Training and Workshops

Pre-Conference Training Registration

Tues @ 2: Best Practices on Communicating and Preparing Students and Families for Federal Loan Reform

Tue, March 24, 2026 @ 2:00 pm EDT

Federal loan reform is moving fast, and confusion spreads even faster. In this Tuesday@2 session, a panel of our EASFAA colleagues will share practical, communication strategies for preparing students and families for major federal loan changes, including the operational pressure many teams are experiencing in response to OB3. We will begin by mapping key stakeholders, including hidden partners who shape the student experience, and then discuss common challenges such as heavy oversight, unclear decision-making lanes, and the reality that aid offices are often expected to communicate before guidance is fully settled.

Participants will leave with adaptable methods and a simple planning approach they can implement right away. Panelists will share effective communication channels and sample messaging, demonstrate how AI can support drafting and scenario planning while maintaining accuracy, and highlight tools and resources that improve consistency across outreach. We will also cover borrower readiness conversations, including how to responsibly discuss alternative borrowing, lender tools, and preferred lender lists where applicable, and end with Q&A to workshop real campus scenarios.

Moderator: Jessica Calhoun (Syracuse University)

Presenters:

Amy Staffier (Simmons University)
Marie Johnson (University of Vermont)
Brianna Gomez (Harvard University)
Robert Zasso (Dutchess Community College)

Register

Requests to host a Tuesday @ 2 training can be made by any current member or committee. The training committee request that the following steps be followed when requesting a training session and date.

1. Please check the date on the EASFAA calendar to verify if the date is free of other activities.
2. Please have requested date, session topic/title, description, presenter, and presenter bio information ready upon requesting the training.
3. Complete the Training Session Request Form found below. Once submitted the Tuesday @ 2 chairs will review your request and be in touch.