Online
Financial Aid Services
Tim Lehmann
Director of Financial Aid
Rick Shipman
Director of Financial Aid
Forum 2006
San Diego
Michigan State University
Overview
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MSU on the Map
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Campus
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Founded in 1855
Nation’s first land-grant institution
Located in East Lansing, Michigan
5,200 acre campus
Largest residence hall system in US
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24 halls and 3 apartment villages
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Academics
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>200 academic programs
14 degree-granting colleges
 3 medical schools
 1 affiliated law school
49,000 students from
 All 83 Michigan counties
 All 50 states
 Over 125 countries
>200 study abroad programs in 60 countries/all continents
10,500 employees
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The Office of Financial Aid has…
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43 regular employees + 7 summer temps + 1 student emp
3 full time campus locations
5 part time campus locations in residence halls
72% of students receive financial aid
$406 million paid in 2005-06
 $ 84 m - institutional grants/scholarships
 $ 48 m - state grants/scholarships/work study
 $ 25 m - federal grants/work study
 $211m - federal loans
 $ 15 m - private grants/scholarships
 $ 23 m - private loans
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Online Services
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Overview of online FA services
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Address essential question of why 2 very
differently structured institutions arrive at
similar solutions to online FA services
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Online Services Can…
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supplement traditional offerings
replace traditional offerings
provide new offerings
reduce staffing needs
minimize turnaround time
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Who is the audience?
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Prospective Students
Parents of Prospective Students
HS Counselors
Current Students
Parents of Current Students
Aid Office Staff
Other Interested Parties
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What do they want?
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What do they want?
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Basic information
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Costs
Calendar/Deadlines
How to apply for aid
Typical aid packages
Payment rules
Office contact information
Ability to be anonymous
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What do they want?
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Advanced Information
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Online forms
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Online processes
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Applications
Loan notes
Budgeting templates
Acceptance of aid
Direct deposit of refund instructions
Verification of application data
Ability to ask questions
Sense of security with personal data
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How do they want it?
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24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Available from any convenient device
Option of anonymity
Security of confidential information
Easy navigation/Intuitive
Immediate feedback/Confirmation of actions
Secondary voice verification option
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Typical online FA venues
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Website
Web applications
Email
Instant Messaging/Chat
Text Messaging
RSS Feeds
Pod Cast
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Online Services
College Board Midwest Regional Forum
Tim Lehmann – Director of Financial Aid
November 10, 2006
San Diego California
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
Capella University Overview
History
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Founded in 1993; based in Minneapolis, MN (633 staff + 739 faculty)
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Leading online university serving 16,500 students in all 50 states
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Participant in Department of Education Distance Education Demonstration Program
Program Offerings
Undergraduate degree programs in:
Graduate degree programs in:
Technology
Education
Business
Technology
Business
Human Services
Psychology
Accreditation
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 606022504, (312) 263-0456, www.higherlearningcommission.org.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Capella University Overview
Enrollment by School
Technology 14%
Business 26%
Psychology 19%
Education 22%
Human Services
19%
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Capella University Overview
Enrollment by Degree
BS 15%
CERT 2%
PhD/PsyD 46%
MS/MBA 37%
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Extending Access:
Student Demographics
Capella University Student Demographics
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33% ethnic minority
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18% affiliated with military
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15% from rural communities
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61% female
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98% over the age of 25
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Average age: 41
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Virtual Campus
iGuide is the portal that
was created by Capella
University as our “virtual
Campus.”
All of our core student
services are available
through iGuide and its
various “campus
locations”
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Online Classroom
iGuide is divided into
various campus locations
and then within the
“Virtual Offices” is where
the services are defined.
This is an example of the
various “services” that
are available from the
courses/course room
menu.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Online Classroom:
Our Learning Model at Work
The courseroom
provides navigation
to a variety of tools
and features
including: access to
course content,
learning
assignments, and
profiles, and links to
information and
services designed
to support the
learning experience.
