The Development of a Model State Training Program for Financial Aid Administrators in Virginia

Abstract

There has been a general recognition and agreement within the student financial aid community that the training and development of administrators has historically been a priority professional need. Agreement has not been reached, however, on who should be responsible for training, what training curric~lum materials should be developed and included, when and how often training should be conducted, and where training should occur to maximize goals of increased knowledge and effectiveness. Emerging from the current proliferation of training activities is a theoretical grass roots model which contains the multiple appeal of cost efficiency, coordination, and cooperation among the various administrators involved in the financial aid process. This article outlines the development and results of that model in Virginia where it originated. Under the Higher Education Amendments of 1976, incentive grants to the state Scholarship Agencies were provided for the operation of the State Student Financial. Assistance Training Program (SSF A TP). The SSFA TP en. abIes a state's financial assistance agency, in consultation with the statewide organization of financial aid administrators, to design and develop a training program. The amount a state may request for its training program is five percent (or $10,000, whichever is less) of the state's allotments under each of the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), National Direct Student Loan (NDSL), and College Work-Study (CWS) programs.