TASFAA Members Professional Development
By Melet Leafgreen, Assistant Director, Loan Programs, Texas Christian University

Below are some professional development activities that are rapidly approaching. Be sure to participate in those that will provide the type of information that you need to remain knowledgeable and refreshed!

Professional Development Calendar

Professional Development Anytime

• Recorded Internet Briefings (Webinars) On New Title IV Student Assistance Legislation And Regulations Now Available – DCL ID: ANN-07-24 (12/18/2007): internet briefings by Federal Student Aid's Policy Liaison and Implementation staff related to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) and the recently published final rules affecting the Title IV student assistance programs. These Recordings will be available at these links until March 5, 2008. Please stay tuned for the release of Pod Casts of these events as well. No registration is required to view these briefings.
  
  
• NASFAA's Policies & Procedures Tools show how to create and maintain a policies and procedures manual for the proper administration of student financial aid in an electronic age. The Tools include a user-friendly electronic template for a Policies & Procedures Manual and a wide array of other aids for formulating, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies and procedures. It's a well-stocked toolbox to help build a financial aid foundation.
  
  
• Visit Federal Student Aid's Training for Financial Aid Professionals (TFAP) website – contains information on current and future training activities and learning resources.
  
  
• FSA Coach – A free, web-based, computer-based training (CBT) program from the U.S. Department of Education. It is a comprehensive introductory course that teaches the concepts and procedures involved in managing federal student aid (FSA) programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
  
  
• LearnStudentAid.org is NASFAA's one-of-a-kind learning community on the Web for financial aid professionals. All course content is developed and updated by NASFAA. LearnStudentAid.org also relies on the best practices of online learning, which have been developed and shared by higher education institutions, associations, agencies, and corporations. To see what's so different about LearnStudentAid.org from other online courses, visit LearnStudentAid.org. A complete list of current course offerings is included below. For more information on each course, pricing, state discounts, and to register, go to LearnStudentAid.org.

• Recently Recorded NASFAA Webinars you can view anytime. NASFAA Webinars are the Association's newest means of delivering high quality, accurate training to members. Webinars deliver information to you, in your office, via the Internet. No travel is required and your time commitment is an hour and a half at most. NASFAA is proud to offer the following Webinars, as a benefit of membership. There is no additional cost to participate.
  
  
  • The Final Rules, Fall 2007: The ACG and SMART Grant Programs Revisited, December 13, 2007
  • The Final Rules, Fall 2007: Title IV Student Loan Programs Revisited, December 11, 2007
  • The Final Rules, Fall 2007: Title IV Student Loan Programs, November 19

Sources: www.nasfaa.org, www.tasfaa.org, www.swasfaa.org, www.tgslc.org