Region 1 Regional Notes/Report

Notes/Report: DATE: January 1, 2007 - REGION 1 DECEMBER 2007 MEETING Region 1 Holiday Meeting Italian Village 12/11/07 Attendees: Terry Adamczyk-Trocaire College, Bernice Anson-Retired- ECC, Anne Barton-NSLP, Leigh Bove-Great Lakes, Jean Branicky- Medaille College, Mary Jo Brockel-St. Bonaventure, Ithrene Cameron- Salliemae, Lynn Chilson-Buff State, Barbara Corcoran- Niagara University, Jennifer Garey-Niagara University, Curt Guame-Canisius, Theresa Gieseke-TERI, Valerie Goodwin-Olean Business Institute, Phyllis Hart-Medaille College, Warren Hoffman-Buff State, Martie Howell-Niagara University, Dan Hunter-Retired (PT Trocaire), Stephanie Kindzia-Buff State, Mary Koehneke-Canisius, Andy Leardini- Nelnet, Brian Levy-Student Loan Express, Debbie, Mansour-Citibank, Brent McEnroe-UB, Janet McGrath-Trocaire, Karen Miller-Medaille, Sister Mary Diane Miller-Villa, Lisa Morrison-Buff State, Lea Nicholson-Canisius, Susan O’Leary-Medaille, Paola Oshirak-Erie 1 Boces, Jeff Pagano-Daemen, Jennifer Pollard-Salliemae, Ambrose Price II-Citizens Bank, Michele Rizzo-Canisius, Kevin Ryan-UB, Maureen Salfi-Niagara University, Sherrie Shepard-HSBC, Darcie Stephans-Bank of America, Sandy Stevenson-EdFund, Diane Sturzenbecker-Jamestown Business Institute, Marc Woolf-HESC, Laura Worley-Citibank, Kathleen Armstrong-M & T, Bev Chudy-Hilbert, Jeremy Corrente-SUNY Fredonia, Tracy Kelly-SUNY Fredonia, Julie Lanski-Hilbert, Jerome Moss-Key Bank, Vince Scalise-CLC, Elaine Szczepanski-Hilbert, Dan Tramuta- SUNY Fredonia, Eddie Viera-National Education, Megan Zaffalon-SUNY Fredonia, Troy Martin-Houghton, Rachel Barker-AFC, Marianne Loper- Houghton, Kayann Taylor-Houghton, Rick Ross-M & T, Judy Beitz-Bryant & Stratton, Mary Costello-Daemen, Laura (Caruso) Helmich), Robert Kocoecki-Bryant & Stratton, Amanda Lodyga-UB, Christine Tamburrino- Niagara University, Jason Tranquilli-Daemen, Lorraine Metz- D’Youville, Stephanie Atti-D’Youville, Susan Barber-D’Youville, Matt Metz-D’Youville Kevin Ryan: Meeting called to order at noon. Introductions were done. Kevin made mention that Toys for Tots was once again a HUGE success!! Thanks to all the members who donated. Donations appear to be getting better each year. Brent McEnroe: Treasury Report. NYSFAAA Region 1 Meeting 12/11/2007 The Italian Village Restaurant Treasurer’s Report Balance as of 10/09/07: $2,096.55 Minus: 11/06/07 $2.00 Check Image Fee 11/07/07 $74.35 Kevin Ryan Admissions Advisor Workshop Certificate Reimbursement 12/05/07 $90.00 Hallmark Management-Region 1 Meeting 11/14/07 Hilbert College 12/06/07 $2.00 Check Image Fee Equals: $1,928.20 Ending Balance as of 12/06/2007: $1,928.20 Lynn Chilson: Exec. Council Council will be meeting on 12/13 & 12/14. Meeting will begin at noon on 12/13 and end at noon on 12/14. Meeting will be held at the Marriott on Millersport Ave. Members are welcome to attend. Mary Jo Brockel: Mary Jo brought to the Regions attention that she had done a HS night and had a member of the AG’s office attend as well. The representative was Richard T. Freiferter. Mary Jo indicated that Mr. Freiferter was very aggressive. Asked the families if they knew what was going on in the industry. Proceeded to tell them that there were unethical practices that were unveiled by the AG’s Office. Told them that there were 100’s of schools that were cited for these unethical practices and also mentioned a few lenders and told them that if they went out to the AG’s website they would find the schools that were cited. Mary Jo had visited the website and DID not find 100 schools. Dan Tramuta: Mentioned that he had done a HS night the previous evening in Akron. Indicated that the AG’s office is making contact with the HS’s to make appearances at these HS nights. It had been mentioned that the AG’s office should be meeting with members of NYSFAAA . Kevin will ask Heather and Curt to make contact with the AG’s office to ensure that families are receiving the proper information. Marc Woolf: HESC Update: HESC Update December 2007 HESC’s Holiday Processing Schedule: Monday, December 24, 2007 • EFT Escrow and refunds will be run at regular times • EFT Express will not run • Normal processing will occur during the day. Any batch files will not be processed until the evening of December 26th. Tuesday, December 25, 2007 • HESC Offices will be closed • Any batch files will not be processed until the evening of December 26th. • Inquiry and Online updates will be available Wednesday, December 26, 2007 • All processing will resume