Save the completed report using Committee title and date ( example: WASFAA_JRSMLI_Apr_14.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 2014-15
Executive Council Meeting Date
Executive Council Meeting Location
April 11-12, 2015
Valley Center, CA
Committee Information
Committee Name
Federal Relations Committee
Chair(s) (Name, Place of Employment, State)
Jeff Scofield – Seattle University, WA
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
Scott Cline – CA College of the Arts (CASFAA Federal Issues), CA*
Michael Dear – Mira Costa College (CCCSFAAA Federal Issues), CA*
Helen Faith – Lane Community College, OR
Patricia Hurley – Glendale Community College, CA
Kevin Jensen, College of Western Idaho, ID
Jodie Kuba, University of Hawaii-Manoa, HI*
Melissa Moser, Orange Coast College, CA*
Jenny Pak-Vincent, Socle Education, CA*
Vicki Shipley, NCHELP
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
Specific Committee Goals (Include progress
toward goals and measurement of success.)
1.
2.
X
X
X
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
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YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report 2014-15
3.
4.
5.
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
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 2014 to June 2014:
 Vicki Shipley facilitated a conference call discussion with staffers from the Senate HELP
Committee. We had a 40 minute call on the WASFAA talking points utilized at the
Leadership Conference and RHEA recommendations. Staffers requested additional
information and comments that FRC will follow-up with soon.
 WASFAA Reauthorization recommendations were finalized formatted with contacts
 Reviewed draft regulations and provided comment to Brad Hardison who is a non-federal
negotiator on the Negotiated Rulemaking panel that met four times on program integrity
issues such as cash management, PLUS adverse credit and state authorization
 Reviewed Gainful Employment NPRM summaries and S. 546, Harkins bill on improving
entrance and exit interviews.
 Sent WASFAA listserv messages on the 10/1 change in Direct Loan origination fees related
to sequestration, list of schools receiving campus-based funding for 2014/2015, the
change in Direct Loan interest rates for loans with first disbursements after 7/1/2014 and
the final regulations for PLUS adverse credit and GE.
 Attained access to potential new members who have volunteered for FRC and sent an
email inviting participation on the 2014/2015 WASFAA FRC. Received positive response
from three of six. New members have been added to ATAC system.
 Held first 2014/2015 FRC meeting on May 15th at 2:00 pm utilizing G2Mtg

Sent final WASFAA Reauthorization recommendations to WASFAA List-Serve and members
 of House and Senate Education Committees. Requested help from membership to
forward recommendations to their state representatives that serve on the education
committees. Had 5 responders who sent recommendations to Sen. Murray, Rep. Heck
and Rep. Bonamici. Appreciate great work of Barbara Bickett and Pat Hurley who
facilitated this document and provided the contact information. Recommendations were
also sent to NASFAA.
 Invited WASFAA GPIC chair to serve on FRC
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YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report 2014-15
 Submitted article for WASFAA Newsletter
Activities from June 2014 to October 2014
 Held monthly FRC conference calls and posted minutes to the website. Jack Edwards had
to withdraw from the FRC committee.
 Submitted WASFAA comment on Harkin bill on proposed entrance and exit counseling
 Posted listserv messages: FSA webinar on 150% rule, Negotiated Rulemaking article,
NASFAA conference highlights, Common Elements in RHEA proposals, Experimental Sites,
Constitution Day, DE Hearings at CASFAA, PLUS Final Changes from NPRM, GE Final
Regulations and Election Results.
 Submitted WASFAA comment on PLUS NPRM that was approved by EC
 Reviewed and discussed Harkin Bill on triggers for a program review and sameness of
audits and program reviews.
 Reviewed the list of recommendations from the NASFAA consumer information task force
 Drafted a letter to support Fee Free Student Loan Act by Rep. Susan Davis (CA). Project
was tabled until after the elections.
 Discussed participation in Negotiated Rulemaking hearing on PAYE that will take place
after the CASFAA Conference. There will be good WASFAA presence. Other topics that
were suggested to bring up: ability of schools to reduce loan amounts, additional
mandatory counseling, program reviews, CDR challenges, rehabilitation rules, and the
numerous IDR repayment plans.
 Reviewed PLUS adverse credit final rules.
 DE Hearing on PAYE – Several FRC members attended. Pat Hurley gave testimony.
Activities from October 2014 to February 2015
 Held three FRC Conference calls and posted minutes to the website. Invited new CASFAA
VP for Federal Issues to join our calls.