Students participate in threaded
discussions which are guided by
and evaluated by faculty.
Students cannot exist in the
background in Capella
courserooms. The asynchronous
discussion format requires
participation and promotes
“reflective practice” which allows
students to prepare and research
prior to posting in the courseroom.
Discussions and assignments are
also peer reviewed—which fosters
critical thinking and is an incentive
to write clearly.
The competencies
students should be able
to demonstrate upon
course completion are
outlined here.
Students have 24/7 access to the
world class Johns Hopkins
Sheridan Library System.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Financial Aid Office
Financial Aid is located
under the finance tab.
This “office” is where our
learners would come to
apply as well as manage
there financial aid.
We also make sure that
our military learners know
where to go for additional
services and support. We
are currently the 12th
largest VA certifying
school in the Country
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Financial Aid Office
One of our most important
virtual tools.
•Default Management
•Loan disbursement
information
•Repayment and
counseling links
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Financial Aid Office
The portal is dynamic
enough to determine
which aid years the
learner is applying for and
can respond back
indicating completion.
This assists in promoting
self service and the ability
to “be available” in real
time
24 x 7.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Academic Advising
Advising & Resources is
where our learners will go
to orientate to the course
room and get support with
all academic concerns.
Most frequented links are
to the bookstore, writing
support, and library.
Forms and other static
activities also promote
self service and reduce
phone calls and are
accessible 24 hours 7
days a week.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Academic Success Center
The Academic Success
Center assists our
learners with:
•Computer skills
•Using the Library
•Writing Support and APA
standards
•Personal success
strategies
These online opportunities are
available and are frequently
used by new learners who
want a self paced practice
session devoted to specific
topics
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Career Center
At the end of 2004, we
launched the Career
Center at Capella
University.
Here learners, can
research graduate school
choices, manage their
careers, access job
databases, and reach one
of our career counselors
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Disability Services
This has become a
service that crosses
bricks and clicks.
We provide a wide
variety of support
and
accommodations for
learners with
disabilities.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Library
Capella University
partners with John
Hopkins University for our
library services.
Learners can connect to
the library services 24
hours per day, check out
material and research 50+
databases on any given
subject.
They can also connect
with a JHU librarian
dedicated to serving
Capella learners.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Registrar’s Office
At the Registrar’s office,
our learners are able to
view and request their
records and transcripts.
In addition, learners can
modify their personal
information with us, and
provide additional
methods to reach them
(email and phone).
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Registrar’s Office
The ability to print out an
Unofficial transcript at any
time is another example of
taking a campus based
service and moving it out
to the Web.
On iGuide this is an
unofficial version with the
option of requesting a
official version
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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The Community
iGuide is also the location
for our community
activities. Creating and
maintaining a sense of
community can be a
unique challenge for
online services.
Capella University strives
to provide numerous and
engaging opportunities to
connect with other Capella
learners.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Capella Times e-Newsletter
Capella Times is the
online campus newsletter
that is issued at a
minimum monthly and
features:
•Policy changes
•Important messages
•Faculty spotlights
•Learner Spotlights
•Alumni Spotlights
•Higher Ed industry
information
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Community
The Monthly Discussions
allow learners to focus on
various topics of interest.
Here is an audio clip
From one of the recent
discussions
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
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Community –”Gone Bad”
Then, in the spring of
2003, fraternity members
hacked into the web site
of rival University of
Phoenix Online, erased its
mascot, and placed a
downloaded version on
their own web site.
Although no one was ever
charged with the theft of
the copyrighted clip art,
the online fraternity was
warned that further
misbehavior would result
in serious disciplinary
action.
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
35
Questions?
© 2005 Capella University - Confidential - Do not distribute
Online Services
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MSU online FA services
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Email
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Website
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Alert students/parents of needed actions
Provide general FA information
Provide basic information
Document policies and procedures
Form download capability
Web Applications
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All required FA processes are supported
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Online
Financial Aid Services
Questions?