Membership Information

Mission

The mission of the Association is to enhance student financial aid awareness, to promote student access to postsecondary education and to provide professional development opportunities for its members.

Membership Benefits

• Network with other aid administrators
  
• Attend conferences in various cities across the state
  
• Web access to the MSFAA Directory & inclusion in the directory
  
• Subscription to the MSFAA Listserv
  
• Access to web posted Newsletter/Blog
  
• Ability to post job vacancies on the web site
  
• Opportunity to serve on the MSFAA board and/or MSFAA committees
  
• Participate in training, outreach, federal and state issues, conference planning & other activities that develop both personal and professional skills
  

• Membership runs from January 1 until December 31
  
• A person who accepts a position previously held by a MSFAA member does not automatically become a member
  
• Individuals join MSFAA not their school, company, or agency. If a member changes employment the membership transfers with the individual
  
• Members are responsible for ensuring the accurate entry of their name, title and institutions information.  
• The MSFAA Executive Board reserves the right to approve, re-classify or deny membership to any individual. 
  

• Membership is reserved for professionals at institutions of post-secondary education who are engaged in the active administration of student financial aid and support staff who are actively involved in financial aid at institutions of post-secondary education in Michigan.
  
• Associate membership is reserved for individuals representing agencies and organizations engaged in supporting the administration of student financial aid; including lenders, guaranty agency staff, loan servicers, secondary markets and other individuals who are not actively involved in the administration of student financial aid in Michigan at a post-secondary education institution.
  
• Affiliate membership is reserved for any person representing a state government agency or any person representing a unit/agency/organization with a primary interest in college access and student success initiatives but who is not directly involved with administering student financial aid.   Examples might include staff in the offices of Registrars, Admissions, Bursars, Enrollment Management, Trio programs, College Access Network, and other similar student-serving roles.
• Financial Aid administrators who have retired are given a complimentary membership should they desire to stay connected to the association and their colleagues through MSFAA.

Institutional Membership FAQs

• Why are we making the change to institutional membership?
• • The decision to move to institutional membership was explored by the Institutional Membership Taskforce over the last two years.  The benefits of an institutional membership are:
• • Stronger membership
  • • With more members, more voices and opportunities grow the association
  • Strengthen and broaden our volunteer base for MSFAA committees. 
    
  • • Create a stronger sense of belonging for individuals
    • Financial Aid Administrators may join so they will have regular access to information as opposed to being forwarded it. (direct messaging)
    • Leadership and professional development opportunities
      
      

• What are the actual bylaw change that we are voting on for institutional membership?
• • Click Here for Proposed Bylaws.
    
    

• Who/Which Departments can be included in institutional membership?
• • There are four types of institutional membership: Regular, Associate, Affiliate, and Retired.  Information on who is included in which membership can be found here, Click Here for Proposed Bylaws. 
    
    
• How much will institutional membership cost?
• • Membership tiers are based on student FTE as reported on IPEDS.  Institutional membership rates will be set by the Finance Committee later this year. 
    
    
• What are the benefits of my institution belonging to MSFAA, rather than just a few individuals?
• • Greater access to information, training, networking, and updates.
    
    
• Do individuals outside of Financial Aid/Financial Aid adjacent departments get to vote?
• • Every person in institutions bundle that has regular membership can vote. 
    
    
• How does weighted voting work?
• • Everyone votes. 
  • Within an institution bundle, each candidate/motion earns a percentage of the institutional vote.
  • Percentages are then tallied for all institutions by candidate/motion to determine the winner. 
  • Click Here for Proposed Bylaws
    
    

• What is a bundle and who is the bundle coordinator?
• • A bundle is the name we use for the institutional list of members.  The bundle coordinator will be the person who is able to add and remove members to, or from, the institutional bundle. 
    
    
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• When is the change to institutional membership taking place?
• • The vote will be held at the in-person MSFAA Annual Conference in Grand Rapids in May 2024. If the membership approves, the change will occur in July 2025.
    

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• How can you support this change?
• • Attend the annual conference in May in Grand Rapids, and advocate with your campus leadership to support the new proposed rates.
  • Letter to your institutions leadership (See PDF)