Packaging Potholes:

Paving a

Smoother Way

Panelists

Moderator: Vicki MattocksDirectorMissouri State University

Panelists: Jan Brandow Director University of Missouri-Kansas City

Jeff Ford DirectorOzarks Technical Community College

Cari WickliffeDirectorSt. Louis University

Session Objectives

• Presentation of basic packaging philosophies

• Private School

• Community College

• Four Year Public Institution

Discussion of post-packaging issues

Packaging Philosophy - OTC• Provide optimum aid for greatest number

of students without exceeding COA

• Provide maximum non-repayable aid before packaging student loans

• Utilize all available federal, state and institutional aid– i.e.… use your allocations and budgeted

monies, that is what they are for

Packaging Aid – OTC Summary• Start process late February/early March

• Package Federal Pell Grant and FWS based on ISIR information

• Include student loans if requested by student

• Package SEOG for files completed by April 1

Packaging Aid – OTC – Cont’d

• When scholarship awards (new and renewal) completed in June, include in packages (post adjust if necessary)

• Include state aid awards as soon as available information allows (post adjust later)

SEOG Awards - OTC

• Neediest students first• Distribute available funds to maximum

population• Use priority deadline as point to identify

group• Start with zero EFC group and review with

available funds• Adjust the awards and spectrum to best

suit your population

SEOG Cont’d - OTC

• Review unused funds in spring to reallocate funds to utilize authorization

• Attention to revised awards will eliminate overawards

SEOG & FWSP - OTC

• SEOG is awarded on priority deadline and high need (based on EFC)

• FWSP is awarded– If requested on ISIR– If need exists sufficient to warrant award

SAP and Packaging - OTC

• System checks SAP when running packaging routine

• If student ineligible, letter is generated to let student know of ineligible status and why

• Information included in letter informs student of policies and appropriate appeal procedures

3rd Party and External Awards -OTC

• When authorization or notification of award received, award is added to aid package

• If overaward exists, appropriate action is taken to alleviate overaward– Reduce/cancel FWS– Reduce/cancel loans– Reduce/cancel other awards

Packaging Philosophy – Saint Louis University

• Organizational Structure

• Funding Levels

• Cost of Attendance

• Equity packages

• Timing of Awards

• Pre-or post Verification  (Quality Assurance)

Packaging Philosophy – UMKC

• Setting a best priority deadline

• Equitable use of campus-based programs between incoming and continuing students

• Well thought out distribution plan for awarding campus-based aid

• Packing consideration of “known” funding resources from previous year – internal and external

Packaging Philosophy – UMKC• Timing - Including state aid programs in

packages

• Equitably awarding mid-year admits

Post-Packaging Issues

• Receiving external awards after packaging is complete and aid is disbursed

• Receiving internal awards after packaging is complete and aid is disbursed

• Communication with students, external and internal groups

• Regulatory requirements

Post Packaging Issues - OTC

• Overaward may be found by:– Run reports during the award year to identify

potential overawards– Overaward discovered when adding additional

awards later in award year

Post Packaging - OTC

Correct overaward by:– Adjusting or correcting appropriate award(s)

• i.e.… FT awards for packaging purposes may later be adjusted to lessen or eliminate overaward

– Using available rules to best help student• Document what was done for later review if

needed

Communication - OTC

• Students whose aid is adjusted are sent updated award notification– This is occasionally sufficient by itself– May include letter or even call student in

advance; schedule appt for discussion

Post-Packaging IssuesSaint Louis University

• Yield Rate Drops• Decentralized SLU Awards

(and Endowed Scholarships)• Outside aid• Verification Findings

Post-Packaging Issues - UMKC• Outside committee awards a university

held fund for student academic projects and demands that it not be counted as part of the students’ packages

• Academic unit wants students to receive a scholarship for working 20 hours a week and wants the scholarship paid monthly

Questions or Items for

Discussion