to convey these steps we can use to help on lowering the CDR.
Thomas,
I like the idea of having faculty read and share FA memos. It's a great way of sharing information and keeping them up to date on things that are happening as well. I love that they allow you time to speak before class, it's great that you have such cooperative faculty.
Cheryl Kesson
The Administration Staff works in the enrollment process and the Faulty contibutes by reading memo's that come from the Financial Aid office. They allow us to speak to the students before the beginning of class. They will allow the student to go to the oficeif needed and we will confirm their visit.
Carol,
This is a great example of departments all working together to help the students achieve sucess. Thank you for sharing this.
Cheryl Kesson
Hi Mimi,
I whole-heartedly agree that it is important to have a sense of partnership between the Admissions and Financial Aid offices. Not only for enrollments, but also for providing the best service to the student and their future finances.
I like your comment on keeping the admissions department up to date on new Financial Aid programs and/or legislation. As we know in Financial Aid, programs and legislation change, and its important that we're all on the same page.
I share an office with Student Services and Student Accounts. This helps in being able to communicate with students when going through their program.
As for faculty and admissions offices contributions to default prevention efforts, we obtain references when going through the Admissions and Financial Aid process. Faculty at my campus are very welcoming to Financial Aid coming into the classroom to make announcements and discuss Financial Literacy/Budgeting information for our students.
Maggie,
I really like the idea of FA having a presence in the classroom! This suggests to students that the entire school cares about them and what happens in their lives after graduation or completion.
It is also great that you include a visual presentation with your talks. Some students absorb information simply from hearing it, while others need to see it in order to fully comprehend.
Cheryl Kesson
Shelly,
Education is definitely key! Making sure students and staff are informed and motivated can be a challenge, but it is absolutely essential to keeping default rates down.
Thinking about how we define “educate†is also important. Schools that rely solely on impersonal online entrance/exit interviews, or leave a tangle of complicated loan documents with unprepared students are only “educating†in the loosest sense. We hope to bring quality and effectiveness to our borrower education.
Cheryl Kesson
