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TrainingUPCOMING WEBINARS:Title: One Big Beautiful Bill Act: A Comprehensive Review of How the Act Impacts Higher Education Date/Time: Tuesday, November 18th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST Description: On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill into law. There were several things in the House Version that did not make it through the Senate. Aaron and Howard will focus on the final Act, as well as the recent related negreg activities, but will call out some major issues that did not make it to the final law. They will do a deep dive into the potential impacts for students and schools while also discussing next steps for the Department of Education and things you can be doing now to prepare for the 26-27 award year, with most of the new statutes being effective July 1, 2026 Presenters:
The Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn’s Higher Education Practice, Aaron has over two decades of experience assisting institutions to navigate complex legal and policy matters. He and his colleagues are valued for their deep understanding of the postsecondary regulatory framework, including requirements relating to the federal financial aid programs, accreditation, and state authorization. The host of Thompson Coburn’s popular Higher Education Webinar Series, and editorial director of REGucation, the firm’s higher education law and policy blog, Aaron is a frequent writer and speaker on topics relating to higher education policy and regulation. He currently resides in Saint Louis, Missouri, with his wife and three kids, the world’s greatest dog, a second dog, and three rowdy chickens.
Howard Leslie is a highly respected Financial Aid Administrator with a distinguished career that began in 1977. Known affectionately as “Mr. Compliance,” Howard was also a pioneer in adopting technology within the field. He was the first in New York to pilot electronic transmission of federal and state data, and played a significant role in the development of key systems such as NSLDS, G5, and several other federal and state initiatives. A past president of NYSFAAA, Howard also introduced the association’s current webinar training platform, their state-wide-training program and much more. This further demonstrates his commitment to innovation and professional development. Howard retired from his position as Vice President of Financial aid in August 2024. He was also the Dean of Student Finance at Monroe University for 10 years as well as the Executive Director of Student Financial Services at the School of Visual Arts for 20 years. He is very proud of the 10 year period during which he served as a co-trainer for FSA/Department of Education. He has been consulting for decades but is now an Independent Consultant working with several well-known consulting firms and with some colleges directly. Now he enjoys spending more time with his wife Lisa, his three grandchildren, and his beloved poodle, Rory. Moderator: Joey Trogdon, Senior Director of Financial Assistance & Engagement, Randolph Community College REGISTER HERE FOR BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL WEBINAR
Title: Private Lending: Navigating Processes and Responsibilities with Transparency and Care Date/Time: Tuesday, December 1, 2025, EST Description: As student borrowing patterns continue to evolve, private and alternative loans remain a critical — yet complex — part of institutional aid administration. This session will demystify the private lending process and outline the institutional responsibilities that come with it. Attendees will explore how to balance compliance, transparency, and student advocacy when working with private lenders. Participants will gain clarity on required disclosures, lender list management, and counseling practices that support ethical decision-making and informed borrowing. Whether you’re new to overseeing private loans or looking to refine your current processes, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to confidently manage private lending while keeping students’ best interests at the forefront. Learning Objectives:By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Counsel students effectively on comparing private loans to federal options Presenters:
Dana Kelly is the Vice President of Professional Development and Institutional Compliance for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). She leads the Professional Development division—encompassing Training & Regulatory Assistance, Certification & Credentialing, and Corporate Partnerships—and oversees a fully remote team. Dana manages NASFAA’s two signature annual events—the National Conference, the association’s largest gathering, and the Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo—guiding session content and logistics. As a member of NASFAA’s executive leadership team, Dana plays a pivotal role in aligning professional development, compliance resources, and event experiences with the association’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. Her leadership has advanced the association’s ability to respond to evolving federal policy, expand professional credentialing opportunities, and strengthen engagement between members and industry partners.
Dana brings more than 30 years of experience to the financial aid community. Before joining NASFAA, she served as a national trainer for Nelnet Diversified Solutions, a regional director for Nelnet, and the director of student financial planning at High Point University. She holds a B.S. in Justice and Policy Studies from Guilford College, a master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, and an M.P.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Moderator: Joey Trogdon, Senior Director of Financial Assistance & Engagement, Randolph Community College
POSTPONED!!! Title: A First Look at 2026-2027 Income Verification and the 2024 Tax Return Date/Time: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST - POSTPONED!!! Description: With a new aid year comes a new base year – with the 2026-2027 FAFSA launching for everyone on October 1st, let’s take a look at the 2024 tax return and income verification for 2026-2027. In this webinar, we will review V1 verification – what data need to be verified, what documents do we need to collect, and what, if anything has changed from 2025-2026. We will go line by line through the 2024 (base year) tax return to find all the FAFSA tax items. We’ll look at how the July 4, 2025 Reconciliation Act changed asset reporting, Pell Grants when a contributor has reported a non-zero foreign earned income exclusion, and how the two-times-SAI cap for Pell Grant eligibility will and won’t work. Presenters:
Moderator: Joey Trogdon, Senior Director of Financial Assistance & Engagement, Randolph Community College Title: Incorporating AI and Technology into Financial Aid Administration Date/Time: Thursday, January 29th, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST Description: Generative AI in Financial Aid: Learn about recent technological developments in Generative AI, including large language models (LLMs). Explore strategies and practical applications for leveraging AI tools for improving efficiency and enhancing service delivery within financial aid administration. Presenters: Mark Kantrowitz, President of Cerebly, Inc. Mark Kantrowitz is an expert on student financial aid, the FAFSA, scholarships, 529 plans, education tax benefits and student loans. His mission is to deliver practical information, advice and tools to students and their families so they can make smarter, more informed decisions about planning and paying for college. He has been quoted in more than 10,000 newspaper and magazine articles about college admissions and financial aid. Mark has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, U.S. News & World Report, MarketWatch, Money Magazine, Forbes, Bankrate, Newsweek and Time. Mark is the author of five bestselling books about scholarships and financial aid and holds eight patents. His most recent book is How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid. Mark serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Student Financial Aid and is a member of the board of trustees of the Center for Excellence in Education. Mark previously served as publisher of the FinAid, Fastweb, Edvisors, Cappex and Savingforcollege.com web sites. Mark has two Bachelor's degrees in mathematics and philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master's degree in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Moderator: Joey Trogdon, Senior Director of Financial Assistance & Engagement, Randolph Community College CHECK BACK FOR REGISTRATION DETAILS
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