In addition to its updated training modules, Federal Student Aid has created a new series that expands on rudimentary topics such as reporting requirements and how schools request funds from the Department of Education. The series will be divided into the two sections: a self-paced course called FSA Fundamentals Online and the instructor-led FSA Fundamentals Virtual Workshop series, with each session lasting four days.
Schools That Must Attend:
- Those participating in Title IV aid programs for the first time and need to meet the FSA Fundamentals training requirements to complete certification
- Institutions that are changing ownership (in some instances).
Required Attendees:
- The Owner/President/CEO (or their high-level school official designee) of an institution that falls into one of the previously mentioned categories
- The Financial Aid Administrator of an institution that falls into one of the previously mentioned categories
- Both of these individuals must complete the FSA Fundamentals Online course and attend every session in the FSA Fundamentals Virtual Workshop series
* Individuals who want to attend as a refresher course on Title IV aid can attend the trainings even if they do not meet the criteria for required attendance. FSA encourages these administrators to review the updated FSA Basic Training for New Staff, which is located in the FSA Training Center.
Topics That Will Be Covered:
- What are the Title IV federal student aid programs?
- How does a school obtain and maintain institutional eligibility?
- What must a school do to request and receive funds from the Department of Education?
- What policies and procedures does a school need to have in place?
- How does a school process aid for its students by determining eligibility, calculating financial need, packaging aid, adjusting aid, and recalculating aid?
- What are the requirements for disbursing aid to students?
- What must a school do regarding student departures and calculating a return of Title IV aid (R2T4)?
- What are the reporting requirements for a school?
How to Register
- Anyone who plans to attend the virtual workshop series must successfully complete the FSA Fundamentals Online course
- You will receive a link to register for the virtual workshops once the course is completed; your seat will be reserved until you cancel the registration
FSA Fundamentals Online
- This is a self-paced, online course and is available now through the FSA Training Center
- Log into the FSA Training Center and select “Training Courses” from the main menu
- Choose “FSA Fundamentals Training Series” from the dropdown selection
- Review the FSA Fundamentals Training Series home page
- Select “FSA Fundamentals Online Course” under Step 1 and find the online course link
- Click the “Start Here” button on the self-enrollment page and begin the training.
FSA Fundamentals Virtual Workshop
Workshop Dates and Times:
- Mondays – Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
- Fridays: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET
Clock-Hour/Nonterm Credit-Hour Workshops:
- Session #1: October 21st to the 25th, 2024
- Session #2: January 27th to the 31st, 2025
- Session #3: February 24th to the 28th, 2025
- Session #4: March 24th to the 28th, 2025
- Session #5: May 19th to the 23rd, 2025
- Session #6: June 9th to the 13th, 2025
Credit-Hour Workshops:
- Session #1: November 18th to the 22nd, 2024
- Session #2: April 21st to the 25th, 2025
SOURCE: (ANN-24-13) Training Workshops – 2024-25 FSA Fundamentals Training Series