Membership Information

Programs
SCASFAA's semi-annual conferences draw financial aid professionals to a major forum for discussion of developments and issues related to financial aid and funding post-secondary education.

Our semi-annual conferences include a Fall Conference and Business Meeting, generally a training workshop, and a Spring Conference and Annual Meeting of the Association. As part of our conferences, the US Department of Education provides us with their interpretation of regulations, current updates, and expected changes.

In addition, SCASFAA sponsors an annual training workshop for new financial aid administrators as well as other training and leadership growth opportunities for more experienced aid administrators.

Services
One of SCASFAA's major concerns is to annually promote Financial Aid Awareness to students, parents, the education community, and all other constituents. This is usually done in February in order to promote early and accurate filing of the proper forms so students qualify for the maximum amount of aid for which they are eligible.

SCASFAA publishes a semi-annual newsletter called F.A.C.E. the Facts, which provides necessary updates to financial aid information for high school guidance counselors.

Members of the Association receive a quarterly newsletter, Palmetto Pages, which provides information on SCASFAA activities and financial aid insights to assist the professional aid administrator.

SCASFAA also hosts a listserver and web site for its membership.

Membership Involvement Opportunities

• Budget Committee – Evaluates the fiscal policies and practices of the Association; makes recommendations concerning fiscal matter of the Association to the Executive Board; insures the budgetary health and well being of the Association.
  
  
• By-Laws Committee – Insures that the Association operates in compliance with its approved By-Laws; reviews and makes recommendations to the Executive Board concerning revisions to the Policies and Procedures Manual; reviews and makes recommendations to the Executive Board concerning amendments to the Association's By-Laws.
  
  
• Advisory Committee to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) – Advises CHE regarding proposed guidelines and regulations offered by CHE; advises the constituency of issues relating to the administration of aid through CHE.
  
  
• Counselor/Consumer Relations Committee – Develops and disseminates information concerning financial aid as well as financial planning to as wide an audience as possible through the use of available media; coordinates with other Association committees to insure that all pertinent information concerning their activities which affect the public is made available through appropriate media; provides assistance, as appropriate, to secondary schools in scheduling, coordinating, and conducting financial aid workshops for parents and students; seeks input from secondary school counselors and personnel concerning financial aid information and training needs; provides financial aid training and information to secondary school counselors and personnel.
  
  
• Diversity Committee – Provides sensitivity training to the Association as it relates to each other, the community, and the students served; develops activities that support recruitment and retention of minority members of the Association; actively solicits the involvement of leadership development of minority members.
  
  
• Electronic Services Committee – Explores ways to enhance the internal and external communications of the Association using a variety of media. The committee is responsible for the development, maintenance and enhancement of the Association's web site and related services.
  
  
• Legislative Relations Committee – Apprises the Association of important legislative matters concerning student financial aid; develops and recommends to the Executive Board the Association's responses to important legislative initiatives regarding statutes, regulations, and Notices of Proposed Rule Making.
  
  
• Long Range Planning/Governance Committee – Identifies strengths and weaknesses of the Association and recommends actions or direct to the Executive Board that will promote the accomplishment of the goals of the Association.
  
  
• Membership Committee – Actively solicits membership in the Association from eligible individuals involved in the administration of financial aid; maintains a current membership roster; publishes and distributes a Membership Directory; prepares mailing labels for various Association needs.
  
  
• Newsletter Committee – Develops, publishes, and distributes the quarterly newsletter, Palmetto Pages, which provides information on the membership, legislative issues, financial aid insights, and much more to assist the professional aid administrator.
  
  
• Nominations and Elections Committee – Conducts the nomination and election process for the Association's elected officers; recommends to the Executive Board revisions or additions to the Association's policies and procedures on nominations and elections of officers.
  
  
• Professional Development Committee – Plans and/or coordinates all training activities for the Association including the New Aid Officers Workshop, NASFAA training, Video Conferences, and all other training opportunities.
  
  
• Program Committee – Coordinates all activities for the Association's fall and spring conferences including program content and local arrangements.
  
  
• Site Selection Committee – Secures appropriate conference sites for the Association's conferences.
  
  
• Vendor/Sponsor Committee – Solicits support from vendors and sponsors for all Association activities; coordinates display areas at Association conferences.

To become a member of SCASFAA, fill out and submit the "Membership Application" found in the "Member Services" section.