Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators News

KASFAA Spring Conference Canceled

Initial message posted Friday, March 13 at 11:28am:

Dear KASFAA Friends,
 
This is to inform you that the 2020 KASFAA Conference scheduled for April 1-3 at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Topeka has been officially cancelled. Your Board held a conference call this morning to discuss our options. The discussion focused between the options of full cancellation and postponement to a later date. While everyone is cognizant of the importance our association places on training and networking, it was almost unanimously decided that postponement would be too difficult to implement, considering the uncertainty of what our landscape will look like tomorrow, let alone a couple of months from now. Thus, the vote for cancellation.
 
For those that had registered for the Conference, a separate communication will be going out to you to outline the specifics relating to registration refunds, hotel cancellations and training material availability in the future. All conference registration fees will be refunded 100%.
 
Cancellation of the Conference not only disrupts each of our individual schedules, but also the schedule for so many association activities that take place at the Conference. The Board will hold its Spring board meeting as planned, but will be done so using a virtual meeting (Zoom) to maintain optimum safety in practicing “social-distancing.” The Installation of Officers ceremony held each year at the Conference will also occur via a virtual meeting, with the intent to be recorded and provided on the website for witnessing by the membership. Annual awards will be handled as follows:
 
Years of Service
Years of Service award certificates will be mailed to each individual receiving a certificate. While it may be less personal than in the past, know that our appreciation for your commitment to our industry and to our association is not diminished. THANK YOU!
 
Nominated Awards
The winners of the Deborah Byers Outstanding Service Award, the newly named Bruce Lopez Meritorious Achievement Award, the Hall of Fame Award and the KASFAA Rising Star Award will have their plaques sent to a representative of their institution to be presented to the winner in a special presentation. We would ask that those presentations be recorded for the purpose of having the recognition made available to our membership via the KASFAA website. To the winners, my heart-felt CONGRATULATIONS to you all. It is well deserved!
 
Summer Institute Scholarship Winners
Each year a minimum of four (4) SI scholarships are provide to KASFAA members. The winners will be notified in the coming weeks of their scholarship. Congratulations to the winners!
 
Committee of the Year
This committee is selected by the President. Your certificates will be mailed and we ask that this presentation be recorded as well. Without the work of our committees, our association would not be where it is today. My thanks to all of the committees, and to the winner, my sincerest CONGRATULATIONS! Your work was AMAZING!
 
Thank you for your patience during this week of chaos. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me or one of your Board members. God Bless! Be Safe!
 
Tony Tanking
KASFAA President
Benedictine College
ttanking@benedictine.edu
913.360.7485

Second message posted Friday, March 13 at 12:00pm:

Dear KASFAA Friends,


By now you may have received word that the 2020 KASFAA Conference scheduled April 1-3 in Topeka has been canceled. This message is to inform you about the steps your Board is taking to address the loss of our primary networking and training event. 

Conference Registration Refunds (100%)
The refund process is being done automatically (you DO NOT need to request a refund). We will begin processing full refunds to your institutions immediately via the form of payment you made your registration with (i.e.-credit card or check). Since there are a large number of refunds, you can expect to receive your refund within the next 30 days. Thank you for your patience. There is no need to contact the treasurer unless you have a special request or concern.

Hotel Reservations
The hotel contract indications that room reservations may be canceled up to 24 hours prior to the check-in date with no penalty. It is the responsibility of each attendee to contact the hotel regarding your reservation. Please contact the Capitol Plaza Hotel to cancel your reservations immediately to ensure you do not incur any charges.

Training Materials
Any session handouts already provided by the presenters will be posted to the conference website. 

NASFAA-U Credential Session (R2T4)
NASFAA has given us permission to present this session in a distance learning setting (online) in lieu of the face-to-face setting no longer being available. We are working on the scheduling and available medium for making this training option available to those that had already been registered for the session with their conference registration. Those that were registered will be contacted separately in the coming weeks; likely from Mitzi Suhler and Josh North. 

During this week of chaos, I want to thank you all for your patience and commitment to KASFAA. We are seen as one of the stronger associations in the country, and it's because of your commitment to your students, your institution, your association, but most of all to each other. Stay healthy, my friends.

Tony Tanking
KASFAA President