Webinars

Student success extends beyond the classroom, requiring a comprehensive support system that addresses financial, academic, and mental well-being. In this collaborative webinar, we will explore the vital connection between financial aid, student affairs, and mental health services. We’ll examine how financial stress impacts student well-being, discuss the role of student services in providing holistic support, and share strategies for fostering cross-campus collaboration. Whether you work in financial aid, student affairs, or mental health services, this session will offer valuable insights on creating a more supportive and resilient campus community.

With educator preparation programs experiencing cuts to competitive grant programs and new restrictions on student loans, the TEACH Grant — a complex program that many institutions have not fully implemented — gains new importance.? At this joint American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education/National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators webinar, learn about how this program works and how educator preparation programs and financial aid offices have collaborated to implement it successfully.? Educator preparation and financial aid leaders and staff are encouraged to attend together as they consider whether and how to take advantage of this federal program. 

The January 3, 2025, final rule made significant changes to R2T4 regulations that increase the accuracy and simplicity of calculations, address what constitutes a withdrawal, and codify longstanding policies into regulation. With the July 1, 2026, effective date closing in, it’s time to begin preparing for implementation! Don't worry, we'll help! David Futrell, NASFAA Director of Institutional Compliance and Michelle Thompson, Regulatory Specialist, will focus on the changes made in the final rule and discuss how those changes impact standard R2T4 practices.

Institutions are being asked to do more with less—and the sweeping changes introduced under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” have dramatically increased complexity, workload, and compliance risks for financial aid offices, often without a corresponding increase in staffing or resources.

As institutional leaders navigate these changes, many teams know they need additional support—particularly outsourced services—but struggle to convince senior leadership that external help is not just helpful, but necessary to ensure institutional compliance and student service.

In this practical, strategy-focused webinar, we’ll explore how to effectively advocate for outsourced services and external support to connect regulatory changes, operational bottlenecks, and student impact in ways that resonate with executive leadership and budget decision-makers. The panel will share practical experiences and ideas.

This session explores the powerful connection between students’ financial challenges and their mental health. The first 30 minutes will feature key findings from the Fall 2024 Student Financial Wellness Survey, including that 56 % of students would have trouble accessing $500 in an emergency and 33 % reported symptoms of major depressive disorder and 44 % showed signs of generalized anxiety—underscoring how financial insecurity and mental health concerns intersect.

In the second half, a panel of experienced practitioners will discuss how financial aid professionals can engage in empathetic, informed conversations with students experiencing stress due to finances. Panelists will share practical strategies and communication techniques to help you recognize signs of financial stress, connect students with appropriate resources, and foster holistic support that advances both well-being and student success.

Please join Education Finance Council and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators for a timely discussion on Preferred Lender List (PLL) regulations and institutional best practices.  

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made sweeping changes to federal student aid programs that will widen unmet need gaps and increase the demand for supplemental private education loans. Financial aid offices will play a critical role in helping students navigate these changes but must do so while remaining fully compliant with federal PLL rules and regulations. Speakers will review the statutory and regulatory requirements governing PLLs and discuss ways that institutions can responsibly counsel students while mitigating risk.  

Preparing to attend the NASFAA 2026 National Conference? Watch our Q&A to get all the essential details. We'll cover session highlights, networking opportunities, featured events, the Charity 5K, and tips for first-timers. Get all the information you need to make your conference a success.

As students increasingly rely on private education loans to bridge funding gaps, financial aid professionals are uniquely positioned to help them understand credit and borrowing fundamentals before they apply. This session brings together perspectives from a private lender and a national credit bureau to explore best practices for communicating with students about credit in a compliant, student-centered way.

Panelists will discuss how credit scores are calculated, what lenders evaluate during underwriting, common reasons students are denied, and strategies that improve approval outcomes — including responsible credit use and cosigner considerations. The session will also address how schools can provide meaningful financial wellness education.

Attendees will leave with practical learnings and messaging strategies they can immediately implement to support students making informed borrowing decisions.

In its commitment to the graduate and professional community, NASFAA is providing this webinar as a forum for graduate and professional financial aid administrators to discuss current issues of concern for their students and peers. NASFAA will provide an update on topics specific to the graduate and professional aid community, and close with a question-and-answer session.

New changes to Consumer Information requirements focus on increasing transparency, improving communication, and helping students make informed decisions about their education and finances. Institutions must proactively implement these updates to stay compliant and better support students. This session will review the enhancements and test your knowledge of the requirements.

NASFAA's Annual Business Meeting will be conducted virtually, immediately preceding the Policy Update Webinar. NASFAA's bylaws dictate that the association must meet annually for the purpose of transacting all business which may be brought before the membership. The meeting will include updates on NASFAA's financial status, FAAC®? program, governance and oversight, and diversity efforts.

The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. The Policy Team will provide updates on Higher Education Act reauthorization, student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives, and close with a question-and-answer session.

The webinar will focus on a timely hot topic in the financial aid community. Full webinar details forthcoming.

