a. Conduct visits with congressional staff as necessary.

b. Encourage congressional staff meetings with MASFAA members.

c. Promote the use of email as a means of communication.

d. Establish a list of MASFAA members in each congressional district who will act as primary contacts when issues arise.

2. Focus on state financial aid issues:

a. Establish relationships with key state legislators.

b. Evaluate the effectiveness of “Financial Aid 101” for state legislators and their aides, and consider continuing the program for 2008-2009.

c. Issue alerts on changes in state programs.

3. Expand efforts to educate and train on the process of legislative advocacy and on issues pertaining to legislation and regulations:

a. Submit proposal for Fall Conference that will provide training on the new federal regulations/programs and/or changes in existing programs.

b. Provide information on the MASFAA listserv and website.

4. Keep changes in federal legislation in the forefront of membership awareness:

a. Keep the membership informed about changes in regulations and legislation.

b. Issue alerts on these changes to the financial aid community in Massachusetts.

5. Evaluate the feasibility of submitting the RFI templates for a NASFAA State Award:

a. Evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of the FFELP tool developed.

b. Develop a private loan version.

c. Document the process and results.

Current Resources:

Guide to College Financial Aid Resources in Massachusetts

Templates from the Loan RFI Best Practices Workshop, given at the College of Holy Cross, on February 11, 2008 by the Government Relations Committee

• 08-09 Loan RFI Best Practices FAQ

• 08-09 Loan RFI Cover Letter

• 08-09 Loan RFI College Answer Sheet

• 08-09 Loan RFI Savings Worksheet - Best Case

• 08-09 Loan RFI UG SubStafford Answer Sheet

• 08-09 Loan RFI PLUS Savings Answer Sheet

• 08-09 Loan RFI Grad SubStafford Answer Sheet

• 08-09 Loan RFI Grad PLUS Answer Sheet

• 08-09 Loan RFI Comparison Matrix

Archived Resources:

Presentations given at Boston University's School of Management, on February 24, 2006 by the Government Relations Committee

• Grant Programs

• Loan Programs

• Need Analysis

General Links:

• US Senators and Representatives from Massachusetts

• Massachusetts State Legislators

• MA Colleges and Universities by Congressional District

• MASFAA's Reauthorization Proposals

Committee Members:

	Christine McGuire Boston University  Co-Chair
	Lynne Myers College of the Holy Cross  Co-Chair
	Joshua Bordis Boston University
	Janice Dorian Mansfield Beauty Schools
	Michael Ellison Amherst College
	Douglas Fish American International College
	Brendan Furey American Student Assistance
	Zachary Goodwin Harvard University
	Laurie Hogan Harvard University
	Scott Jewell Lesley University
	Betsy Mayotte American Student Assistance
	Oliver McArdle Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
	Sharon McLaughlin McLaughlin Education Consulting
	Emir Morais Northeastern University
	Eileen O'Leary Stonehill College
	Kathryn Osmond Wellesley College
	Bernard Pekala Boston College
	Elayne Peloquin MGH Institute of Health Professions
	Dan Rossi Kennedy School of Gov., Harvard University
	Shabeeb Tauhid Boston University
	Stephanie Wells MEFA
	Rachael Whitney Northeastern University
	Craig A. Wright MEFA
	Peter Wyatt Wentworth Institute of Technology
	Nicholas Zinser Northeastern University