LIFE AFTER FINANCIAL AID – DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL SKILLS

NJASFAA Annual Fall Conference, 2011

Gisele Joachim, Dean of Enrollment Management, Seton Hall Law School

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Written Communication Analytical Ability Verbal Communication Technological Skills

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

CONTEXT

Communications with coworkers Communications with students/parents Email Protocol Memorandum Office Communications

DEVELOPING WRITING SKILLS

Audience & Format Composition & Style

tone, attitude, nuance Structure Grammatical Errors Proofing Key Points A picture speaks a thousand words

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Read/Analyze communications sent to YOU Read what you write out loud Critique/ask others to critique Committee reports (for NJASFAA ) or for

those Institutional committees you volunteer for!

Summarize Financial Aid news for students/other departments

ANALYTICAL ABILITY

CONTEXT

Helping others understand what you know Financial Aid is the “hard stuff”! The ability to visualize, articulate, and solve

both complex and uncomplicated problems and concepts, and make decisions that make sense based on available information.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Presentations (i.e. High School Financial Aid nights)

Presentations to other administrators/faculty Report writing/Analysis Spend time in other departments Understand the institutional infrastructure

DEVELOPING ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Ask “WHY” - Learn How to Question Open questions requiring more than one-word

answers Questions that make you think and require

reflection Questions that are relevant Questions that introduce a problem and test

assumptions

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

CONTEXT

Public Speaking Presentation Ability Knowledge of meeting protocol Day to Day communications

Student Counseling/Meetings Co-worker Discussions Supervisor Interaction

WAYS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Develop your voice Slow down Animate your voice Enunciate your words Use appropriate volume Pronounce your words correctly Use the right words Make eye contact Use gestures Don’t send mixed messages KISS Most important = Ability to LISTEN

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Everyday with coworkers Volunteer to Institutional Committees Have lunch with Faculty/Directors High School Financial Aid Nights Volunteer Activities Conference Attendance - Networking Conference Presentations!

MAKING THE MOST OF PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES Review the attendee list in advance Don’t sit with people you recognize Help others forge connections Thank your presenters Send follow-up emails Get to know the sponsor/vendors Be honest about your interests and intentions Challenge your inner introvert to attend social

functions Switch to club soda before you think you need to

switch to club soda

TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS

CONTEXT

“Force yourself to keep your technical skills current, even if new developments don’t seem directly related to your current job. Otherwise, you’ll get left behind and may have to catch up a huge amount before you can head off in a new direction in the future.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Participate in tech-driven forums – i.e., webinars

Participate in tech conference offerings (even if you are not the tech-guy)

Go to lunch with the tech guy Read online tutorials Take classes

ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT

Leadership Strategic Planning Analytical Abilities Communication Skills Customer Service Systems/Data Management Regulatory/compliance Knowledge Research skills

SOURCES/RESOURCES Allison Vaillancourt, VP, HR, University of Arizona-

10/28/11 Chronicle of Higher Education “The College Admissions Officer’s Guide”, Hossler

(1986) Open Loops – Ten Ways to Improve your

communication skills MindTools.com