SACS Reaffirmation
| Objective | Enhance Student Service | |
| Provide information and assistance to students and parents regarding aid program availability, the application process and applicant rights and responsibilities Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Banner Conversion Prepare for financial aid management software conversion from SCT Plus to Banner |
| Criteria | Banner Conversion Preparations Begin preparations for identifying areas of concern through the migration and implementation process |
| Finding | Software Conversion Preparations The documentation of existing functionality that must be included in the scope of the conversion process is ongoing |
| Criteria | Banner Implementation Training Banner Training in preparation for data migration and implementation |
| Finding | Status of Banner Implementation Training Banner Training is in progress and will proceed along training schedule |
| Indicator | E-Signature Implement e-signature availability for student use on University documents |
| Criteria | E-signature Capability on University Documents Implementation of e-signature capability on financial aid office documents |
| Finding | E-signature Availability Student e-signature capability is unavailable for use with financial aid University documents within the application process |
| Indicator | Peer Counseling Offer peer counseling to assist student with the financial aid process including but not limited to technological access to applications and award offers |
| Criteria | Peer Counselor To hire and maintain at least one peer counselor position in the aid office |
| Finding | Peer Counselor Effectiveness The peer counselor adds flexibility to given additional individualized attention to aid applicants having difficulty with the application process |
| Action | E-signature Feasibility Determine feasibility of use of the preliminary e-signature results |
| Action | Peer Counselor Employment and Training Continue to seek and train students who have good communication skills and a desire to help other students through the financial aid process |
| Objective | Enhance Technology | |
| Improved the technology necessary to process, maintain and report financial aid Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Banner Conversion Prepare for financial aid management software conversion from SCT Plus to Banner |
| Criteria | Banner Conversion Preparations Begin preparations for identifying areas of concern through the migration and implementation process |
| Finding | Software Conversion Preparations The documentation of existing functionality that must be included in the scope of the conversion process is ongoing |
| Criteria | Banner Implementation Training Banner Training in preparation for data migration and implementation |
| Finding | Status of Banner Implementation Training Banner Training is in progress and will proceed along training schedule |
| Action | Continue Conversion Preparation Continue documentation of issue for inclusion into functionally with Banner software use |
| Objective | Promote Staff Development | |
| Provide all elements required to train and maintain staff sufficient to provide accurate and complete assistance to students, parents, campus departments and the community Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Job Procedures Maintain job procedures sufficient to assist in employee training and daily operations |
| Criteria | Code of Federal Regulations Availability of the Code of Federal Regulations for all employee levels for guidance with the administration of federal aid programs |
| Finding | Published Regulations Availability The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is available for use by all staff members through the internet and is downloadable |
| Criteria | Federal Student Aid Handbook Availability of the Federal Student Aid Handbook to all staff members to use a guidance in the administration of financial aid |
| Finding | Federal Student Handbooks Availability The Federal Student Aid Handbooks for current and recent years are available for use through in aid industry internet website to all staff members |
| Criteria | Procedures Manual Availability of a current procedures manual on-line or in printed form for staff use |
| Finding | Procedures Manual Availability A procedures manual for daily operations is available to all staff members |
| Indicator | Staff Training Seek and take advantage of training opportunities offered within the financial aid industry |
| Criteria | Participation in Conferences and Workshop Staff member particationi in conferences, webinars and workshops |
| Finding | Workshop and Conference Participation Participation in workshops and conferences resulted in increased staff development |
| Action | Continued Participation in Industry Lead Training Continue to take advantage of industry training opportunities such as webinars, workshops and conferences |
| Action | Periodic Update of Procedures Manual Periodic review and maintenance of the procedures manual due to changes in regulations and technology |
| Action | Utilize Federal Regulations and Handbooks Access and Utilization of the regulations and handbook through industry internet sites or downloaded versions of material. |
| Objective | Enhance Student Service | |
| Provide information and assistance to students and parents regarding aid program availability, the application process and applicant rights and responsibilities Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Banner Conversion Prepare for financial aid management software conversion from SCT Plus to Banner |
| Criteria | Banner Conversion Preparations Begin preparations for identifying areas of concern through the migration and implementation process |
| Finding | Software Conversion Preparations The documentation of existing functionality that must be included in the scope of the conversion process is ongoing |
| Criteria | Banner Implementation Training Banner Training in preparation for data migration and implementation |
