USA Funds^® University’s summer webcasts provide a basic understanding of the fundamentals of student financial aid. Designed for both new and experienced financial aid professionals, webcasts are scheduled for 2-3 p.m. Eastern time on the dates listed below and will cover the following topics:

• June 9 — Types and Sources of Financial Aid.
• June 10 — Federal Grad PLUS Loans.
• June 11 — General Eligibility Requirements.
• June 16 — Citizenship.
• June 17 — Time Management.
• June 18 — Policies and Procedures.
• June 23 — Federal Delivery System.
• June 24 — Telephone Etiquette.
• June 25 — Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• June 30 — Do it Yourself EFC Calculations.
• July 1 — Need Analysis Overview/Budget Construction.
• July 2 — Awarding and Award Notification.
• July 7 — Overawards and Overpayments.
• July 8 — E-mail Etiquette.
• July 9 — Conflicting Information.
• July 14 — Federal Verification by the Numbers.
• July 15 — Graduate/Professional Students: Repayment Considerations.
• July 16 — Tax Filing Requirements.
• July 21 — Consumer Information.
• July 22 — Delivering Successful Presentations.
• July 23 — Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
• July 28 — Cash Management Regulations.
• July 29 — FFELP: The Basics.
• July 30 — FFELP: Beyond the Basics.
• Aug. 11 — FFELP Repayment Relief.
• Aug. 12 — Loan Counseling Requirements for Graduate/Professional Students.
• Aug. 13 — Common Audit Findings.
• Aug. 18 — Consumer Information.
• Aug. 19 — Managing Stress.
• Aug. 20 — FERPA.
• Aug. 25 — Identity Theft.
• Aug. 26 — Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Aug. 27 — Professional Judgment.
• Sept. 1 — Return of Title IV Funds.
• Sept. 2 — Decision-Making Skills.
• Sept. 3 — Veterans’ Educational Benefits.

Awarding and Award Notification. Learn about awarding tools, resources and theories available to help you balance the art and science of awarding.

Cash Management Regulations. Federal regulations require schools to adhere to money management principles that help lower costs for the federal government and borrowers. Review specific requirements to follow in requesting, maintaining and disbursing funds to keep your school eligible to participate in Title IV aid programs.

Citizenship. A student must be a citizen or an eligible noncitizen to receive aid. Learn how to handle situations in which a student’s citizenship status is not confirmed during the aid application process.

Common Audit Findings. Understanding common audit and program review findings can help you identify potential problem areas. Learn how to correct them before an auditor sets foot on your campus.

Consumer Information. With today’s economy, students are carefully considering where to spend their tuition dollars. Learn what consumer information Title IV eligible schools must provide to help students answer the question, “What will my dollar buy me?”

Decision-Making Skills. This session focuses on determining criteria for making effective decisions, identifying alternatives, becoming aware of biases and learning from mistakes.

Delivering Successful Presentations. Leading discussions and delivering presentations likely are part of your responsibilities. Learn from professionals the best practices that will help you deliver effective presentations, from preparation to the key ingredients. Topics for this session include tips on how to arrange a room and interact and build rapport with an audience.

Do It Yourself EFC Calculations. A student submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The student receives an Expected Family Contribution figure. What happens in the steps between these two stages? Learn how to figure an EFC using federal methodology calculations.

E-mail Etiquette. This session helps you understand electronic communication issues and etiquette, and offers tips for more successful interactions that promote efficiency and confidentiality.

FAFSA. The FAFSA is the first step in a student’s journey to receiving federal financial assistance. Learn about the three options for filing the FAFSA, and complete one yourself from the student’s perspective.

Federal Delivery System. The processing system used to collect, analyze, correct and distribute information regarding financial aid applications uses numerous systems. Learn how the systems work together and how they can help you administer financial aid programs.

Federal Grad PLUS Loans. Graduate and professional schools must have a solid understanding of the Federal Grad PLUS program. See an outline of eligibility requirements, the role of a PLUS loan endorser, loan counseling requirements, and repayment options. You also will receive a comparison of Grad PLUS and private student loans as well as tips for helping students repair adverse credit.

