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A key in advocating for student issues at the political level is to use the skills of colleagues to respond through the association. But even one letter can make a difference. |
State Reports  State Issues, Federal Issues, Institutional involvement...
I feel fortunate to have had the exposure to working on State
Issues, assisting with Federal Issues and my own involvement
at my institution. California has two state associations,
the California Association of Student Financial Aid
Administrators, CASFAA representing all segments and the
California Community College Student Financial Aid
Administrators, CCCSFAAA, representing 107 California Community Colleges in California, has taken an active
role through our Chancellor's Office dealing with issues
somewhat unique to California Community Colleges such
as the Pell sensitivity issue. Chancellor Nussbaum provides
updates on issues through emails and Linda Michaelowski
has advocated hard on Federal issues currently our Acting
Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations and External
Affairs. Speaking for my institutional involvement, I am fortunate to have strong student aid advocates in the
Chancellor's Office that provides support for me in keeping
up on the issues.Having the opportunity to serve in both associations has broadened my perspective on State and Federal Issues. Serving in the President Elect position chairs the State Issues for both associations. CASFAA has developed on the state level, Day at the Capitol. It is a day set aside and open to the membership to meet in the State Capitol to advocate on student aid issues. The past several years we have had the opportunity to hear updates from the Assistant Secretary for Higher Education, Deputy Director of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Chief Consultant for the Assembly Higher Education Committee, the Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission and more. The afternoon is an opportunity to meet with representatives from each of our districts. The Association develops a position paper on talking points to discuss with our representatives or their aids regarding student aid issues. Following the Day at the Capitol, a Thank-you letter is sent to each office that contact was made. The letter comes from the President and notes the number of institutions and students (constituents) in each of their districts and reiterates our talking points. It has been an excellent opportunity to see how the state government works and to make contacts directly with those that have an impact on our students through state programs. My level of federal awareness had been personally limited to writing letters. That involvement was raised while having the opportunity to attend the NASFAA leadership Conference and meet with my representative in Washington. Visiting both Houses in Washington gave me a new perspective. For CASFAA the Vice President, Ann Whitmer, chairs the Federal Issues Committee. CASFAA took an active role with the Federal Issues Committee along with Sandy Ninemire from the California Student Aid Commission to respond to the Fed-Up Initiative. Our association has a non-consensus position where by we will not take any position that would be harmful to any one segment. So all responses had to meet our policy. A table was developed listing issues in order of priority. It appears to have been well received. In a follow-up, Kathleen Smith, the new staff person for the U.S. House Committee, has asked CASFAA on Education, if the association supports the bill, H.R. 1992, Internet Equity and Education Act. A key in advocating for student issues at the political level is to use the skills of colleagues to respond through the association. But even one letter can make a difference. Keeping informed through listservs, emails, and serving the state association has made a big difference for my perspective. |
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