Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Follow-Up: Financial Aid
The Follow-Up: Financial Aid
The Follow-Up
Report
Institutional Assessment
Guidelines:
Financial Aid
(A Guides and Handbooks Report)
Todd V. Titterud
Revised 06/26/2007
The materials in this guideline have been collated to assist your department in the
institutional assessment process. The examples from similar departments in other
institutions are included for comparison purposes to help you develop or revise your own
department’s efforts. They are not intended as recommendations but as efforts to be
reviewed and critiqued to improve your own learning and understanding. While some may be
models of best efforts, others may reveal the range of understanding and interpretation which
is still prevalent. Each department and institution is following their own learning curve toward
the common goal of establishing a culture of evidence-based continuous improvement
founded on student and institutional learning.
To provide counseling to all students and parents on financial aid issues, including
cost of attendance, various types of aid, scholarships and loan indebtedness.
To provide prospective and continuing students with information regarding the Metro
State scholarship application process as well as assisting these individuals in
navigating external funding possibilities.
To provide students hands-on instruction the use of technology for the financial aid
and scholarships processes.
To conduct outreach to communities/organizations/agencies regarding financial aid
programs and options available at Metro State.
To ensure fair and equitable awarding of financial aid and scholarship funds to Metro
State’s student population.
To provide continuing education to students on the Office of Financial Aid’s Policies
and Procedures to ensure continued funding eligibility at Metro State.
To offer students personal budgeting and finance trainings.
To reward outstanding academic achievements by Metro State students.
St. Ambrose University will operate a financial aid office that will comply with
federal regulations and guidelines, uphold the values of the University, and strive to
provide the best customer service possible to the campus community, students and
families.
2 Sample Goals
3 Sample Objectives
a. Monitor packaging rates to determine number of files going out the door in a specifi
c time period
b. Monitor file load per counselor to maintain consistency in workloads
c. Research new processes through Datatel to help streamline processing
d. Strive to reduce paper consumption and become more reliant on the computer
Goal 5 Objectives:
a. Lock filing cabinets to maintain security
b. Keep files on desk to a minimum
c. Lock computers when not in office
d. Keep up to date on Ferpa/Hippa regulations to know when and to whom
information can be given out
Goal 6 Objectives:
a. Run bi-weekly reports of fund balances for state, federal, and institutional aid
to prevent over-awarding
b. Package performance based scholarships as close to Noel Levitz
parameters as possible to maintain financial goals
c. Set and keep institutional priority deadlines to encourage students to file
FAFSA on time and to maintain spending levels
CSU Chico:
Explicit Learning Objectives
Communication skills
Written (applications, appeals, requests for information – includes email
communications)
Verbal (requests for information, interaction with reception staff, interaction with
counseling staff)
Technological Skills
Complete on-line forms (electronic applications for federal aid, loan counseling
sessions, electronic promissory notes, short term loans, scholarship application)
Navigate our website (find specific financial aid information, view electronic
award letters, online forms/counseling, download forms)
Use the Portal (check on holds, view account summary, manage relevant data)
Life skills
Budgeting
Debt management
Time management
Meeting deadlines, consequences of missed deadlines
Balancing school/work/other commitments
Ethics
Honesty, accountability, altruism
Dealing with bureaucracies
Filling out forms, dealing with rules and procedures, finding out how to get help
Implicit Learning Objectives
Cognitive skills (Critical thinking, communication skills, the application of knowledge,
decision making)
Personal development (Affective skills, purpose and integrity, self-esteem, autonomy,
practical competence, management of emotions)
Societal responsibility (Respect and appreciation for human differences, ethical
behavior, social skills, accountability, altruism)
Measurements:
On-time applications
FWS Community Service indicators
Timely completion of files
Response to communications
Loan default rates
Debt levels
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Call volume
Counselor appointments
Successful aid disbursements
Web hits
El Camino College:
Financial Aid
Students using the online Financial Aid Orientation will use more online financial aid
services.
Mendocino College:
The SLO's listed below are what we expect our students to be able to do when they graduate
from Mendocino College with an AA or AS degree. Many of these skills are taught both in the
classroom and by students' interaction with college offices and activities. Please fill in the
chart below indicating how your department helps students to learn these skills. Be specific
and give examples. You may enter "Not Applicable" as appropriate.
1. Assume responsibility for your actions, and work effectively as an individual and as a
member of a group.
Financial Aid: Assist students with adhering to strict timelines to ensure timely
disbursement of their financial aid.
2. Express ideas with clarity, logic, and originality in both spoken and written English.
Financial Aid: Work with students to clearly identify and clearly verbalize their
inquiries of matters related to the financial aid process.
3. Apply mathematical principles to address and solve problems.
Financial Aid: Inputting correct income information/data on the financial aid
application (FAFSA), to minimize any risk of error.
4. Gather and interpret data, using a variety of scientific methods, to address and solve
both practical and theoretical problems.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
5. Analyze, understand, and evaluate diverse ideas, beliefs, and behaviors.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
6. Access, interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information using multiple resources,
including current information technology.
Financial Aid: Encourage students to avail themselves to the computers in the
financial aid office to apply for financial aid online and ensure completion of forms.
7. Enhance physical and psychological well-being by examining and applying health and
wellness concepts.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
8. Explore and express personal creativity throughout your life.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
9. Understand yourself and others as members of our diverse global community.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
10. Understand and evaluate issues concerning use of the world's natural resources.
Financial Aid: Not Applicable
Critical Thinking
Financial Aid SLO: NA
Communication
Financial Aid SLO: Students can write a clear statement to petition a financial aid
dismissal
Intervention: Students must schedule 2 counseling appointments
Assessment Tools:
Expected Outcome: 10% reinstatement for financial aid
Self-Awareness and Inter-personal Skills
Financial Aid SLO: Financial Aid students will understand academic progress
requirements for financial aid eligibility
Intervention: Students are to attend group meetings with the FA counselor to
discuss situation.
Assessment Tools:
Expected Outcome: The number of FA students on dismissal/probationary
status will decrease by 30% within a year
Personal Actions and Civic Responsibility
Financial Aid SLO: NA
Global Awareness
Financial Aid SLO: NA
Technological Awareness
Financial Aid SLO: Students will be able to successfully complete online entrance
and exit interviews
Intervention: Students will participate in an on-line loan counseling session
addressing default prevention.
Assessment Tools: Decrease in college’s default loan rate by 30%.
Expected Outcome: Students will pass an on-line quiz regarding loan eligibility
and default prevention with a score of 80% or higher.