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<div dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:12pt">Dear WSSSC, </span></span>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif">Sharing the below and attached important FAFSA updates that were shared by Executive Director Paul Francis to WACTC earlier today. I hope to solicit any thoughts or
questions at WSSSC Thursday morning</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;font-size:12pt"> hot topics session prior to the WACTC Ed Services and business meeting on Thursday and Friday. </span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Amid the ongoing challenges facing the Department of Education regarding FAFSA simplification, I want to provide you with some additional insights.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The State Board teams have been diligently assessing strategies to support our students and staff. One proposal we believe to be of benefit, and about which we
consulted the Financial Aid Council (FAC) last week, is for financial aid administrators to
<i>initiate awarding in ctcLink now</i> for both continuing and new students for the 24-25 academic year, using the current Student Aid Index (SAI) provided by the Department of Education.
<i>See attached document: Financial Aid Processing Recommendations and Guidance for 2024-2025.</i></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">While it's acknowledged discrepancies in aid calculation may require adjustments to these awards in the future, beginning the awarding process now affords financial
aid staff more time to package financial aid and offer awards.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The SBCTC ctcLink Support team is continuing to apply Oracle code fixes and test the system; however, the fluid nature of changes to ISIRs by the Department of Education
means that even if the system were fully prepared, subsequent adjustments would still be necessary.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Additionally, we want to highlight the importance of adhering to the census date requirements, as it directly impacts FTE calculations and other associated matters. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">However, there exists local flexibility within your institutions to support staff and student enrollments for the 24-25 academic year. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Please refer to the attached document,
<i>Census Date Requirements and Local Flexibility</i>, for details on regulatory considerations, policy guidelines, and areas where local flexibility is applicable for your students.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Feel free to reach out if you have questions. I look forward to further discussion during WACTC this week.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Thank
you.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Paul</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<img width="59" height="111" src="cid:image002.png@01DA94B4.E6F28AD0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass" style="width:.6111in; height:1.1527in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">Paul
Francis</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">Executive Director</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges</span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a href="mailto:pfrancis@sbctc.edu"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">pfrancis@sbctc.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 53, 97);">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">• o: 360-704-4355
</span></p>
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<span style=""><a href="https://www.sbctc.edu/"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">sbctc.edu</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 53, 97);">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">• Twitter:
</span><span style=""><a href="https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">@SBCTCWashington</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 55, 100);">
• Facebook: </span><span style=""><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">@WASBCTC</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book", sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></i></p>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);">SBCTC Vision - “Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice
in service to our diverse communities.”</span></i></p>
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