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NEWS from Iron Bridge Resources

July 2024



FAFSA acronym_Free Application for Federal Student Aid_ Federal Student Aid offers grants_ loans_ work study_ and more to help you pay for college or career school.

Batch Institutional Corrections Delayed Until August, Leaving Students & Schools in Limbo


In its June 17th electronic announcement, the Department of Education (ED) provided several updates on the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle, including that schools would not be able to conduct batch institutional corrections or paper FAFSA corrections until the "first half" of August.


Impact on students

Corrections to a student's FAFSA record are commonplace and are required in order for a school to issue a final financial aid award. The delay in the correction process means that just weeks (or perhaps days) before classes begin, many incoming students will not have what is arguably the most vital piece of information needed to choose a college: cost.


Impact on schools

The Department provided workarounds for schools willing and able to make individual corrections, but for large schools or schools with under-staffed financial aid offices, the workarounds are impractical. Schools forced to wait for August's batch corrections may face concerns about the impact on enrollment, as well as the challenge of getting a great amount of work done in a short amount of time.


Are you ready for August? We are!

August is going to be interesting, and it will be here before we know it. If your office is short-staffed (or simply overworked), we can help. Our consultants are standing by and can be placed quickly to help:


  • Expedite corrections to get your incoming class seated ASAP
  • Evaluate special circumstances
  • Process dependency overrides
  • Exercise professional judgement
  • Conduct file review
  • Packaging/awarding
  • Perform counseling & customer service activities


Learn more about our Interim Staffing Solutions.


Contact:

Jayne McGinn, Director of Client Relations

jayne@ironbridgeresources.com | (508) 459-9880



How can I help you?

Interested in training, or have a question? Email me today!

Email Robert

From the desk of...

Robert Weinerman, Director of Training

Spotlight: On-Demand Recorded Training from Iron Bridge Resources

 

Did you know that Iron Bridge’s FM Verification and Conflicting Information training is available as a recorded, on-demand program? 


I’ve been recording each segment of my FM program so that interested financial aid professionals can review the content they are interested in whenever they like. The recorded program is more detailed than the live programs as time restraints don’t apply and are supported by my e-mail help desk through the end of the 2024-25 processing cycle. 

 

Timeline

The 2024-25 recorded training will soft-launch on August 1st with several modules, and should be complete by September 15th. A list of modules (subject to change) can be found here. Modules that will be available on August 1st are noted. 

 

Who can benefit from on-demand training

Institutions can purchase Group Training for their staff members to participate in. Individuals who do not have access to the training through their employer can purchase Individual Training. This program is intended for financial aid administrators who work for institutions of higher education. Individuals who would like to access the program but do not currently work for an IHE should reach out to Robert Weinerman for assistance.

 

Group Training

Institutions can purchase this training for their entire staff, or just a portion of their staff. There is a $250 set-up fee for the institution, plus a $100 for each staff member who will be using the training. Iron Bridge will replace staff who leave an institution with new hires if notified. The set-up fee will cover three years of usage, so institutions that want to renew their enrollment in the 2025-26 and/or the 2026-27 recorded training will only be charged the per-user cost for those years.

 

Institutions who purchased the on-demand training for the 2022-23 or 2023-24 academic years can re-register their staff for the 2024-25 academic year at the per-staff member rate they paid in past years. 


Individual Access

Individuals who would like to purchase the training for themselves will be asked to agree to our participation agreement and the $200.00 individual user fee. After completing this registration, we will send new users logon information and instructions about how to access the recorded training. 

 

Are you interested in live training this fall?

Slots are filling up fast. If you would like me to do a live training at your institution and have not set it up yet, please email me as soon as possible. I will do my best to accommodate your school, however, I cannot guarantee my availability. 

Register: On-Demand Group Training for Schools/Associations (Email Robert)
Register: On-Demand Individual Training

Industry News

On July 18, 2024, a federal court issued a stay preventing the Department from operating the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. Read more.

For most college hopefuls, issues with the FAFSA forced a practical approach to this year's complicated admission season. Read more.

Many colleges are re-thinking freshman orientation programs to address the lingering impact COVID-19 shutdowns had on kids. Read more.

About Iron Bridge Resources

Iron Bridge Resources is a full-service higher education consulting firm. We've been helping schools with interim staffing, tax training, and other business solutions since 2013. As you consider your long-term needs, consider an Iron Bridge consultant in the short-term. It could be just what you're looking for.

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Critical information to help Financial Aid professionals administer Title IV aid.

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We work with colleges and universities all over the country. See who we've worked with.

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