The mission of the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators shall be to ensure access to higher education through the promotion of financial aid awareness.

Further, the mission of the Association is to affect public policy initiatives, to promote ethical administration of student aid programs, and to encourage an environment of cooperation among individuals, agencies, organizations and educational institutions to better serve all student populations.

It is a great honor and a privilege to serve as the OASFAA President for 2010-11. We are an incredible group of individuals dedicated to our profession and our students and I am excited to represent this association that means so much to me.

As with all groups of people, communication is key. Nothing gets accomplished without an exchange of information and ideas. We have a great "product" in our association and we need to make sure that all Ohio aid administrators and stakeholders are aware of the wonderful experience it is to be part of OASFAA. We currently have this website and the OASFAA list-serv that disseminates important information to our membership and other key constituents. I hope that you will take advantage of all that these avenues of communication have to offer.

I believe that some of our members and certainly many non-members are unaware of the degree and quality of some of the core functions that we serve. As a profession we do make a difference in the lives of our students through our daily work but also in the involvement we have in OASFAA, and we need to spread the word. Effective communication about the activities and people of OASFAA will only serve to cultivate the future of the organization by keeping our membership strong. Throughout the year we will be exploring other avenues of communicating to the OASFAA community. OASFAA now has a Facebook page which will allow for social networking among members and interested parties. We are in the process of re-establishing the OASFAA Newsletter which will focus on the happenings not only of the association but of our members.

OASFAA faces many challenges and decisions as we move forward. Given the economic climate it is imperative that we take a look at our core mission ensuring that it meets the needs of all our members and constituents as effectively as possible. As resources and financial support change we need to continuously look for ways to ensure the stability of the association. This past year the executive committee did an outstanding job in identifying expenses that could be reduced or eliminated with little or no effect on the services provided to our membership and those we serve and we will continue in that stead.

We have collaborated with Ohio College Access Network to offer a joint conference in December. By doing so we can share some of the resources and financial responsibilities related to offering a quality event. We are excited about the opportunities this combined venture will afford both organizations.

I look forward to sharing the activities and accomplishments of the association with each of you and look forward to your input as the year progresses. Feel free to contact me at any time with questions, suggestions or comments.

Sincerely,

Ann Marie Gruber, 2010-11 OASFAA President
Associate Director of Financial Aid
Lakeland Community College
440-525-7840
agruber@lakelandcc.edu

OASFAA stands for the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. OASFAA is a non-profit, professional organization for individuals actively engaged in the administration of financial aid within the State of Ohio for higher education.

As an educational organization, OASFAA strives to offer resources to students, families and high school advisors to promote higher education and increase awareness of financial aid opportunities.

As a professional development organization, OASFAA offers state-wide opportunities for training, through state conferences held twice a year and regional meetings and individuals sessions conducted throughout the year. These opportunities cover current topics, research and many other areas ranging from counseling techniques to the fundamentals of student aid delivery. As an organization representing over 600 members from over 250 institutions operating within the State of Ohio, OASFAA serves a diverse group of practitioners. As a unified voice for these individuals, OASFAA strives work to work with organizations across the State to address concerns relating to its mission and to promote the use of financial assistance to students and families facing the expenses of higher education.