Brenda Walton

A Deadline is Closer Than it Appears Photo by Bryce Barker / Unsplash Don’t look now, but another deadline is upon us. As announced in the Federal Register Notice “2018-2019 Award Year Deadline Dates for Campus-Based Programs,” the date by which a school must submit its 2019–20 FISAP electronically

Constitution Day and Title IV Entwined Photo by Anthony Garand / Unsplash Little did we know that we had a date with destiny in December 2004, when the late Senator Robert C. Byrd, believed that students lacked significant knowledge regarding the U.S. Constitution. Senator Byrd proposed an amendment that was

Wait…this reminds me of a popular television show. Photo by Peter Aschoff / Unsplash Seriously, as we approach the traditional “peak time” of the year, I was thinking about how stressful it can be getting ready for the upcoming fall start. I wanted to explore five useful countermeasures to combat

Photo by freestocks.org / Unsplash “You say you want a revolution,” The Beatles sang in “Revolution 1”. The revolution is here, and it has invaded your campus. Can you guess? It is mobile devices such as smartphone or tablets. I was reading a career online article that piqued my interest

As we start the beginning of a new award year, it is probably a fitting time to start considering the updates necessary to your Policies and Procedures Manual. Hopefully, your college has a Policy and Procedure Manual that is complete or reasonably complete since Federal regulations require colleges to have

Reauthorization Ready Reauthorization is 4 years overdue and there is still a long way to go before reauthorization happens. Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate agree that there needs to be risk sharing. This will likely mean that institutions will have more "skin in the game&

Change is good, so they say. I’m often conflicted with change. I love one click ordering on Amazon yet am enraged my new car has data ports instead of a CD player. Maybe that’s why my hairstyle has barely changed in the past decade. Like all things, Financial

Photo by Taskin Ashiq / Unsplash Your mission, should you chose to accept it (wait one second…you do not have a choice) pertains to security. Why are Information Technology (IT) security policies, controls and procedures important to your college and students? Your Mission: Security You are obligated to protect the

I was wondering, who is a Financial Aid Officer, Financial Aid Administrator, or Financial Aid Counselor? We go by many titles and wear many different hats, just like some of our favorite cape-wearing superheroes. The caped crusaders of the Financial Aid world are unsung heroes of the campus. They are

Technology has given us devices that can answer your doorbell, change the thermostat settings, call a cab, and make dinner reservations by voice command. Technology also offers limitless ways to get information. College students these days were the first babies that we saw in 3D ultrasounds. It is no surprise

New Message Classes from CPS and COD are Flying at You New message classes are coming for Central Processing System (CPS) and Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System. EDConnect transmission software will automatically request, download, and import these new message class tables as soon as you connect to the SAIG

FISAP deadlines…you either view them as the circle of life or a yearly resurrection of Dracula. So, burst into song as the sun rises or grab a silver stake as the sun sets. Either way, here is the information you need to know. The time is upon us to

A meeting has been set with a new student to discuss their Financial Aid options. Before they arrive, you have some work to do. You clack away on your keyboard and grab your trusty plastic log in token. It’s time to pull up NSLDS. Being a prepared FA Advisor