• Welcome

• Charity Reminders

• Housekeeping

  •  Reminders about dinner groups

Presenter: Development Partners |  Moderator: Janee Knippenberg, PNC

Speed Networking

Speed Networking (Business Speed Dating) is an extremely time-saving and effective way of making professional contacts. The purpose of speed networking is to encourage participants to make as many connections as possible. 

• How One School Estimated the Impact of the New FAFSA, and How You Can Too

  • Presenter: Brad Barnett |  Moderator: Patty Peterson, Citizens

  • Location: Port I-III

  • The "go-live" date for significant changes to the Federal Methodology (FM) formula is rapidly approaching. In December 2023, the new 2024-25 FAFSA will become available and the Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the expected family contribution (EFC). Have you begun thinking about the impact the SAI will have on your packaging strategies, budgets, and other need-based aid programs? If not, it's time. In this session you'll see how James Madison University is using NASFAA's SAI Modeling Tool to estimate the financial impact this change will have, and to make an informed request to the institution's senior leadership for more funds to use for packaging in 2024-25.

• Recharge!

  • Presenter: Cynthia Duncan |  Moderator: Kathleen Roebuck, Cognition Financial

  • Location: Port VI

  • CommonHealth has been providing wellness programming to state employees for over 35 years. Join us for our new campaign, Recharge! 

Have you noticed that you get enough sleep, but you're still not feeling rested? Sleep and rest are not the same thing, and sleep doesn't provide all of the different kinds of rest we need. Explore the resources from this campaign and learn the seven types of rest we all need. Gain the skills and tools you need to boost and maintain energy. 

Find out more about Recharge and CommonHealth at https://commonhealth.virginia.gov/program.html 

• Just-In-Time SAP Interventions

  • Presenter: Megan Hartless |  Moderator: Chester Priest, KHEAA

  • Location: Port VIII

  • BRCC has had an Academic Success Workshop intervention in place for several years, assisting first time SAP failure students with interventions helping them to return to their academic work with more resources and resilience. This session will discuss their SAP program, its implementation, and the increased success in student outcomes that have resulted from this program.

• Professional Headshots

  • Photography by Marcela  | Register Here

  • Location: Terrace

  • We are excited to be offering professional headshots during the conference. Marcela will have 30 slots available, registration here. Each registrant will receive 2 photos available to download after the conference, the link will be sent once available.

Check out Marcela's work here: https://www.facebook.com/MarcelaPradoPheth/

• Introduction to the 2022 Tax Forms and Changes to the Tax Code

  • Presenter: Robert Weinerman |  Moderator: Nanette White, Sallie Mae

  • Location: Port VII

  • Whether you are using the 2022 tax forms as documentation to support a 2023-2024 professional judgment or are gearing up for the 2024-2025 aid year cycle, a comprehensive look at the 2022 tax forms and changes to the tax code is a good place to start. In this session, we will look at the FAFSA data that appear on the tax forms and changes to the tax code that aid officers will want to be familiar with. And of course, any information we know about the IRS Direct Data Transfer process, using tax returns in 2024-2025, etc. will be covered. Pandemic tax relief programs that may be reflected on the 2022 tax returns will also be reviewed.

• Finance is a loaded topic! 

  • Presenter: Kevin Holman, College Ave

  • Location: Port I-III

  • Often times we make decisions based on our emotions, rather than what might actually be best for us financially.  There are many reasons for this.  Learning your students' "Money Story" and their past experiences with money will help you to better understand how they view their finances and approach money management.   In this session, we'll discuss how ideas around money are formed and how to have that discussion with your students.  We'll explore why two people may view the same scenario differently and take different actions to approach it.  The key is to find a way to talk about money with your students in a way that they understand and feel comfortable.  

• How to use Social media and other Tactics to Engage Gen Z

  • Presenter: Chansone Durden & Tim Young, Earnest

  • Location: Port VI

  • With calls, email, texts, letters, and tweets, you might wonder how students still miss your messages. Students are overstimulated and if you want your message to be heard, you have to think like a social media company. Here, you will find the tools you need to engage your students on their terms and make your message heard.

• The Future is Now: Preparing for the Resumption of Repayment

  • Presenter: Dave Deibel, ECMC

  • Location: Port VII

  • After more than three years, borrowers will soon be returning to repayment. Come learn about what’s going to happen once repayment resumes and the potential impact on your school. What can you do now to create more informed borrowers? What are some future accountability metrics being considered aside from the current CDR? 