at 6:00 am • Regular production schedule will be run New Year's Processing Shut Down and System Upgrade Typically, the period surrounding New Year's Day is very slow, with low telephone call and processing volume. Most schools and some lenders are closed. HESC is taking this opportunity to shut down processing and update its systems from Noon on Saturday, December 29 through 6 AM on Wednesday, January 2. This will give us the time needed to: • Update the Grants & Scholarships database so that we can start processing TAP with the 2008 ISIR records • Enable lenders to view Credit Reports • Add first disbursement date instead of guarantee date when calculating origination fees paid by the lender for EFT Express. • Make behind the scenes updates We anticipate the benefits from these updates will outweigh the inconvenience which may be experienced by our customers. The following schedule covers the period surrounding New Year's Day. Monday, December 31, 2007 • No processing will occur • Inquiry and Online systems will not be available Tuesday, January 1, 2008 • HESC Offices will be closed • Any batch files received will not be processed until the evening of January 2nd. • Inquiry and online updates will not be available Wednesday, January 2, 2008 • All processing will resume at 6:00 am • Regular production schedule will be run New York State Math & Science Teaching Incentive Payment HESC is in the process of finalizing payments for eligible New York State Math & Science teaching incentive award recipients for the 2006-07 award year. Awards will be paid directly to schools on behalf of students upon their successful completion of each academic year. Recipients shall receive an annual payment equal to the average SUNY tuition or actual tuition; whichever is less. The maximum annual award for the 2006-2007 academic year is $4,350. Awards will be paid for fall and spring at schools operating on a semester based calendar and will be paid for fall, winter and spring terms at schools operating on a trimester based calendar. Although there is no provision for New York State Math & Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships to pay summer awards, credits earned during summer study may be used toward the 27 earned credit hour requirement. Since the NYS Math & Science recipient is required to complete the academic year and have earned at least 27 credits, HESC advises school officials to not disburse funds until all term certification is complete and the Remittance Advice has been received. Do not disburse funds for the Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship until a remittance advice has been received and payment authorization confirmed. As with all Consolidated Scholarship Roster-SU8069 (CSRs), each institution’s TAP certifying officer must print their institution’s CSR and use it to certify each listed student’s scholarship eligibility. Once each CSR is certified and returned to HESC for processing, HESC will generate a related Consolidated Scholarship Remittance Advice – SU8071 (CSRA). Again, do not disburse funds for the Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship until the remittance advice has been received and payment authorization confirmed. NYS Math & Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship payments for the student(s) appearing on Consolidated Scholarship Rosters (CSRs) will be sent to schools upon the successful completion of each academic year. Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) or checks will be made payable to the college for the total value of the awards on the list. If it is determined that a student on the CSR is not eligible for an award, an amount equal to the award must be refunded within 30 days of the receipt of payment. Please return any refund checks to: HESC TAP Cashiers Unit 14th Floor 99 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12255 Applications for the 2007-08 academic year will be available in January 2008. Online Access to Consolidated Scholarship Roster and Remittance Advice HESC provides you with online access to your school’s Consolidated Scholarship Roster – SU8069 (CSR) and Consolidated Scholarship Remittance Advice – SU8071 (CSRA). The CSR displays the scholarship identification number, name, award amounts and eligibility points for each student. Each institution’s TAP certifying officer must print their institution’s CSRs, complete them, and use them to certify each listed student’s scholarship eligibility. There is a separate line entry for each