2025 SASFAA Annual Conference

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be in the top financial aid seat? What are colleges and universities looking for in skills, abilities, and experiences to even be considered? And what if they are using an executive search firm to conduct the search? Come learn the answers to all of those questions and more from our very own Christy Pratt, who has worked with and placed several of our SASFAA members. 

Our students are facing special and unusual circumstances that don’t fit neatly into the FAFSA process.  PJ is a way to incorporate those situations into the process and provide relief to students. This session will focus on PJ situations and how they might be impacted by the new PJ guidance, presented by a panel and then cross-examined.

Coming Soon!

Navigating financial aid challenges in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Hurricane Helene disrupted the lives of countless students and staff, but it also showcased the resilience and adaptability of financial aid offices in the face of adversity. This session will share key lessons learned during and after the hurricane, focusing on how financial aid offices can thrive and effectively support their campuses and student populations during disaster declarations. Topics will include emergency funding strategies, student support initiatives, assessing staff needs, effective communication methods under challenging conditions, and what to expect both short and long-term as the campus returns to normal.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass exodus of financial aid professionals left colleges facing unprecedented staff shortages. A 2022 NASFAA survey found that 80 percent of institutions' financial aid offices were concerned about their ability to remain “administratively capable” due to staffing issues.” – Inside Higher Ed, 5/31/24

Leaning on experiences and examples from a few of your esteemed colleagues, this will be a moderated town-hall aimed at exploring not just the problem, but the solutions and adjustments necessary to move forward. How can we best operate during a staffing shortage without severely decreased morale among the employees still present? How do we combat the potential for extended shortages? How will we better position our office to weather future iterations of this same challenge?
Crises often illicit a fight or flight response. Venting may be cathartic and even necessary when faced with these challenges, but it is a form of flight. Join your colleagues for this session if you are ready to fight through the challenge and emerge stronger on the other side.

Discover how to create financial wellness programs at your institution. This session will provide actionable strategies for gaining institutional support and securing donor funding. Learn from firsthand experiences to develop a program that enhances student financial health and well-being.