BY JASALYN K. LUCAS | JUL 23, 2024
(Clarksdale, Mississippi) – The Financial Aid Office team recently made waves at the 2024 PowerFAIDS Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This premier event gathered hundreds of financial aid professionals from higher education institutions nationwide, providing our team with valuable insights to elevate student services.
The PowerFAIDS Conference is celebrated for its robust training and networking opportunities, featuring an action-packed lineup of sessions and workshops. Our representatives gained crucial insights into the latest trends, regulations, and best practices in financial aid administration.
“Attending the PowerFAIDS Conference keeps us at the cutting edge of financial aid management,” said Joseph McKee, Director of Financial Aid. “The knowledge and skills we’ve acquired will directly benefit our students and enhance our ability to deliver efficient, effective financial aid services.”
Highlights from the conference included:
- Updates on federal and state financial aid policies
- Strategies for improving student communication and engagement
- Advanced features and functionalities of the PowerFAIDS software
- Best practices for compliance and reporting
Key benefits for our institution include:
- Streamlined Aid Processing: New techniques learned at the conference will help accelerate the financial aid application and award process, reducing wait times for students.
- Enhanced Counseling Services: Staff members are now equipped with advanced counseling strategies to better guide students through complex financial aid scenarios.
- Improved Compliance: Updated knowledge of federal and state regulations ensures full compliance, safeguarding our ability to offer aid programs.
- Technology Integration: Exposure to the latest PowerFAIDS software features will allow for better integration with other campus systems, creating a more seamless experience for students.
- Increased Aid Opportunities: Networking with peers and aid experts has opened doors to potential new scholarship and grant opportunities for our students.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Advanced reporting techniques learned will enable more effective analysis of aid data, informing strategic decisions to benefit students.
“This conference has equipped us with tools to better serve our diverse student body,” added Shanelle Frazier, Student Employment Coordinator of Financial Aid. “We’re excited to implement new strategies that will make the financial aid process more accessible and less daunting for our students.”
Our team’s participation in this event underscores our commitment to excellence in financial aid administration and student support. The knowledge gained is expected to have a significant positive impact on student enrollment, retention, and success rates.
About PowerFAIDS
PowerFAIDS, developed by College Board in the 1990s, has been a cornerstone in financial aid administration for decades. The system has continually evolved to meet changing needs, introducing features like the Net Partner student portal, adapting to prior-prior year requirements, and implementing web APIs. As it approaches its 30th anniversary, PowerFAIDS continues to lead in compliance and efficiency, with its latest cloud-based iteration launched in 2023.
