President’s Statement on FAFSA Delay
I am writing to address the delay in processing and releasing ISIRs (Institutional Student Information Records) to our institutions of higher education. If you are not familiar with this issue, here is a recent NPR article. To learn more about NACAC’s position on this issue, you can read their statement by clicking here.
These delays will disproportionately impact those who are most in need of financial assistance. Without this information, schools cannot accurately award financial aid offers, which, in turn, may delay the decision making process of many students and families. In a worst case scenario, these delays will discourage students from applying to or attending school in the Fall.
Here is where our NJACAC community has the ability to respond effectively to ensure that our students' needs are being met. Of course, each institution has its own unique set of priorities and resources, but let us come together around some guiding principles:
Share Best Practices: Encourage sharing of best practices and innovative strategies among members. Let's learn from each other and apply successful techniques to maximize FAFSA completions. In the coming weeks, once folks have some time to digest this information, NJACAC will be holding a wisdom exchange session via Zoom–details to follow.
Open Lines of Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with Federal Student Aid and other relevant authorities to stay informed about any updates on ISIR processing and to advocate for timely resolution.
Active Engagement: Prioritize support for students in completing their FAFSAs by organizing workshops, webinars, and providing resources to assist in the application process. Please consider connecting with HESAA to assist with your programming.
As with the other issues facing our profession, we are all in this together. There is no doubt that we will find a way forward–we are a smart, capable, resilient bunch! Thank you in advance for the many hours of service you have and will provide to your students and their families. I am honored to work alongside such a dedicated group of professionals.
We will be sure to provide you with any updates as they become available.
Respectfully,
Randy Stamm
President, NJACAC (2023-24)
School Counselor, Hackensack High School