The NASFAA Quiz Show webinar is back, and we are preparing for yet another season! As always, our NASFAA Quiz Show webinar allows you and your staff a chance to take a break from all the things that keep you awake at night and enjoy a fun webinar set to provide training in an entertaining manner! We bring to life some of those very thought-provoking and sometimes mind blowing AskRegs questions in an approach that is considered edutainment. The goal is to provide a good mix of questions so even our financial aid neophytes can participate in the fun as well. So, join NASFAA's Kochie Vaughan and David Tolman in this engaging webinar as they test your knowledge on a variety of financial aid topics. Have fun watching, learning, and seeing which staff members in your office are NASFAA Quiz Show Champions!

This session is designed to equip financial aid professionals with a deeper understanding of private loan programs and their place within the overall financial aid landscape. We’ll explore the structure and features of private student loans, including lender eligibility criteria, credit evaluation, interest rate options, and repayment terms. Participants will gain insight into comparing private and federal loan programs, guiding students through informed borrowing decisions, and ensuring compliance with disclosure and certification requirements. In addition, we’ll discuss communication strategies for effectively counseling students and families, managing lender relationships, and addressing common challenges in private loan processing. 

Recent changes to federal lending have created new challenges for graduate and professional students who previously relied on the Graduate PLUS loan. Institutions are now navigating how to inform students about private loan alternatives while remaining compliant with federal regulations and institutional policies.

In this session, Juno will walk through compliant, student-centered approaches to educating graduate students. Attendees will learn how to provide transparent, neutral information, connect students to vetted resources, and support informed borrowing decisions—without endorsing specific lenders or crossing compliance lines. Additionally, Juno will provide an overview of their newly released hub of degree-specific financial education resources.

Managing financial aid effectively requires systems that institutions can rely on for accuracy, compliance, and long-term support. PowerFAIDS has become a trusted solution for schools of all sizes because of its proven functionality and commitment to regulatory standards. 

In this session, we’ll explore why institutions continue to rely on PowerFAIDS and how the system supports financial aid teams in delivering consistent, compliant service to students. You’ll hear real examples of how PowerFAIDS helps schools meet evolving needs without sacrificing the dependability they count on. 

In today’s evolving workforce and the increasingly complex world of financial aid, preparing yourself and your team for the future is more important than ever. Proactively investing in professional development enhances employee engagement and job satisfaction, in turn reducing turnover and time to competency. One effective approach to fostering growth is career pathing—a purposeful and strategic plan for skill development, relationship-building, and career advancement. Join this webinar to hear from a panel of experienced financial aid professionals who will share expert advice and real-life examples for cultivating the skills and abilities of financial aid office staff. You’ll also gain valuable insights into the recent efforts of several NASFAA Task Forces to define key financial aid competencies and promote career path awareness within the profession. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical strategies for strengthening your team and advancing the future of financial aid!

This webinar will provide a review of the outcomes from the recent negotiated rulemaking (neg reg) session of the AHEAD committee which addressed Pell Grant-related topics stemming from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” including student eligibility changes and expansion into workforce programs, and a new accountability metric for programs with low earnings outcomes. We’ll discuss the proposed changes and discussions surrounding both new limitations and expansion of Pell Grant eligibility and the specifics of plans to hold institutions accountable for graduates with low earnings. The presentation will be followed by Q&A.

As the student financing landscape undergoes significant change, private education loans are expected to play a larger and more critical role than ever — especially for both undergraduate and graduate students beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. Yet many financial aid administrators continue to grapple with uncertainty about how these loans function, how they differ from federal programs, and what their expanding role will mean for students, families, and institutional practices.

In this facilitated discussion, NASFAA brings you face-to-face with senior executives from leading private loan organizations for an honest, in-depth conversation about the realities of the private loan marketplace. Panelists will unpack the fundamentals of underwriting, pricing, servicing, and credit considerations — including how student and co-signer credit impact loan availability and terms — and offer their perspective on where the market is heading.

This session is designed to replace misinformation with clarity and equip financial aid professionals with the knowledge and confidence they need to guide students and families through this expanding segment of the financing ecosystem. Whether you’re new to private lending or seeking a deeper understanding, this discussion will help you prepare your office — and your students — for the changes ahead.

Whether you’re brand new to Direct PLUS Loans, need a refresher, or are curious about how the One Big Beautiful Bill will impact Direct PLUS Loan processing on your campus, this webinar will help you make sense of it all by answering some of the top PLUS Loan questions we’ve received at AskRegs. Join Jennifer Philen, NASFAA regulatory specialist, and Lissa Powell, NASFAA training content and presentation specialist, for a review of some of the most frequently asked AskRegs questions related to Direct PLUS Loans. Topics will include Parent PLUS Loan eligibility requirements, Parent PLUS Loan denials, PLUS Loan credit checks, and changes to the PLUS Loan program as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

This webinar will review the 2026-27 verification data element and documentation requirements. It will focus on any changes that are made to the verification process for the new award year, as well as some of the more complicated verification-related issues that come up year after year. Join David Futrell, NASFAA director of institutional compliance, and Jennifer Philen, NASFAA regulatory specialist, as they lead you through the latest verification requirements and challenging issues.

