This article is the first of a three-part series based on the book, Basic Guide to Financial Aid. The contents within are abridged from the publication, with additional emphasis on the impact federal student aid administration has on non-financial aid professionals in higher education today. It should be noted that this information is not…

This article is the third of a three-part series based on the book, "Basic Guide to Financial Aid," which recently won NASFAA's Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award. The contents within are adapted from the publication, with additional emphasis on the impact federal student aid administration has on non-financial aid professionals in higher…

Brian C. Rosenberg, President-in-Residence at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, served as Macalester College's sixteenth president from 2003-2020. During his tenure, enrollment of U.S. students of color at the college increased significantly. Moreover, under his leadership, the college prospered during a challenging economic…

Over the past two decades, suicide rates have been increasing steadily in the United States (Hedeggaard, et al. 2018), which has led to many higher education institutions exploring ways to prevent, intervene, and respond to student suicides. While prevention and intervention are vital components to addressing suicides on college campuses,…

Employee turnover is a challenge for all organizations, including higher education. Public universities are losing staff members who are critical to the successful operation of these universities. Past research has shown that leadership style is a key factor that affects voluntary employee turnover. The purpose of this correlational study is to…

Jeff von Munkwitz-Smith retired from Boston University in 2015 where he was Assistant Vice President and University Registrar. He is a Past President of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), served as Editor-in-Chief of "College and University" from 2014-2020, and is currently a Senior…

The "Chronicle of Higher Education" report "The Looming Enrollment Crisis" offers multiple case studies on how institutions "were" responding to shifting demographics and new student needs--that is, prior to the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast to the adverse impacts of natural disasters on particular geographic…

In four years of managing the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Student Service Center--a one stop shop--from concept to fruition, the author has collected some tips and tricks and a toolbox of key components for success. The NAU Service Center journey started in 2012, when university leadership came together for a two-year concept review that…

Luisa Havens Gerardo is Vice President for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech. She has served the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) as president, vice president for access and equity, chair of the international admissions committee, and member of the nominations committee and the program committee…

Janet Marling is the Executive Director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), which is housed at the University of North Georgia. NISTS was established in 2002 at the University of North Texas and later moved to its present location in 2012. During this time, NISTS has grown into one of the largest national…

In today's financially strained higher education landscape, the student services infrastructure is often supported by fewer staff, less money, less experience, and less knowledge. Gone are the days when higher education staff professionals acquired the necessary education pieces, apprenticed in positions, and waited patiently for promotions. Most…

"One-stop" centers are evidence of institutions' recognition of students' changing needs and habits. The centers enable students to manage all of their business in one location (mirroring somewhat the process of managing tasks in industries outside of higher education). A one-stop center moves services from a process-centered approach to…

The efficacy of academic policies intended to promote student and institutional success is a function of the effort invested to evaluate their merit and feasibility. Policy owners are not ignorant of such implications when proposing changes, but being so closely connected with a policy tends to diminish objectivity. Thankfully, the typically…

Being a woman leader in higher education has many challenges. The author often reflects on the careers she has attained and the advice she has given to students and colleagues only to realize she has always been an advocate for improvement, advancement, and fairness. She gives advice on how women can lead authentically: (1) Take care of your body;…

Latinos are the largest growing population in America, and thus, have the potential to have the greatest impact on our nation's economy. However, Latinos also graduate college at a lower rate than their counterparts. This article focuses on the various cultural, social, and financial barriers Latino students face and provides recommendations for…