Region 1 Regional Notes/Report

Notes/Report: DATE: November 8, 2007 - Region 1 Nov 2007 Minutes Region 1 Minutes Hilbert College 11/8/07 Attendees: Katrina Delgrosso-Chase, Rachel Barker-AFC, Jean Branicky-Medaille, Dan Dunn-CLC, Suna Combs-Hilbert, Kelly Canaski-Hilbert, Sherrie Sheppard-HSBC, Leigh Bove-Great Lakes, Mary Jo Brockel-St. Bonaventure, Troy Martin-Houghton College, Sandy Stevenson-Edfund, Warren Hoffman-Buffalo State, Janet McGrath-Trocaire, Laura Helmich- PNC, Kayann Taylor-Houghton College, Marianne Loper-Houghton College, Mary Koehneke-Canisius College, Lea Nicholson-Canisius College, Diane Kaspryzak-Villa Maria, Sister Mary Diane Miller-Villa Maria, Jason Tranquilli-Daemen, Theresa Gieseke-TERI, Brent Mcenroe- UB, Ambrose Price II-Citizens Bank, Brian Levy-Student Loan Express, Stephanie Atti-D’Youville College, Elizabeth Yager-Jamestown Business Institute, Deb Mauro-Jamestown Business Institute, Diane Sturzenbecker-Jamestown Business College, Abbey Lisner-Nelnet, Tim O’Donnell-Access Group, Ithrene Cameron-Sallie Mae, Jack Rafferty- HESC, Kim Lennon-HESC, Joann Fisher-HESC, Kevin Ryan-UB, Lynn Chilson-Buffalo State, Lisa Morrison-Buffalo State, Scott Weltjen- ECC, Kathy Michalski-NCCC, Michael Rivera-Chase, Sarah Izzo-ECC, Dan Hunter-Emeritus/Trocaire (temp), Holly Zaglaniczny-Edamerica, Courtney Harris-Campus Door, Steve Sweet-HESC, Marc Woolf-HESC, Beverly Chudy-Hilbert, Laura Worley-Citibank, Elaine Szczpanski- Hilbert College, Jerome Moss-Key Bank Kevin Ryan: Began meeting at 9:40 and introductions were made. Great turnout…….thanks Region 1 members! Brent Mcenroe: Treasury Report Brent also made mention that Dan Tramuta covered the expenses for the beverages for our last meeting that was held at SUNY Fredonia. Region 1 would like to thank Dan for this gesture. “Thanks Dan” Brent also mentioned that on Nov 22 NYSFAAA members are participating in the Annual Turkey Trot if anyone is interested please feel free to join in. Contact Brent, Kevin, Laura. This event is held on Thanksgiving Day. You can walk or run. Laura Worley: This years Holiday meeting will be held at the Italian Village located on Wehrle Dr. in Williamsville on Dec. 11th. Thanks to Paola Oshirick who has a contact (family member) and we were able to secure the date at a reasonable price. Hopefully we will be able to utilize the NYSFAAA website for registration, if not Laura will have to do paper registration. Checks are to made payable to NYSFAAA Region 1 and all checks must be made out in advance prior to the meeting. Meeting will begin at 11 unless a representative from the AG’s office will be joining us. If so meeting may begin earlier and lunch will be served between 12-12:30. Please bring a $10 unwrapped toy for toys for tots. Please be sure to pay in advance so Brent does not have to collect money the day of the event. Kathy Michalski: (HS Counselor Workshop) High school workshops had a great showing. St Bonaventure was held on Tuesday 11/6/07 and there were 41 counselors. Classics 5 was held on 11/7/07 and had 129 counselors. Thank you to all volunteers who assisted and presented. There were presentations on SLATE, The Savvy Consumer, Best Finance Options. Kathy is beginning to review the evaluations. So far they look good. The Middle schools have not been invited to date but review this issue year to year. Looking for volunteers for next year. Thank you to Brian and Kathy. Lynn Chilson: (Exec. Council) Encourage everyone to join NYSFAAA….membership is down. Net meeting Dec. 13th & 14th Starts at noon on the 13th and ends at noon on the 13th. Anyone interested please join as Exec. Counsil will meet in Buffalo. Kevin mentioned that Curt Guame was going to speak to Council in reference to keeping areas of NYSFAAA Web open and available to non-members to view any training presentations that are posted to the web. Leigh Bove: (Membership Update) Membership is down. Reason may be as checks have not been accepted. Checks are floating around uncashed and not processed to membership. Leigh has a list of current members and those that are going to expire. Will pass around so please review list. There are currently 204 members in Region 1, 64 of which are going to expire 11/16. Leigh and Carrie are looking at avenues to aid in gaining membership. Will reach out to folks whose memberships have expired. Leigh has a brochure that they will include with any mailing that they may do to the expired members to inform them as to what they get out of NYSFAAA. Ambrose Price: College Goal Sunday is scheduled for November 10th. Ambrose thought that it might be held at Medaille College, however he is looking at other options at this point. Looking at a high school that has a computer lab, looking at possibilities of Hutch Tech, Bennett, Lafayette and Grover Cleveland. Ambrose has reached out to the Principals of one of these schools but he has not been responsive. Looking to do live FAFSA forms. NY has participated last year and will be participating this year. Ambrose will contact Kathy Michalski for assistance with the HS counselors. Holly will be hosting another