 Posted listserv messages: Perkins 2015/16 disbursements, FSA webinar on GE Reporting,
Final PLUS rules, Save Perkins petition, FSA ID date change, GE Reporting PPT, GE
Adverse Credit early implementation date and ATB waiting for clarification.
 Submitted newsletter article on federal update from NASFAA call to regional FRC’s.
 Discussed FSA Conference including the pre-conference on loan servicing
 Brainstormed to develop talking points that can be provided to the attendees from the
WASFAA region that will making hill visits as part of the NASFAA Leadership event.
Reached out to state presidents for input on our list of issues.
 Organizing an advocacy meeting with staffers on the education committees during the hill
visit time slot. Putting together a list of the names and organizations of WASFAA folks
who will want to participate in this meeting.
 Conference sessions from FRC were discussed and we are developing proposals for three
sessions that include reauthorization priorities for advocacy, CDR appeals and preparing
and best practices for program reviews.
 Assisted with suggestions for sessions for graduate issues for the conference.
 Reviewed the omnibus appropriations bill for FY 2015. Waiting to compare to
administrations budget proposals.
 Three members of FRC will be participating in the Negotiated Rulemaking sessions on
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YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report 2014-15
PAYE and SCRA that will start soon.
Discussed the college rating details released, Free Community College plan and
reintroduced FAST Act and Repayment Act of 2015.
 Some FRC members listened to FSA webinar on GE Reporting and felt that the handout
had excellent information. FRC offered to forward the PPT in a listserv message.
Activities from February 2015 to April 2015
 Received input and approval to provide final Talking Points for hill visits. Sent to WASFAA
listserv and NASFAA policy staffers.
 New collaboration this year was to reach out to all attendees from the WASFAA region to
provide a conference call on advocacy in DC and invite those interested to the special
education committee staffer meetings FRC set up.
 Held two FRC conference call meetings.
 Participated in developing and will be facilitating GP Roundtable session.
 Participated in the second NASFAA conference call for regional federal issues chairs.
 Facilitated staffer meetings with Amy Jones, Bryce McKibben and Bob Moran.
 Submitted three conference session proposals, two will be in the program.
 Reviewed Student Aid Bill of Rights on loan repayment and servicing.
 Reviewed issue papers provided by the negotiated rulemaking members that are on FRC.
 Sent WASFAA listserv message on new CA law that will require providing sick time for
work study students after July 1, 2015.
 Listened or read testimony of the House hearing, “Strengthening America’s Higher
Education System”.
 Will be submitting WASFAA Newsletter articles on the advocacy on the hill and negotiated
rulemaking.

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 2014-2015:
Include progress of FRC to strategic plan goals/activities in quarterly reports
Number of new volunteers serving on FRC - 5
Number of newsletter articles - 3
Number of Listserv messages - 26
Number of letters drafted on behalf of EC and sent to Congress or DE - 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 - 5
Collaborative efforts and new collaborative efforts – 1 (staffer meetings)
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YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report 2014-15
Budget Information
Approved Budget
$100
Budget Expenditures to Date
1.
2.
3.
-0-
TOTAL = $-0-
Suggestions for Future Committee Chair(s)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Share any official letters or position documents with WASFAA members through the listserv and with NASFAA policy
staff.
Utilize FRC budget for conference session handouts.
Send out meeting minutes as soon as possible and remember to post on WASFAA website
Try to get representation on FRC from a diversity of states and type of institution.
Reach out to state presidents for input before finalizing official letters or position documents.
Encourage other FRC members to write newsletter articles.
Add current media issues for discussion on the agenda for FRC conference calls.
Calendar of Events/Timelines
Committee Member
Responsible (if
Description
4/22
Vicki, Barbara, Pat
Call with Senate HELP Staff
4/30
Jeff, Tami
Call between co-chairs
5/7
Tami
First Listserv Messages sent
5/9
Tami
Set up Quarterly Report template including SP Goals
5/15
Jeff, Tami
FRC Conference Call
6/13
Tami
Deadline for newsletter article
6/18
Jeff, Tami
Deadline for FRC Quarterly Report
7/17
Jeff, Tami
FRC Conference Calls (also 8/21, 9/18, 10/16)
9/26
All
Deadline for newsletter article
12/12
All
Deadline for newsletter article
2/14
All
Deadline for conference session proposal
Date
applicable)
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YEAR-END WASFAA Committee Chair Report 2014-15
2/12
Jeff, Tami
FRC Conference Calls (also 3/19)
3/25
Barbara, Kevin
Conference Call for Leadership Conference attendees
4/6
Jeff, Tami
Deadline for FRC Year-End Report
4/22
All
Deadline for newsletter article
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