Those of you that have followed baseball over the years are probably familiar with Yogi-isms — quotes uttered by the irrepressible Yogi Berra.  Some of his quotes were: “It ain’t over ’til it’s over;” “Never answer an anonymous letter;” “When you come to a fork in the road — take it;” “You can observe a lot by watching;” and, “The future ain’t what it used to be.”   However, his most famous quote is probably “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

Oftentimes I feel that way, especially when I saw a Chronicle of Higher Education blog post by Kelly Field that asks what has become of the $13.1 million that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo received from student loan companies and colleges back in 2008-09.  In my acceptance speech last summer at the Orlando conference, I asked the same question. My predecessor, Mike Bennett, also asked the same question before me.  I challenged Mr. Cuomo to work with NASFAA to develop college access and financial literacy programs with the funds.  After all, no group is in a better position than NASFAA to provide this type of information to our nation’s college students. Unfortunately, I received the same response that the Chronicle received and that that Mr. Bennett received, “déjà vu all over again.” To date, it appears that not much has been done with those funds to assist students and families. It appears that the funds continue to sit dormant (hopefully they were not invested in the stock market).

So, my question to you, the membership of NASFAA, is to give me your ideas.  What is the best way for Mr. Cuomo to be sure his funds are targeted to assist students and families?  How can NASFAA solicit his support in working with us to develop programs?  Should we begin a letter writing campaign to pry these funds loose so that students can benefit?

Well, I am writing this on 8-8-08 (the start of the Olympics) and the craziness of this summer’s Dog Days continues. Consider the following:

• Brett Favre is now a Jet after a protracted soap opera with the Packers
• Manny Ramirez, formerly of the Red Sox, is now a Dodger;
• Paris Hilton puts out the best political ad of the season that sounds, in some degree, intelligent and reasonable
• The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval L. Patrick, brings Mr. Cuomo’s investigations full circle, as shown in a Chronicle of Higher Education article.

The Chronicle article indicates that the Governor has asked Massachusetts colleges to invest in the state-owned Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) so thousands of the state’s students can continue to receive student loans. MEFA recently suspended its federal and private student loan operations. The Governor’s request appears to be a clear violation of Mr. Cuomo’s conflict of interest guidelines established last year. Nevertheless, the Governor’s actions are considered commendable by many.

So what do you think? Should colleges and universities invest in what some would say is a noble action for Massachusetts’ students, or do conflict of interest concerns outweigh those sentiments? Is the pendulum swinging back to some uncomfortable arrangements between schools and lenders? Or, has public policy moved well beyond?

(And speaking of Mr. Cuomo, just what is he planning to do with the funds he collected last year? My suggestion? Work with NASFAA to target those funds to enhance access and financial literacy initiatives!)

Now I’m trying to figure out whom the next celebrity may be that will make the news. Enjoy what’s left of your summer!

Those of you attending NASFAA’s National Conference this past week possibly heard my remarks at the Business Meeting, but I thought I would share some of them again.

I come from the Cowboy state of Wyoming and have lived and worked in Oklahoma - another Cowboy state. And, as you are aware, next year’s NASFAA Conference is in Texas – another Cowboy state. So, I’m warning you now that we are going to ‘Cowboy Up!!’ this year. For those who have never heard this phrase, the simplest explanation for ‘Cowboy Up!!’ is that it’s the ‘Cowboy Spirit’ - to give it all you’ve got; don’t give up; do the best you can with the hand you’re dealt.

The Western ethos is alive and well where I live. In the West there is an unwritten Cowboy ‘Code of the West’. Although we hear much about change, these days, I believe that basic truths never change and that the Code is still applicable in today’s world and to how we, as financial aid professionals, do business. While NASFAA has developed a written code, we also live by an unwritten code within our profession. While there are many platitudes in the Code, there are two that are especially significant and applicable to us in financial aid: 1) be proud of your occupation, and; 2) be loyal to your brand and those you ride with.

Like you, I am very proud of what we do. I can’t think of a more dedicated and inspiring group of folks than those in the trenches assisting students and families every day. We are the champions for the under-privileged seeking education and pursuing a better life. We work long and hard often under some very exacting and perplexing regulations to serve our students and institutions. Volunteering is one way to demonstrate pride for your occupation. We have a moral duty to each other, to our institutions and especially to our students to be involved professionally. Without volunteers, we cannot achieve the necessary level of training and good works that our associations thrive on. Show your pride by supporting NASFAA and your state and regional associations by volunteering your knowledge, thoughts and time. It’s your duty, so ‘Cowboy Up!!’

The ongoing Direct Loan vs. FFELP debate provides a great avenue to demonstrate loyalty to ‘those we ride with.’ This debate has been going on for 15 years! Isn’t it time to put aside our differences? Let’s trust one another to make the best decision for our students and institution. So ‘Cowboy Up!!’ and refrain from personal attacks and remember our loyalty to each other and to our students. As long as the two programs are supported by the government, NASFAA will continue to support both, providing good information and training for both so that institutions can make the right decision for their students.

We have had a rough couple of years, but through the strong leadership of past Chairs Janet Dodson and Michael Bennett we have persevered. But, let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s look forward, to where NASFAA will lead in providing students with access, choice and success in higher education. I know that at times we can get mired down with regulations making it easy to forget why we do what we do. That’s when we need to ‘Cowboy Up!!’ Attorney General Cuomo’s investigations provide an opportunity to demonstrate our loyalty to our students and our profession. I challenge Mr. Cuomo to join with NASFAA to efficiently use the funds he has accumulated to educate students and families about financial aid and financial literacy. Who better for him to work with than the professionals most trusted by college-going students? Mr. Cuomo, let’s ‘Cowboy Up!!’ and work together.

This is such a rewarding profession. For many of us financial aid is more than a job, it’s a career, it’s a cause. Like many of you, we give our personal time to be involved in our professional associations. My involvement has given me so much more than I have ever put in. Like you, I’ve met and assisted many fantastic students – students who would not have been successful without our counseling and assistance. And, like you, I’ve visited places I never would have gone, I’ve met people that I never would have met, and I’ve established friendships that have endured many years and will last a lifetime. I hope that when you take a deep breath and can look back over your career that you will feel, like me, that you feel truly blessed to have chosen financial aid as your career.

So, are you ready to ride with me? ‘Cowboy Up!!’