scholarship or grant held by a student. Each entry must be certified. Once each CSR is certified, returned to HESC and processed, HESC will generate a related CSRA. The CSRA shows the certification activity as well as an itemized list of total dollars paid for each scholarship, the supplemental payments to schools, and the refund amounts that must be returned to HESC. Available CSRs The 2007-08 CSR for the scholarships listed below are available now. • World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship (WTC) • Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer • Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers (MS) • Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS) • Flight 587 Memorial (FM) • Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship • Math and Science Teacher Incentive Scholarship CSRs for prior academic years, listing students who are eligible for the above programs and who have indicated acceptance at your institution, are routinely updated as new student awards are processed. Viewing and Printing CSRs and CSRAs 2007-08 CSRs as well as CSRs for prior years may be viewed and printed from HESCWeb. To get to HESCWeb, visit the HESC Transaction Center in the College Administrator section of HESC.org. Click Transaction Processing, select Grants and Scholarships and log in. Select the Reports tab then Details to view the report. HESC no longer mails CSRs and CSRAs schools. CSRs and CSRAs are not available as electronic files. For more information, refer to HESC Financial Aid Services Bulletin 2005 - 021 on Scholarship Modernization, issued September 8, 2005, which describes the Consolidated Scholarship Roster Process. If you have questions regarding Consolidated Scholarship Roster certifications or the Consolidation Scholarship Remittance Advice, additional information is available in the Programs, Policies and Procedures manual, Appendix F. ED PUBLISHES LOAN DISCHARGE APPLICATION FOR SPOUSES AND PARENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 VICTIMS On November 9, 2007, the Department of Education published Dear Colleague Letter, GEN -07-08, which announced the approval of the new loan discharge application for spouses and parents of 9/11 victims. The Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2006 (THEEA) authorized the discharge of the outstanding balances of certain FFEL, Direct Loan, and Perkins Loan program loans. The eligible loans were those made to the spouses or parents of eligible public servants and other eligible victims who died or became totally and permanently disabled due to injuries suffered in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The loan discharge benefit created by the THEEA is available only for FFEL, Direct Loan, and Perkins Loan program loans on which amounts had been owed on September 11, 2001, and on which amounts are still owed on the date the discharge is requested. The THEEA does not authorize the refunding of any loan payments that a borrower has made prior to the loan discharge date. The new Loan Discharge Application: Spouses and Parents of September 11, 2001 Victims is made available to borrowers for immediate use. Questions regarding this guidance should be directed to the Office of Regulatory Compliance at 518-473-3986, toll free at: 1-866-431- HESC (1-866-431-4372) press 6, or: askpolicy@hesc.org Next Meeting: Kevin mentioned that the next meeting will be held at Medaille College on 2/22/08. We are still in need for a location for the March meeting. Who wishes to volunteer their beautiful campus for our March meeting? Ambrose Price: College Goal Sunday. Please remember College Goal Sunday is scheduled for February 10th, 2008. I inadvertently indicated that it was scheduled for November 10th in the last minutes. Ambrose has a meeting on Friday 12/14/08 to possibly secure a site. Will advise once a commitment is made. Volunteers will need to go out to the College Goal Website to register (even if you have provided Ambrose with a verbal that you would volunteer). Along with registering you must provide your t- shirt size. The website is www.collegegoalsundayny.org. SUNY Financial Day is scheduled for 1/19/08 at SUNY Fredonia and 2/2/08 at Buff State and UB. Dan Hunter did his annual Christmas Blessing with “two Traveling Angels”. Thanks Dan for a beautiful job!! Warren Hoffman also did a Hanukkah blessing. Thank you Warren for a job well done!! I would like to wish everyone a safe and joyous Holiday season and the Happiest of New Years!!!! POSTED BY: Kevin Ryan