Training and Workshops

Professional Judgement

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 9:00-12:00 | Rhode Island College

Instructed by Charlie Baywood, FAAC, Associate Director, Financial Aid Systems, CT State Community College

This session will provide you with the meaning, purpose, and underlying principles of professional judgement (PJ); areas of financial aid administration to which PJ is applied; and general documentation requirements applicable when exercising PJ.

Key Concepts:

• Statutory authority
• Definition of PJ
• Unusual circumstances
• Special circumstances
• Purpose and principles of PJ
• PJ policies and procedures
• PJ triggers
• Areas of PJ; areas where PJ does not apply
• Role of PJ documentation; types of PJ documentation
• PJ during a disaster, emergency, or economic downturn

Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 4^th.

Register

Tues @ 2: Navigating Socioeconomic Bias in Financial Aid

Tue, March 10, 2026 @ 2:00 pm EDT

This interactive session helps financial aid professionals build awareness of how socioeconomic bias can influence their work. Participants will engage in discussions, real world examples, and practical activities that highlight how assumptions about income, resources, and student background can shape financial aid interactions and decisions. The session provides actionable strategies to recognize bias, support students with equity in mind, and create a more inclusive and fair financial aid experience.

Register 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Friday, March 13th | 9:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. | University of Vermont

Instructed by Tanner Matchus, FAAC®, Associate Director of Financial Aid, Community College of Vermont

Learning Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will:

• Understand foundational concepts of satisfactory academic progress; and
• Learn about satisfactory academic progress consumer information requirements

Key Concepts

• Quantitative component; maximum timeframe; qualitative component; consumer information requirements.

Deadline to register is March 9^th.

Register 

 Tues @ 2: Building Strong Financial Aid Policies & Procedures (P+P): A Practical Guide

Tue, March 17, 2026 @ 2:00 pm EDT

This session explores how Emotional Intelligence strengthens communication, builds trust, and supports students facing financial stress. Participants will learn practical strategies to navigate difficult conversations and foster a more inclusive, culturally aware financial aid environment where students our counterparts feel respected and understood.

Register 

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

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

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.

Training Session Request Form

  Click the link below to browse through recordings and slides from past events.