How ISFAA Helps Students

Members of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) are all focused on one goal:  Helping Indiana students pay for higher education. Annually our members invest thousands of hours of their personal time to this cause by volunteering their expertise at special events to help students and families better understand the financial aid process. Some of the many ways our association demonstrates this commitment include:

College Goal Sunday – Every year hundreds of ISFAA members unite on a Sunday afternoon to help students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the first step in applying for federal and state financial aid. In 2012, ISFAA assisted in coordinating the efforts of 550 volunteers who helped families at 40 sites around Indiana. That day, over 1,800 Indiana students completed their FAFSAs. This annual program has proven to be so effective, that over the past twenty years it has grown into a national event. Through this, ISFAA has had a positive impact for students nationwide. Watch for details about our next College Goal Sunday events.

High School Financial Aid Nights – For decades, ISFAA members have been the primary source of completely free financial aid advisement through leading Financial Aid Awareness meetings at local high schools. ISFAA members are current employees of college financial aid offices and others whose work directly relates to financial aid for students. Members are specialists in the profession.

Advocacy for state grants – ISFAA has a voice with the Division of Student Financial Aid (SFA), the department responsible for operating the state grant programs for Indiana residents.  ISFAA’s Governmental Relations Committee regularly meets with SFA leaders to discuss upcoming changes needed with state aid programs and to give ideas on how the programs can be strengthened to better help Indiana students. It is a collaborative effort that has proven to make positive differences for students and families.

High School Guidance Counselor Workshop – ISFAA annually hosts one-day financial aid training events for high school guidance counselors statewide. Working in conjunction with our colleagues at SFA, we structure these events to help counselors learn all the essential updates in federal and state financial aid programs as well as FAFSA form question changes. They use this knowledge to give their students the best answers possible on financial aid application questions. ISFAA members are a constant resource for information to families and guidance counselors on all financial aid issues.

Annual Conferences – ISFAA hosts two general conferences each year as opportunities for Indiana’s financial aid professionals to learn about new regulations, additional financial aid options for students and to share ideas on how to better serve the students of our respective schools.  Trainers from the U.S. Department of Education, SFA, Veterans Affairs, and several others overseeing financial aid programs regularly participate in these events. This is meaningful training for professionals who care.

With these activities, as well as several additional services offered by ISFAA annually, your Indiana college financial aid professionals and high school guidance counselors are able to stay current on the best financial aid options available for you. We’re here to help you pay for your education and all of our services are free. ISFAA doesn’t support the concept of charging students or families to learn about financial aid or to file the FAFSA. We work to help you find money, not make you pay for help. 

We encourage you to pursue every free option for financial aid and to trust your Indiana college financial aid experts as a great resource to help you complete the application process. We’re here for you.