• We Heard You: How Your Feedback was Incorporated into our Net Price Calculator

  • Presenter: Brad Scaggs, Kennedy & Company

  • Location: Port VIII

  • In this session we will show you the updates we have made to our net price calculator, 1stAid, based on your feedback. We will discuss the importance of having one prominently displayed on your website. We will talk about how it can help you comply with regulations including the recent cost of attendance rules, yet still help you have meaningful financial literacy conversations with students and families. 1stAid continues to be a lead generator and affordability tool that supports student retention and success. Come learn about the updates we made that make it the best tool yet.

Presenter: Brad Barnett | Moderator: Matt Nettleton, Inceptia

Can You Afford ($) to Work in Financial Aid?

You love financial aid and the ability to positively impact the lives of the students you serve, but you wonder if you can afford to make a career out of it. Positioning yourself to earn more money in the long term is important, but often overlooked are ways you can be more effective with the money you're earning today. This session will help attendees identify how to get the most out of your money. 

• Planning for the Future in the Financial Aid Office

  • Presenter: Dana Kelly | Moderator: Anne Traverso, SoFi

  • Location: Port VI

  • We hear buzz words around succession planning, career development, retaining talent, etc.  This session will look at how the future will impact work in general, and look at practical considerations for the aid office given what we already know about higher education organizational structure, demands of Title IV administration and the new normal coming out of the pandemic.

• Breaking Barriers: Accessing State Financial Aid using the VASA Application

  • Presenter: Tierney Jackson | Moderator: Scott Oris, ELM

  • Location: Port VII

  • Join us for an informative session on the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) Application, which is the alternative application available to students, including undocumented and DACA recipients, who are ineligible to file a FAFSA. This session will cover what the VASA application is, who can benefit from it, and how to file it as well as provide a walkthrough of the application.

• Loan in a Changing Environment - How Should We Counsel?

  • Presenter: Will Shaffner  | Moderator: Dennis Moy, Discover

  • Location: Port VIII

  • Participants in this conversation will discuss Public Service Loan Forgiveness, The Biden Harris Loan Forgiveness and other initiatives impacting student loans and the impact on students and aid offices.  How should we counsel in these rapidly changing times?

• Top 10 Issues in FAFSA Simplification You May Have Missed

  • Presenter: Daniel Barkowitz | Moderator: Becky Davis, Ascendium

  • Location: Port I-III

  • This session will address some of the complex issues resulting from the FAFSA Simplification Act.  We are all familiar with the change from EFC to SAI, but what about the changes to asset reporting, child support received, determination of family size, provisional independent student, definition of single parent, changes to Pell Grant proration, and the endless reasons for students to submit a professional judgment in light of these changes?  We will walk through these complexities and highlight some of the changes you might have missed from other presentations and offer suggestions for how to prepare for these challenges at your institution.  

Presenter: History Alive |  Moderator: Joe Dobrota

Sounds Like Freedom

Sounds Like Freedom weaves together three inspiring local stories of emancipation BEFORE the proclamation. Utilizing four actors playing multiple characters, each scene is punctuated by a lively or moving spiritual. This presentation holds the attention of the group with fast-paced scene movement and lively harmonies. 

Please join us for dinner with our Development Partners. Let's get together, relax, and have a great meal with even better company. The reservation has been made and all you need to do is sign up, show up, and have fun. Next to each restaurant on the sign-up is an indication of price and how far it is from the hotel. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 6PM.  Please find the Development Partner that will lead your group to the restaurant. Each person will be responsible for their own check. Most restaurants are in walking distance.  We look forward to seeing you in Portsmouth! 

Sign up Here!

• Guad's Oldetown

  • Website: www.guadsmexicanrestaurant.com 

• Olde Towne Public House

  • Website: http://oldetownepublichouse.com 

• Roger Brown's Restaurant

  • Website: https://www.rogerbrowns.com 

• Bangkok Garden Noodle

  • Website: https://www.bkknoodlehouse.com 

• Gosport Tavern

  • Website: https://www.gosporteats.com/

Music Experience with Lou Murray

Wear your tie-dye for a 60's theme to celebrate VASFAA's 55th year and join us Monday night for an entertainment event like no other.  Together we will celebrate our opportunity to network together while celebrating our favorite music.  We'll play the most rocking form of bingo, sing, dance, play other music games and share the stories of nostalgia that music often brings to us.  Yes, there will be snacks, drinks, and prizes!