Re-charging the Batteries for
2012-2013: A Grad/Professional
Roundtable Discussion
Presented by: Meghan Petsko, Villanova University
A little humor to kick things off…
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So long, farewell, Loan Interest Subsidy
July 1st 2012 marks the end of loan
interest subsidy for Graduate and
Professional Students
– How are you communicating this to your
students? How are they responding?
– Does anyone have Summer Loans that
begin or disburse before July 1, 2012?
How are you handling those?
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Verification, also time to bid adieu?
Verification Still Required IF
– Awarding Perkins Loan and FWS Funds or
other need-based institutional funds
– If only awarding Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Loan, TEACH Grant or
Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, kiss
verification good-bye!
– Will you still be verifying grad and
professional students?
Source: NASFAA News 9-29-11
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Preparatory Coursework
Students can borrow limited Federal Direct
Loans for preparatory coursework for entry
into undergraduate/graduate degrees in
accordance with FSA Handbook
– Does your school process pre-req aid
requests?
– If so, how do you manage these requests?
Can your software handle these without
manual manipulation?
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Certificate Programs
– Do you offer financial
aid for certificate
programs? Are they
undergraduate or
graduate level
programs?
– Has your policy
changed with the
launching of GE?
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Institutional Awards and Need Analysis
– Do you award need-based gift aid to grad
students at your school?
– If so, do you ask for parent information on
the FAFSA, or on your own form?
– Does your office manage tuition
scholarships and assistantships, or are
they managed by departments?
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SAP Policies for Graduate Students
– Do you have a different policy for graduate
students versus your undergraduate
students?
• What about doctoral students?
– Standards for Repeating Coursework, how
are you enacting these?
– How often are you measuring SAP?
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Budget Increase Requests
– What is your policy?
• What questions do you ask yourself?
• What will you allow? What won’t you allow?
– How do you finally say no to a student who
requests above and beyond what is
acceptable?
• Does this ever cause a retention issue that you
know of?
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Communicating with Graduate Students
Always a challenge!
– Do you present at
orientation sessions
for graduate
students?
– Anyone using text
messages,
Facebook, youtube?
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Financial Literacy Programs
– What do you offer on your campus?
– Do you offer workshops specifically for
grad students?
– What strategies have worked for your
students?
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Managing Repayment
– How do you reach out to your students?
• Do you offer in-person exit counseling?
– How do you communicate info about
Public Service Loan Forgiveness/IBR?
• Have you spoken with students who are
using IBR?
– The Special Consolidation Loan: are you
notifying your previous students?
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In closing…
Questions?
Any topics we missed?
Thank you for attending!
Meghan Petsko
Meghan.petsko@villanova.edu
610-519-3305
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