This year VASFAA has changed its conference and training format and is hosting an annual conference in the spring (May 22-25, 2005) and the first VASFAA Leadership Symposium this fall (November 15 & 16) at the Omni Hotel, in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia.. The Leadership Symposium is designed to bring experienced aid officers together in a collegial and stimulating environment for the purpose of networking, reviewing relevant State and Federal policies and discussing their impact on our profession, and thinking strategically about how VASFAA – and individual VASFAA members -- can influence the state of financial aid in the Commonwealth.
Our opening speaker will be noted educational policy expert, Dr. David W. Breneman, Dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. Dr. Breneman is an economist and authority on the finance and economics of higher education. His three decades of experience include service as a professor, college president, think-tank scholar, and dean. His recent writings focus on the vexing issues of state financing of public higher education. We have asked Dr. Breneman to speak about current issues in higher education and to be provocative. Participants will have an opportunity to react to what they heard and participate in a question and answer session. Following Dr. Breneman, we will engage in facilitated conversation and work together to develop an initial outline of a vision for higher education and financial aid in Virginia.
The cost of this symposium is $50 for VASFAA Members ($80 for non members), and the hotel rate is $79. Invitations to the Symposium are being mailed the second week of September.

It is the Board’s intent to make this both a meaningful and memorable experience. This will be an opportunity to interact with the leaders of the financial aid profession within the Commonwealth and help develop policy for Virginia.

Submitted by Yvonne Hubbard, University of Virginia