FERPA. Students have the right to have their personally identifiable information kept secret. Financial aid office staff members should review the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act each year, to understand what information they can disclose — and to whom. Learn how to consider these regulations when serving your students.

Federal Verification by the Numbers. The numerous verification requirements include the five items that require verification, the 30 percent option, a $400 tolerance, and many others. Examine the requirements, determine the difference between verification and conflicting information, and review some uncommon places to find assets.

FFELP: Beyond the Basics. Once you’ve mastered the basics of the FFELP, it’s time to learn other FFELP requirements. Review when to prorate loans based on programs of study and learn the difference between scheduled and borrower-based academic years.

FFELP Repayment Options. Student loan borrowers may be able to postpone payments during times when they are having difficulty making payments. In certain circumstances, loans may be canceled altogether. Learn the qualifications for these options and the differences between deferments, forbearances and loan cancellation.

FFELP: The Basics. Learn the basics of the largest federal financial aid program available to students. A number of players in the Federal Family Education Loan Program work together to provide funds for students. Learn about these players and about Federal Stafford, PLUS and consolidation loans.

General Eligibility Requirements. Students must meet certain minimum requirements to receive federal financial aid. Learn which eligibility requirements your school is responsible for confirming, and how the federal government can help you in confirming others.

Graduate/Professional Students: Repayment Consideration. Discuss the various repayment options available to graduate and professional student-borrowers. Review deferment, forbearance and consolidation options available to borrowers who may be having difficulty making payments, and the conditions under which loans may be canceled.

Identify Theft. Identity theft could affect anyone, including your students. Learn about identity theft and how to prevent it, as well as the steps to take if identity theft occurs.

Loan Counseling Requirements for Graduate/Professional Students. Loan counseling is required before students’ loans are disbursed for the first time, and again when students drop below half-time enrollment or leave school. Discover what information is required for graduate and professional student entrance and exit counseling, additional elements suggested by the U.S. Department of Education and the various methods for delivering loan counseling.

Managing Stress. By taking good care of yourself, organizing your workload and being proactive, you can counteract the effects of stress and even see positive outcomes. Complete a brief quiz to help you determine your personal stress level and learn tips for managing stress.

Need Analysis Overview/Budget Construction. Get an overview of what comprises Cost of Attendance, Expected Family Contribution and need analysis formulas. Sample all three concepts through case studies.

Overawards and Overpayments. When students receive more aid than they should have received, the financial aid office must intervene. Gain an understanding of the difference between overawards and overpayments — and how to resolve them.

Policies and Procedures. Writing policies and procedures can be a piece of cake, if you have the right ingredients. Learn how to select the best templates, how others on campus can help, and what resources you likely already have. Focus on how to address the common barriers that prevent offices from completing this task.

Professional Judgment. Find out what you can and cannot do through Professional Judgment, and see some common documentation requirements. Apply your knowledge through engaging case studies.

Return of Title IV Funds. Return of Title IV funds calculations determine how much aid a student earned after withdrawing from school and if federal funds must be returned by the school or student. Learn the various components of the Return of Title IV funds calculation and exercise your knowledge through case studies. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students may understand a school’s qualitative and quantitative standards for SAP. Learn there’s more to measuring a student’s SAP.

Tax Filing Requirements. A financial aid administrator must know about several topics related to Internal Revenue Service tax filing requirements. Build a solid understanding of the requirements through a review of basic elements and several case studies.

Telephone Etiquette. Learn tips for dealing with customers by telephone and how to use listening skills and other techniques to be more attentive.

Time Management. Learn how to identify personal time stealers, plan your work, organize, prioritize and conquer procrastination.

Types and Sources of Financial Aid. Self-help, gift, federal, state, institutional and outside aid — these are the building blocks of a financial aid award package. Gain a thorough knowledge of these forms of aid to best serve your students.

Veterans’ Educational Benefits. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers numerous benefits to help your students. Learn the differences between the various chapters of the Montgomery GI Bill, and how the benefits affect financial aid eligibility. Additionally, you’ll enhance your knowledge of the HEROES Act

Once you’ve registered, login information and training materials will be sent the morning of the webcast to the e-mail address provided during registration.