| Finding | Status of Banner Implementation Training Banner Training is in progress and will proceed along training schedule |
| Indicator | E-Signature Implement e-signature availability for student use on University documents |
| Criteria | E-signature Capability on University Documents Implementation of e-signature capability on financial aid office documents |
| Finding | E-signature Availability Student e-signature capability is unavailable for use with financial aid University documents within the application process |
| Indicator | Peer Counseling Offer peer counseling to assist student with the financial aid process including but not limited to technological access to applications and award offers |
| Criteria | Peer Counselor To hire and maintain at least one peer counselor position in the aid office |
| Finding | Peer Counselor Effectiveness The peer counselor adds flexibility to given additional individualized attention to aid applicants having difficulty with the application process |
| Action | E-signature Feasibility Determine feasibility of use of the preliminary e-signature results |
| Action | Peer Counselor Employment and Training Continue to seek and train students who have good communication skills and a desire to help other students through the financial aid process |
| Objective | Enhance Technology | |
| Improved the technology necessary to process, maintain and report financial aid Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Banner Conversion Prepare for financial aid management software conversion from SCT Plus to Banner |
| Criteria | Banner Conversion Preparations Begin preparations for identifying areas of concern through the migration and implementation process |
| Finding | Software Conversion Preparations The documentation of existing functionality that must be included in the scope of the conversion process is ongoing |
| Criteria | Banner Implementation Training Banner Training in preparation for data migration and implementation |
| Finding | Status of Banner Implementation Training Banner Training is in progress and will proceed along training schedule |
| Action | Continue Conversion Preparation Continue documentation of issue for inclusion into functionally with Banner software use |
| Objective | Perform Regulatory Reporting | |
| Ensure the accuracy and timeliness of federal, state and local reporting Associated Goals: Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Federal And State Reporting Satisfy federal and state reporting requirement such as but not limited to the Fiscal Operations Repert and Application to Participate and the Coordinating Board's FAD Report |
| Criteria | Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) Successful completion of annual the Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) |
| Finding | FISAP Report Preparation in Progress Preparation has begun for FISAP reporting; deadline is September 30 |
| Criteria | State Fund Reporting Report annual expenditures of state aid program, Texas Work-Study, LEAP, SLEAP and 5th Year Accounting |
| Finding | State Funds Expenditure Reports Reporting of state aid fund expenditures has been successfully completed |
| Criteria | TEXAS Grant Year-End Report To report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the report activities for award details of the TEXAS Grant program |
| Finding | Submission of TEXAS Grant Year End Report TEXAS Grant Report was successfully submitted |
| Action | Continue Work Required for FISAP Continue prepatory work in FISAP |
| Action | TEXAS Grant and State Fund Expenditure Report Reporting of TEXAS Grant and state funds expenditures have been successfully submitted |
| Objective | Promote Staff Development | |
| Provide all elements required to train and maintain staff sufficient to provide accurate and complete assistance to students, parents, campus departments and the community Associated Goals: Provide Financial Assistance To University Students, Regulatory Compliance |
| Indicator | Job Procedures Maintain job procedures sufficient to assist in employee training and daily operations |
| Criteria | Code of Federal Regulations Availability of the Code of Federal Regulations for all employee levels for guidance with the administration of federal aid programs |
| Finding | Published Regulations Availability The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is available for use by all staff members through the internet and is downloadable |
| Criteria | Federal Student Aid Handbook Availability of the Federal Student Aid Handbook to all staff members to use a guidance in the administration of financial aid |
| Finding | Federal Student Handbooks Availability The Federal Student Aid Handbooks for current and recent years are available for use through in aid industry internet website to all staff members |
| Criteria | Procedures Manual Availability of a current procedures manual on-line or in printed form for staff use |
| Finding | Procedures Manual Availability A procedures manual for daily operations is available to all staff members |
| Indicator | Staff Training Seek and take advantage of training opportunities offered within the financial aid industry |
| Criteria | Participation in Conferences and Workshop Staff member particationi in conferences, webinars and workshops |
| Finding | Workshop and Conference Participation Participation in workshops and conferences resulted in increased staff development |
| Action | Continued Participation in Industry Lead Training Continue to take advantage of industry training opportunities such as webinars, workshops and conferences |
| Action | Periodic Update of Procedures Manual Periodic review and maintenance of the procedures manual due to changes in regulations and technology |
| Action | Utilize Federal Regulations and Handbooks Access and Utilization of the regulations and handbook through industry internet sites or downloaded versions of material. |