The NASFAA Policy Update will include the latest updates on what's happening in Washington related to student aid policy. The Policy Team will provide updates on student aid funding, regulatory action, administration initiatives, and close with a question-and-answer session.

Curious about the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program and how it differs from NASFAA’s professional credentials? Join Skylar Back, NASFAA’s Certification and Credentialing Specialist, for a detailed overview of the program—exploring its value to the financial aid profession and the various pathways to certification. She’ll be joined by a panel of FAAC®s who will share why they pursued certification, how they prepared for the exam, what the testing experience was like, and how they’ve benefited from the designation.

We've explored the labyrinth of academic calendars, where clock hours are 50 minutes, weeks aren't always seven days, and years come in different shapes and sizes. Now, it's time to put theory into practice.

In this third installment on academic calendars, we'll take what we've learned and apply it to real-world scenarios. How could subtle changes in term dates impact aid eligibility? When do you evaluate satisfactory academic progress in a nonterm program? What happens if a student wants to take a class outside of their academic program?

Join us as we troubleshoot tricky calendar configurations and solidify our knowledge. Join David Tolman and Norma Robinson to conquer the elasticity of time in Title IV administration—no flux capacitor required!

This webinar will provide a review of the outcomes from the recent negotiated rulemaking (neg reg) session of the RISE committee which addressed loan-related topics stemming from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." We'll discuss the proposed changes and discussions surrounding federal student loan limits, various repayment plan structures, and critical definitions impacting loan eligibility and administration as well as the potential implications of these discussions. The presentation will be followed by Q&A.

Federal lending changes are creating an unprecedented market shift for graduate students. Students will increasingly need transparent, competitive private options—exactly what Juno provides. Join Chris, one of Juno’s founders, in a discussion about how Juno has helped thousands of graduate students access lower private loan rates with wider eligibility since 2018.

To say that times within the financial aid community are changing is an understatement. New regulations, unclear legislation, and short implementation periods seem to be the norm, not the exception. Yet, the responsibility of consistently updating your policies and procedures manual has not changed. Time and capacity make this task challenging for even the most organized administrator. Join your colleagues as we discuss not only navigating change, but also strategies that offer tips on maintaining your policies and procedures manual.

Whether you're brand new to NASFAA or just want a refresher on all the tools and resources available to you, this complimentary webinar is your one-stop orientation. NASFAA 101 will walk you through the benefits of institutional membership and show you how to access essential training, compliance tools, and support resources. Learn how to make the most of your membership and ensure your entire team is set up for success. Perfect for new staff or anyone looking to get reconnected with NASFAA.

What changes are in store for the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? Are there new questions or deleted questions? Will there be an updated process for contributors? Join NASFAA’s Lissa Powell and Kochie Vaughan with the Training and Regulatory Assistance team to discuss the changes and modifications in place for the 2026-27 application cycle.

This webinar dives into NASFAA's Diversity Leadership Program (DLP). We'll explore eligibility, application details, and the details of the program. Learn how the DLP program benefits and provides selectees a robust portfolio of benefits, mentorship, and guidance on how to develop as a financial aid association leader.

Join Norma Robinson and Sarah Austin to explore the rules regarding the access and use of federal tax information (FTI). This session will review the expanded definition of FTI, including intermediate and derived value data elements. Learn about these newly defined FTI elements, compliance with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) labeling, and strict data use and disclosure limitations under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the Higher Education Act (HEA). This session will be helpful for financial aid professionals to navigate compliance and ensure proper handling of sensitive tax data.

Forward-looking institutions are adopting new technologies to meet changing student expectations, economic forces, and workforce demands. Such innovation can be energizing, but also deeply disruptive, as it requires letting go of familiar processes and mindsets. Managing the operational and emotional loss that can accompany change is critical but often overlooked. 

CSS Profile delivers a common application for institutional financial aid that supports all students, from those living in the U.S. to internationally and undergraduate to graduate/professional enrollments. Attendees will hear from institutions regarding how they use CSS Profile to support their institutional missions, and CSS Profile staff will share an overview of the application as well as information on a shorter CSS Profile application option.

The  NASFAA Quiz Show webinar is back, and we are preparing for season 5! As always, our NASFAA Quiz Show webinar allows you and your staff a chance to take a break from all the things that keep you awake at night and enjoy a fun webinar set to provide training in an entertaining manner! We bring to life some of those very thought-provoking and sometimes mind blowing AskRegs questions in an approach that is considered edutainment. The goal is to provide a good mix of questions so even our financial aid neophytes can participate in the fun as well. So, join NASFAA’s Kochie Vaughan and David Tolman in this engaging webinar as they test your knowledge on a variety of financial aid topics. Have fun watching, learning, and seeing which staff members in your office are NASFAA Quiz Show Champions!

Collaboration between financial aid and business office professionals is essential for providing students with seamless financial support. However, differences in workflows and priorities can often create confusion or challenges.

This webinar addresses common questions that financial aid professionals have for their business office counterparts.