Last week, National College Attainment Network (NCAN) staff attended the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) Policy Conference.
This conference provides an opportunity for hundreds of higher education policy advocates and professionals from across the nation to gather and discuss key issues and policy considerations that states need to address to develop and maintain outstanding
higher education systems.
During the conference, NCAN’s Alessandra Cipriani-Detres (Program Associate) and Louisa Woodhouse (Senior Associate, Policy) organized a panel of state financial aid leaders from Illinois, Louisiana, and New York to discuss the impacts from this year’s
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) delay and complications, cleverly titled The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly: The FAFSA Delay’s Impact on State College & Career Readiness Efforts. The panel included Jacqui Moreno from the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Ebony Holmes from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), and Ian Rosenblum from the State University of New York (SUNY). Curious how these three states have been combatting this year’s FAFSA complications? You’re in luck! Here’s what we learned:
Illinois
Jacqui Moreno shared that this year’s graduating high school class has arguably been impacted the most when it comes to college and career readiness, reminding the audience how the coronavirus pandemic took away their 8th to 9th grade transition and how
FAFSA complications are now affecting their senior year of high school. Illinois invested more time and energy into this population of students by fighting off the potential suspension of their universal FAFSA policy which requires all high school
students to complete the FAFSA or submit an opt-out form as a graduation requirement.
New York
Ian Rosenblum explained that SUNY’s leadership by Chancellor Dr. John King, former U.S. Secretary of Education and former president of The Education Trust, has benefited students in New York tremendously. SUNY’s enrollment management plan, digital outreach,
partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs), and strong relationships with counselors have helped ensure that students receive the support and financial aid they deserve. SUNY’s FAFSA tracking system, which helps identify errors, and provides
proactive support to help students complete corrections, has also been a key element of their FAFSA completion strategy this year.
Louisiana
Ebony Holmes discussed the importance of creating a culture of FAFSA completion in her state. The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is the state’s merit-based scholarship program for in-state students. TOPS coupled with a universal FAFSA
policy, FAFSA Fridays where students and families can receive targeted support to complete their FAFSA, and an abundance of outreach have cemented the FAFSA completion culture in Louisiana.
Nationally, FAFSA completions are down more than 10% for high school seniors, compared to last year. To put this number into greater context, we “only” saw about a
-5% change for the class of 2021 which was greatly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. While this -10% is a large number, it’s even more drastic for students who were most impacted by the FAFSA delay such as students from mixed-status families,
those experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, and incarcerated students.
“FAFSA can’t continue to be considered an extracurricular activity,” said Moreno, asserting that FAFSA completion should be treated in schools with the same level of importance as standardized testing, providing tailored support for each student. She
also highlighted the importance of recruiting FAFSA experts with diverse life experiences to ensure every student is met with tailored support. Holmes explained that because students from mixed-status families faced the most significant challenges
with the FAFSA this year, having the appropriate materials and trainings to guide them through technical challenges was critical to avoiding further frustration. Rosenblum shared that SUNY’s FAFSA Completion Corps, frequently updated FAQs for parents,
students, and counselors, translations of FAFSA materials and collaboration with CBOs allowed them to meet students where they are and address their specific needs.
The panel provided a unique opportunity to discuss state FAFSA mandates given that Louisiana was the first state to implement a universal FAFSA policy in 2017 and, while the policy
was recently repealed, 12 states followed in their footsteps to get a similar policy implemented such as Illinois for the high school class of 2021 and New York for this upcoming high school class of 2025. Holmes stated that while the impact of the
universal FAFSA repeal is yet to be known, Louisiana’s focus on students’ choice to complete the FAFSA will persist and LOSFA’s efforts will continue. New York’s optimism about the opportunity that comes with universal FAFSA shined as Moreno described
Illinois as having a “reach” ecosystem that comes from the heroic efforts of individual organizations within the state.
Illinois, Louisiana, and New York have demonstrated a strong commitment to overcoming obstacles and ensuring FAFSA completion remains a priority. As we are faced with a national decline in FAFSA completion rates, continued collaboration, and tailored
support are essential in bridging gaps and ensuring equitable access to higher education for students from all backgrounds. The insights gained from this conference highlight the resilience and dedication of states to adapting and enhancing their
strategies in the face of ongoing challenges.
As we head into the fall, NCAN will be hosting trainings on the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, and continuing our advocacy efforts to ensure that this year’s FAFSA rollout is efficient and functional for all students – particularly those who have felt an outsized
impact of the technical challenges and delays seen this year.
NCAN would like to extend a special thank you to Jacqui Moreno, Ebony Holmes, and Ian Rosenblum for their contributions to the panel, the audience for filling our session’s room with great conversation and questions, and SHEEO for hosting a memorable
conference. Until next year!
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