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CAPFAA NEWSLETTER
Winter 2025
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Letter from the President-Elect
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Greetings, true believers! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ryan Jones, and I am CAPFAA’s President-Elect and Chair of the Awards, Scholarships, and State & Federal Relations Committees.
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As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s been quite the year for our profession. Between the Department of Education’s (ED) reduction in force (RIF), the passing of the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), and the recently concluded Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee’s negotiated rulemaking sessions, there’s been a lot of information to sift through and absorb. I understand this may seem daunting, but fear not. The Association’s “Regulatory Impact Taskforce” is monitoring all updates and/or changes as they’re released to ensure that your institutions and businesses are armed with the most up-to-date and helpful information possible.
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If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend one of the Training Committee’s sessions, such as the one on Negotiated Rulemaking (“Neg Reg”) held on 11/17/25, or a “CAPFAA Conversations” event, I recommend doing so. I think you’ll find the information to be useful and/or insightful. Considering that our profession can be reactionary, yet also in flux, “knowledge is power” as they say.
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At the end of the day, the only real constant in financial aid is “change.” There’s (surely) more to come as we enter the next year, so let’s do our best as an Association to support one another. I wish you all the best for the remainder of this term and the upcoming holiday season. Excelsior!
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Ryan Jones
CAPFAA President-Elect
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Ryan's News Updates
from the State & Federal Relations Committee
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Highlights from the 7th Annual CAPFAA Classic
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Funding Funnies
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Courtesy of Vanessa Richmond
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Happy Holidays
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‘Twas the night before Christmas – And all ‘round the State;
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Financial aid officers – were all feeling great.
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At home for the holidays – With family and friends;
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Some causing a ruckus – Some making amends.
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But up at the North Pole – This cold winter night;
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Sat jolly ol’ Santa – Preparing for flight.
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He made sure his reindeer – Were ready to go;
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For their travel to CAPFAA – Through the ice and the snow.
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Thought Santa, “These CAPFAA folks – Are really A - one”
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“They conduct solid business – But also have fun”.
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“President Benner – Runs a really tight ship”;
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“Our Ashley’s on target – With nary a slip”.
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Another great Conference – Has recently passed;
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Olivia and Charlie – Have knowledge quite vast.
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But they’re blessed with committee – that work very hard;
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Making sure everything came off – Smooth and unmarred.
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“Too many to mention” – Thought Santa, by name;
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But CAPFAA is lucky – To have people share fame.
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Setting up speakers - And sessions take time;
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Coordinating meals and room sizes – Keeping eyes on the dime.
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Mustn’t go over budget – For every dollar counts;
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From year to year CAPFAA struggles – And the tension surely mounts.
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But again, as always in the past – Constraints are held at bay;
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The vendors step right up with smiles – And again they save the day.
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Santa marvels at the work they do – “They’re always on the go”
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“A conference here, a conference there – And they always donate dough!”
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How can CAPFAA say “thank you”? – To the vendors for their support;
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They make sure that CAPFAA stays afloat – And never comes up short.
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Now Santa was circling over Connecticut – He had his task at hand;
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But to help all CAPFAA folks at once – There was no place to land.
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Instead, he went into his bag – This gave him such a thrill;
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He grabbed the knowledge and all the tools – To help with the Beautiful Bill.
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“Now schools won’t have to fret as much” – Thought Santa with a smile;
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“Connecticut schools will out-perform – Their colleagues by a mile”.
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He thanked Gateway’s Ryan – Who keeps CAPFAA well-apprised;
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Ever-changing rules and regs – Some small, some oversized.
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“His monthly blips sure help us all – CAPFAA appreciates the work”
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For ignorance of what’s ahead – Will only cause us hurt.
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“I know that CAPFAA stays abreast – Of all that’s going on”
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“Each year their leaders change a bit – Pass the gavel (or baton)”.
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To those who step up every year – To help our mighty group;
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Thanks for getting all involved – And for keeping in the loop.
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As a professional in our chosen field – Look at those we aid.
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We’ll never, ever, really know – The better lives we made.
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And for many reading these little words – A better career you’d bring;
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By stepping up and helping out – And throw your hat into the ring!
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You don’t have to run for President – Or even Chair a group;
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Just start on a committee – And help to stir the soup.
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The time commitment isn’t great – In fact, it’s weak, it seems;
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For meetings now are basically held – On Zoom, or maybe Teams.
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Santa reached into his bag again – And said, “Problem solved”
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He sprinkled magic dust around – To get some folks involved.
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Santa’s work was now all done – he’d head back to the Pole;
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He blessed our CAPFAA once again – And reiterated his goal:
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“May 2026 be oh so great – For aid workers all around”
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“May you deal with OB3 and all – And may peace and love be found”.
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And I heard him exclaim - As he rode out of sight –
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“Happy Holidays to all – And to all a good night”.
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