The Strategic Plan seeks to address the needs of the Association so that MASFAA can empower its members to be educated, engaged, and effective professionals and be recognized as a model for leadership and innovation in financial aid.
The 2017-2020 MASFAA Strategic Plan states that the direction for the next three years should focus on identifying how the organization can increase membership, and improve diversity and engagement, while using technology to enhance communication with its members and provide more frequent training opportunities that meet a variety of needs. The Plan also affirms that MASFAA should continue its state and federal legislative advocacy on behalf of its members and use its healthy financial reserves to support innovative capital investments in the organization’s future.
I hope all of you had a successful start to the academic year! Fall is such a magical season full of change and new beginnings. As much as I have personally loved the fall, I cannot help but feel I am not ready for more change. Professionally, we have all experienced a lot of change: the changing nature of our work/campuses in the face of an ongoing pandemic, federal regulatory and policy changes (HEERF, FAFSA overhaul, verification waiver), and dealing within person/hybrid/fully online work situations. In higher education, financial aid and its associated problems are often not understood by institutional colleagues. It can often provide a sense of isolation especially when there are increasing changes leading to more oversight by federal and state agencies. In the face of all this change, I find myself gravitating towards a sanctuary or bedrock to be my calm within the storm. For me, that retreat is MASFAA. MASFAA provides a rich vibrant community of diverse talented individuals with a shared experience of being financial aid and associate member professionals. We are the human element that is the bridge making higher education a reality for millions of students every day. If you have felt like a wayward ship being tossed around in a sea of uncertainty, I encourage all of you to embrace and connect with your community. MASFAA is about to embark on a new and exciting year full of insightful programming and trainings. Our Sailing Ahead conference will be in person allowing some in person connectivity after 18 months of zoom rooms and online offerings. We know time is at a premium but I hope that everyone reading this will consider volunteering on one of our many committees. Volunteering is such a rewarding experience that provides an easy way to develop professionally and make connections with other institutions.
Best of luck to you all and have a safe new academic year! You got this, and when you feel you don’t, we got you!
Best,
Ebony Marsala
MASFAA president
These guidelines last updated by NASFAA‘s Board of Directors 11/21/2017. Used by Permission.