$67 thousand in fines AND imprisonment is insane. Just do right the first time, to avoid being fined in the first place!!

Audits are to be taken seriously.  Stay in compliance.

The importance of record keeping and maintaining and meeting the requirements of all state agencies, accrediting agencies and DOE.

I have learned the importance of an exit counseling; however, I was unaware that I can mail it out to a withdraw student.  I will definitely start doing that.

I now see that the financial aid process involves several of steps, rules, and regulations. I now see why the process can take a while, especially if thousands of individuals are applying for it. The status of getting accepted, rejected or having errors can take time. 

Customer service is everything, even when we are having a rough day! Students are coming to the Financial Aid Department to get help and probably already have a heavy load outside of school. Students can forgive a mistake but not bad attitudes is such a powerful statement, especially when they are trying to figure out the financial side of things. 

Being new to Financial Aid, I have learned how crucial timeliness is to the overall financial aid process, especially the first 48 hours of initial contact. Understanding and interpreting the ISIR is also crucial.  Customer service is key.  I'm a big advocate for customer service; therefore, I speak with each student as if I am in their shoes.  I intend to stick to the timeline of each step in the process.  I will definitely implement creating a list of the crossover students to potentially be packaged for the current and new award year at the same time.  I believe this… >>>

When exercising professional judgment, it's important to document and justify why the situation is considered unusual, with third-party supporting documentation strengthening the case. PJs are award year-specific, requiring re-evaluation each year. Parental refusal to complete the FAFSA or provide support is not a valid reason for a PJ.

Financial Aid Administrators must make reasonable decisions that align with the provision's intent, and the school is responsible for ensuring all PJ decisions are fully documented.

Great overview on C-code that need to be resolved prior to disbursement of TIV.

Schools may choose additional items to verify but must set clear documentation standards and apply them consistently in their policies.