Region 1 Regional Notes/Report

Notes/Report: DATE: May 15, 2008 - REGION 1 May 2008 MEETING NYSFAAA Region 1 Minutes 5/15/08 Buffalo State College Attendees: Brent McEnroe-UB, Amanda Lodyga-UB, Rachel Barker, Laura Helmich-PNC, Tammi Meidenbauer-Medialle, Jeanne Mossios-Medaille, Karen Miller-Medaille, Jim Ayers-Bryant & Stratton, Jean Russo- Bryant & Stratton, Diane Kasprzak-Villa Maria College, Christina Horner-Villa Maria College, Sister M. Diane Miller-Villa Maria College, Terry Adamczyk-Trocaire College, Martie Howell-NU, Jennifer Garey-NU, Diane Sturzenbecker-Jamestown Bus. College, Jean Branicky- Medaille, Susan Barber-D’Youville College, Lorraine Metz-D'Youville College, Marc Woolf-HESC, Jennifer Pollard-Sallie Mae, Sandy Stevenson-EDFUND, Stephanie Kindzia-Buffalo State, Karen Blankenburg- Wachovia, Michael Hartman-ELM, Susan Wright-Buffalo State, Kent McGowan-Buffalo State College, Mary Koehneke-Canisius College, Michele Rizzo-Canisius College, Lea Nicholson-Canisius College, Dan Hunter-Retired/Buffalo State College, Katrina Delgrosso-Chase, Carrie Newman-Nelnet, Beverly Chudy-Hilbert College, Leigh Bove- Great Lakes, Kathleen Armstrong, Kathleen Michalski-NCCC, Darcie Stephenson-Bank of America, Jerome Moss-Key bank, Warren Hoffman- Buffalo State, Bob Neale-Medaille College, Lisa Morrison-Buffalo State College, Vince Scalise-CLC. Brent McEnroe: Introductions & Treasury Report. NYSFAAA Region 1 Meeting 5/15/08 Buffalo State College Treasurer’s Report Balance as of 03/27/08: $1,764.85 Minus: 04/08/08 $2.00 Check Image Fee 05/06/08 $2.00 Check Image Fee Plus: 04/18/08 $2,925.00 Revenue Share Balance as of 05/06/08: $4,685.85 Lynn Chilson & Kevin Ryan will attend Exec. Council. The retreat takes place 6/18-6/20. Exec Council has invited the Chairs of each region to attend. Council will have challenges due to the lack of revenue. Exec Council will reduce the annual meetings down to three from four. There will be no June meeting. This was a decision made by the members. Kevin will post on the listserv as to when and where the September meeting will take place. The annual NYSFAAA Conference will be held in Buffalo this year, however, it is sponsored by Region 3. Carrie Newman: Mentioned that the membership will expire at the end of June, however it will carry you until the conference. Most schools pay the membership along with their conference registration fee. Membership is very important especially now due to the current climate in the industry. Michele Rizzo: The Admissions/Financial Aid Workshop will be held off for one year and will be reinstated next year, along with the Support Staff Workshop. Dan Hunter: Novice Training will be held at SUNY Brockport 6/7-6/13. Marc Woolf: HESC Update HESC Update May 2008 AltLoan Connection HESC is pleased to announce a new feature in loan processing, AltLoan Connection. For schools using AltLoan Connection, both alternative and federal loans associated with individual borrowers will be displayed in HESCWeb. In addition, AltLoan Connection provides schools with the following alternative loan processing features: • One source to send and receive CommonLine files. • Online or batch processing for alternative loan certifications and application updates. • School certification profiles that allow schools to create default values for various populations, eliminating need to rekey information for each online loan certification. Simply pick a profile to pre-fill data fields. • Lender certification profiles that allow lenders to indicate all fields required for online certification. Required fields will be conveniently marked with a red asterisk. • Lender contact information, including helpful telephone numbers, displayed within AltLoan Connection Web pages. • Promissory note reprints may be requested and sent to a borrower's permanent or temporary address. • Electronic file history and individual file details for each record. • Emails alerting schools that alternative loan certification requests or error files have been received. Schools may provide multiple email addresses to HESC. • Comment section on each account to record pertinent information within AltLoan Connection. If you are interested in using AltLoan Connection, contact your HESC Client Relations Manager. Loan Guarantee Processing Loans pending guarantee due to the default fee implementation date will be moved to production the night of April 30 and processing will begin on May 1st. Stafford and PLUS (with lender approved credit) should be guaranteed on May 1st. PLUS, where HESC performs the credit check, should be guaranteed on May 2nd. Lenders Available Via HESC e-MPN Process In order to facilitate e-MPN processing, HESC has made changes in its lender drop down list logic. As of May 1st, if HESC has been notified by a lender, the list of available lenders will be displayed by school code. This will assist students in selecting a lender that will process a loan for the school they are attending. Schools must continue to maintain their own preferred lender list as this cannot be managed by HESC automatically. Please check your drop down lender list for accuracy on May 1st. Scholarship Webinar HESC continues to utilize the internet to provide training. A Scholarship Webinar is scheduled for May 9, 2008 at 2:00pm. Beginning on May 12, 2008 the replay will be available in the "Training Center" on HESCWeb. ED Increases Aggregate Loan Limit for Grad and Professional Students Enrolled in Certain Health Professions. On April 18, 2008, the Department of Education published Dear Colleague Letter: GEN-08-04, FP-08-04 . This letter announced that effective April 18, 2008, the aggregate loan limit for graduate and professional students enrolled in certain approved health professions programs is increased from $189,125 to $224,000. This change was in production at HESC on April 22, 2008 Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the Office of Regulatory Compliance at: 518-573-3986; for toll free calls: 1-866-431-HESC (1-866-431-4372) or, by e-mail to: AskPolicy@hesc.org. Carrie Newman welcomed Jean Russo back to the aid community. CONGRATULATIONS to Kevin Ryan as he earned his MS in Student Personnel. Great job Kevin!! Warren Hoffman: SUNYFAP sent in a significant report to Joe Frey in reference to the Draft. CONGRATULATIONS to Warren Hoffman as he received a proclamation from Governor Patterson during the 08 SUNYFAP Conference honoring his service. Warren also received a citation from the Board of Trustees of HESC as he served on the Advisory Board as the President of SUNYFAP. Thanks for all your efforts Warren!! CONGRATULATIONS to: Warren Hoffman Janet Ganley Diane Kasprzak As they pursue new careers in retirement. You will all be missed!! POSTED BY: Kevin Ryan