site in Jamestown. Also looking at a HS. Both sites are in need of volunteers. Please try and help. The goal is to serve 100 students. Time frame of the workshop generally runs from 1-4 pm. Anyone interested please contact Ambrose or Holly. Holly had mentioned that there was an announcement made at the HS workshop. Kevin Ryan: Brent Mcenroe was the recipient for the Rising Star Award. Circle Club award was presented to Janet McGrath. Mary Koenek presented Kathy Michalski with the Service Award. Congratulations Brent, Janet and Kathy for all of your hard work and dedication to NYSFAAA!!!! HESC Update by Marc Woolf HESC Update November 2007 HESC’s Administrative Workshops – Save the date HESC's 2007 Administrative Workshops, the annual statewide training program for college aid administrators, bursars, and others with HESC program responsibilities, will be offered on the following schedule: • Wednesday, December 5 - Buffalo • Thursday, December 6 - Rochester • Friday, December 7 - Syracuse • Monday, December 10 - Albany • Wednesday, December 12 - Long Island • Thursday, December 13 - NYC • Friday, December 14 - NYC The workshops will include instruction on many aspects of New York State Grants and Scholarships as well as FFEL program administration. An agenda/invitation with complete information on locations and times will be available shortly. Join HESC for the Upcoming Webinars HESC is offering two additional webinars to our school and lender partners. The webinars will be held on December 17th at the following times: • Lender Advisory Committee Meeting – 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. • TAP Earned Credit Reporting – 3:30 – 4:40 p.m. Please join HESC staff for these informative sessions, and bring your questions. If you missed the Webinar on Oct. 22nd which covered Accelerated Study and PT TAP eligibility and certification requirements, along with detailed Grants and Scholarships Web page navigation tips or would like to review its content, watch and listen to a replay of the event at your convenience. Just click on What’s New on the College Administrators section on HESCweb. ED PUBLISHES FINAL LOAN AND GENERAL PROVISIONS REGULATIONS The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has published final loan regulations and final general provisions regulations in the November 1, 2007 Federal Register, which become effective July 1, 2008. HESC’s Office of Regulatory Compliance will be working with other industry partners and will provide more information about these new provisions as more information becomes available. In the interim, questions regarding this announcement 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. HESC’s Default Rate Lowest in 34 Year History The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has reached a milestone in its 2005 Cohort Default Rate – 3.9 percent, according to statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education recently. Leading the way in default avoidance for more that a decade, HESC assists College Financial Aid Administrators to successfully contact and help students with repayment options and debt management education. This spring, HESC awarded $1 million to 29 schools to help prevent student loan defaults. The grants, ranging from $4,800 to almost $50,000, were awarded to competitively selected colleges and universities for their proposals to identify risks that contribute to student loan default, and to develop and implement new programs which have the best potential to significantly reduce the dollar amount of defaulted loans. You can register online for the HESC Admin workshop!! Ithrene Cameron made mention that Jennifer Pollard will be taking over several schools in Buffalo . Katrina DelGrosso now working with Chase. Covering several schools in NY. Leigh expecting a boy in April. Congratulations to the Bove family!!! Mary Jo Brockel asked if the AG has contacted anyone to see if they can come to your hS nights. Many had been getting requests. There was a discussion whether or not we should invite the AG’s office to one of our meetings. However, their history has been they they schedule and cancel. Kevin has left 4 messages for the AG’s office to see if they want to come out and meet with us. His asst has called back and left a message for Kevin beging him to call back as they want to come to another meeting. Warren says go ahead and invite them. Next meeting they will be available to come would be in February. Ithrene and Sherry made a motion to hold a separate meeting to have the AG office come and meet with us. Why not invite them to our holiday meeting and let them speak before our meeting begins. Kevin will try and invite them to the holiday meeting. No promises. Mary Jo asked if anyone else has been approached by their President to sign a Code of Conduct personally. Mary Jo has concerns. SUNY schools have already signed the Code of Conduct, however, they were signed by the Presidents not individual employee. If you know that the AG coming to a HS could you please let the region know so we are all aware. Thanks! POSTED BY: Kevin Ryan