Dear NASU members,
The 2010/2011 Aid Year is upon us and we face many challenges and changes over the next 12 months. Departmental budgets are getting smaller, FFEL has been eliminated, Pell is being overhauled and we are all looking for ways to better serve our students.
Queue the Super-Hero music. “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s . . . . . . Sigma?”
Yes, Sigma is who we turn to when there are dramatic changes in awarding and disbursing T4 aid, and, well, they are the producers of Sigma SAM and ProSAM, so we should look to them. We can always depend on them to come through in the end, when we need them the most. While I do expect there to be a few rough patches along our path in 2010/2011, I have no doubt Sigma will rise above the fray and help us solve all the complicated changes such as which year’s EFC we should using to benefit the student. Randy, are you listening?
Why should Sigma be the only ones we look to for guidance and help? Don’t we have each other to turn to and offer support and solutions to difficult issues? I’m just not convinced we really take advantage of all the expertise each of us has to offer. There are two ways to make connections with other SAM/ProSAM users:
- NASU list serve - nasu-l@list.msu.edu
- NASU Annual Conference – July 26-29 2011 – Location TBD
I want to encourage all of you to use the list serve for seeking guidance on any issue, asking how to perform a specific function or just get advice on a policy interpretation. I think we can all agree that we really don’t communicate enough via the list serve.
You should also make every effort to attend the NASU Conference each year. It’s a great way to meet folks from our relatively small user’s group. Below are just a few reasons why you should consider attending the NASU Conference.
- Great way to meet users from other schools across the country.
- There are 3-4 school presentations on Best Practices or discuss their experience using SAM/ProSAM.
- Department of Education presentations each year.
- Many Sigma key staffers/managers are usually in attendance or presenting.
- The conference locations are in great cities and places you may not have an opportunity to otherwise visit.
- Good times.
As always, the NASU Board welcomes any suggestions you may have to make the conference a better experience for all.
I will attempt to communicate to all the members at least quarterly during my tenure as President and present new ideas along the way. Remember, this is your organization and it should be what you want it to be.
Talk to you soon,
Stan Stout
NASU President