Save the completed report using Committee title and date ( example: WASFAA_JRSMLI_Oct_2.doc ).
Submit your report via email to the WASFAA Executive Council listserv and post a copy to the Committee
webpage on the WASFAA website.
YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report
Executive Council Meeting Date
April 9-10, 2016
Executive Council Meeting Location
Anchorage, AK
Committee Information
Committee Name
Federal Relations Committee
Chair(s) (Name, Place of Employment, State)
Beryl Schantz - CSU Sacramento, CA*
Tami Sato – Marshall B. Ketchum University, CA
Committee Members (Name, Place of
Employment, State) Please put an asterisk next to
first-time committee members.
Barbara Bickett – DeVry Institute, CA
Anafe Robinson – Pierce College, (CASFAA Federal Issues), CA*
Malina Chang – CA institute of Technology, CA*
Helen Faith – Lane Community College, OR
Patricia Hurley – Glendale Community College, CA
Tracy Hall – Evergreen State College, WA*
Shannon Sheaff – Mohave Community College, AZ*
Vicki Shipley, NCHER
Shellee Kilbride – Prospect Education, NV*
Syed Rizvi – Santiago Canyon College, (CCCSFAAA, Federal
Relations) CA*
Committee Goals
Strategic Plan Goals that are being met (check all that apply)
Goal 1: Leader in providing training and professional development
X
Goal 2: Maintain the long-term financial stability of WASFAA
Goal 3: Assess & monitor the performance of WASFAA & make strategic
adjustments
Goal 4: Increase the participation of members in WASFAA activities
Goal 5: Continually improve methods & processes for communicating with
members
Goal 6: Consolidate and communicate the public policy positions of aid
administrators
Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the diversity of our membership and Executive
Council
Goal 8: Collaborate and coordinate with other organizations and associations
X
X
X
Page | 1
Committee Goals
1.
2.
3.
Specific Committee Goals (Include progress
toward goals and measurement of success.)
4.
5.
6.
7.
Keep WASFAA members informed on the latest
federal-aid issues through list serve messages,
newsletter articles and reports to council
Educate WASFAA members by facilitating sessions
at the WASFAA annual and state conferences
Continue WASFAA advocacy efforts by identifying
federal issues where comment or
recommendations would be appropriate: NPRM,
Negotiated Rulemaking, Reauthorization, visits to
legislators, conference call with education
staffers, budgetary action, bills and proposals
Serve as communication link from the states in
the WASFAA region, to WASFAA, forwarded to
the NASFAA board/committees when appropriate
Facilitate advocacy effort at NASFAA Leadership
Conference: Staffer meeting, talking points,
template for institution fact sheet.
Research on-line products or tools that can
facilitate WASFAA members contacting and
advocating to their legislative representatives.
Collaborate with state and national organizations
in advocacy efforts and educational efforts.
Summary of Committee Activities
Activities from April 2015 to June 2015
 Submitted three articles for the WASFAA Newsletter on Negotiated Rulemaking sessions
and advocacy at the NASFAA Leadership Conference.
 Sent four list serve messages on loan fees, interest rate change, shutdown of “Get
Transcript Online” and DCL on ABT and career pathway programs.
 Responded to potential new members and invited WASFAA members to participate on the
2015-2016 Federal Relations committee. Entered names into WASFAA website.
 Sent FRC members for review and discussion: Article on IBR Expansion, Issue Papers
from negotiated rulemaking, the NPRM on cash management rules, repeated coursework
and clock hour conversion.
 FRC conference call meeting held on 5/27/2015 and minutes posted at website.
Activities from July 2015 to November 2015
 Submitted article for the WASFAA Newsletter summarizing issues on the move to PPY.
 Sent seven list serve messages on PG cuts, CFPB Request for Information, response to
REPAYE NPRM, negotiated rulemaking 2016 on loan discharges, GE reporting issue, PPY,
Continuing Resolution passed and Perkins expiring.
 Developed four advocacy letters that were approved by EC and sent out: 1) Support for
multi-year data from IRS; 2) H. Res 294 Support for Perkins; 3) Response to NPRM on
Page | 2
REPAYE; and 4) Suggested additional topics for negotiated rulemaking.
 Held four FRC conference call meetings 6/24, 7/29, 8/26 and 9/23 and posted minutes.
