National Conversation Initiative

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What is the NCI?

• A campaign to enact an agenda for reform
• A national dialog on student financial aid
• Federal issues
• State issues
• Philanthropic and institutional initiatives
• Recommendations to the new administration and
  other parties in 2009

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Why is NCI needed?

• Gaps in college participation rates persist
• The rate at which high school grads from the
  highest income category continued their education
  in college increased to 88.1 in 2005, from 79
  in 1970.
• Over the same time period, the college
  continuation rate for students from the lowest
  income category increased to only 56.4 in 2005,
  up from 45.8 in 1970.
• That is an (unacceptable) 31.7 percentage point
  gap between lowest and highest income students.
• (Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY)

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Why is NCI needed? (cont.)

• Rising financial barriers face students and
  families
• In the first decade of the new century, financial
  barriers will keep nearly two million low- and
  middle-income college qualified high school
  graduates from attending college. (Advisory
  Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2002)
• Encumbrances exist in delivering student aid
• The FAFSA's complexity is a widely recognized
  obstacle to college access and success. Can the
  form change to get m0re students into school and
  keep them there?

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Why is NCI needed? (cont.)

• Absence of coherent framework for reforming
  student financial aid
• There have been many studies and proposed
  solutions, but without a coherent framework of
  recommendations and a sustained program for
  building support and enactment the necessary
  reforms will languish.
• Opportunity for constructive action with new
  leadership in U.S. and increased global
  interdependence and competitiveness.

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The Process of the NCI
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What is the NCI dialog process?

• Open listening sessions
• Organized forums
• Higher Education forum
• Business leaders forum
• Public officials forum
• Web 2.0 communication and collaboration
• Telecasts and assemblies

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What info will NCI generate?

• Findings from existing studies and reports
• Results of NCI dialogs / forums
• Feedback from Web 2.0 communities
• Initial NCI recommendations
• Final NCI recommendations

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NCI Process 4 Distinct Phases

• Phase One
• Information gathering
• Review of existing studies and reports
• Conducting region and state-based Listening
  Sessions and Town Hall Meetings
• Possible option Institution-based efforts
• Integrate Web 2.0 communication and collaboration

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NCI Process 4 Distinct Phases

• Phase Two
• Review and synthesize information generated
  through dialog process
• Analyze current research
• Formulate preliminary recommendations for change
• Submit preliminary recommendations to new
  Administration during first 100 days
• Conduct current status Webinar

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NCI Process 4 Distinct Phases

• Phase Three
• Assess feedback from Administration
• Conduct follow-up forums
• Higher education
• Business leaders
• Public officials
• Monitor Web 2.0 communications
• Conduct telecasts and assemblies

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NCI Process 4 Distinct Phases

• Phase Four
• Develop advocacy agenda and plan
• Solicit broad-based support within regions and
  states
• Implement plan at different levels as appropriate
  and necessary

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What is the NCI timetable?
Activity Dates
Launch of research October, 2008
Initial listening sessions October-December, 2008
Initial recommendations January-March, 2009
Continuing dialog March-December, 2009
National assembly November/December, 2009
Advocacy and enactment January, 2010 and following
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NCI Outreach So Far

• Weve held Listening Sessions that have touched
  members in 24 states across the country.
• Weve communicated directly with members to
  solicit feedback on our policy questions, via the
  daily news email, direct emails to membership,
  and the Presidents blog
• Nearly 1,500 members have attended these sessions
  so far.
• And - we have 9 more sessions to go!

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What are we hearing?

• Feedback on the sessions has been overwhelmingly
  positive
• Members have expressed support for the course
  that NASFAA leadership has set
• Many have remarked on the value of holding open
  forums to gain member input

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Todays Listening Session
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Who are the session participants?

• Listening panel
• Volunteer speakers
• Notetaker

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What are the general topics for comment?

• Access to college and student aid
• Aid simplification
• Grants
• Loans
• Personal and family contribution
• State, philanthropic, and campus-based programs
• Tax policy
• Other

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What is the session procedure?

1. Speak 2-3 minutes on views and recommendations
2. Address one or more questions/issues with
   suggestions (listening panel may ask questions)
3. Submit written statement or email comments to
   NASFAA on any other area of interest
4. Sign up to receive notes, findings,
   recommendations, and announcements

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