 Reviewed NASFAA task force report on R2T4.
 Reviewed draft FAFSA 2016-17 forms.
Activities from November 2015 to February 2016
 Sent two list serve messages on the final regulations for cash management and REPAYE
and information on the advocacy meeting with education committee staff.
 Held three FRC conference call meetings on 11/18, 12/16 and 1/27 and posted minutes
 Submitted a session proposal for the annual conference on guiding members to advocacy
 Reviewed issues documents from Negotiated Rulemaking sessions on establishing
procedures for a borrower defense to repayment. Two members of FRC have are
involved or part of the non-federal team.
 As part of the NASFAA Leadership Conference hill visit we arranged two meetings with
staff members from the senate and house education committees. Messages were sent to
WASFAA state presidents and the membership to develop a list of those interested in
participating. We have 10 participants and this information helps to secure an
appropriate meeting room.
 Drafted WASFAA talking points for hill visit and a sample template for a one-page
institution profile or fact sheet. Will distribute both after council approval.
 Reviewed the RED Act (Reducing Educational Debt)
 Reviewed articles and FSA EA #71 on reviewing and correcting GE Completers List
Activities from February 2016 to April 2016
 Sent a list serve message on the FSA Drive-in workshops
 Held two FRC conference call meetings on 2/27 and 3/24 and posted minutes
 WASFAA and CASFAA members did advocacy hill visits with Senate and House staff
members from the education committees.
 Sent response with data on office time spent with direct counseling to students versus
fulfilling federal regulations.
 Reviewed issue papers from negotiated rulemaking
 Finalizing FRC conference session titled “Moving the Boundaries: Advocacy and Change in
Regulations and the Law”
Measures Tracking Tool Data Collection Information (Include required
Measures Tracking Tool data collection information to help determine progress toward Strategic
plan goals/activities that are the responsibility of your Committee. See Appendix F of the current
WASFAA Strategic Plan for guidance.)
Data to





be collected for 2015-2016:
Include progress of FRC to strategic plan goals/activities in quarterly reports
Number of new volunteers serving on FRC – 7 (and 5 WASFAA states represented)
Number of newsletter articles - 5
Number of Listserv messages – 12
Number of letters drafted on behalf of EC and sent to Congress or DE - 6
Page | 3



Number of letters drafted for EC and not receiving consensus - 0
Number of members who took action to a request for call to action - unknown
Collaborative efforts and new collaborative efforts – CASFAA will join us on hill visits and
we reviewed the draft document of issues for both organizations. CASFAA will advocate
for their combine and align chart on the overlapping ways we are required to track
student progress (SAP, LEU, SULA, RTIV and DL loan limits)
Budget Information
Approved Budget
$100
Budget Expenditures to Date
1.
2.
3.
$40
TOTAL = $40
Event Information (complete if applicable per location) N/A
Event Name
Location
Date
Number
Cost of
Registration
Subtotal
Attendees
Complimentary Registrations (if
applicable – i.e., scholarship recipients)
Add more rows as needed for additional events.
Suggestions for Future Committee Chair(s)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In communications for those who have signed up for staff meeting, suggest each have an issue they would like
to speak about if called upon.
Consider if the size of the group meeting with staff members is too large.
Try to establish the right amount of list serve messages to send out.
Review negotiated rulemaking issue documents to be ready to respond to the NPRM in timely manner.
Utilize FRC budget for transportation costs from hotel to hill visit or session handouts.
Calendar of Events/Timelines
Committee Member
Responsible (if
Description
5/27
All
Conference call meeting
6/11
Co-Chairs
FRC quarterly report due
Date
applicable)
Page | 4
6/24
All
Conference call meeting
7/29
All
Conference call meeting
8/26
All
Conference call meeting
9/23
All
Conference call meeting
10/9
All
Newsletter article deadline date
11/2
Co-Chairs
FRC quarterly report due
11/18
All
Conference call meeting
11/18
All
Newsletter article deadline date
12/16
All
Conference call meeting
1/27
All
Conference call meeting
2/1
Helen
Conference session proposal deadline
2/27
All
Conference call meeting
3/24
All
Conference call meeting
4/5
Tami
Year-end report deadline date
4/22
Tami
Newsletter article deadline date
Page | 5