Skarr Earns Nationally Recognized Financial Aid Administrator Certification
By: FAS Staff
Atlanta, GA, April 11th, 2024— Alexander Skarr, Senior Associate Consultant at Financial Aid Services, LLC., earned the FAAC® designation from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ accredited Certified Financial Aid Administrator® (CFAA) Program.
“We are proud Alex earned the highest certification in our industry, which speaks to his commitment to excellence. I am thankful we have someone on our team as accomplished, experienced, and dedicated to the financial aid industry as Alex,” said Robert Heil, Chief Executive Officer, at FAS.
The CFAA Program is a first-in-the-industry effort launched in 2019 that validates the skills and knowledge of financial aid professionals at postsecondary institutions nationwide. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, or NASFAA, is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.
“Financial aid administrators are entrusted with significant responsibility, ranging from ensuring college access for students to protecting the reputation of an institution and maintaining the integrity of federal financial aid programs,” said NASFAA President & CEO Justin Draeger.” The FAAC designation affirms the professional commitment of a financial aid administrator not only to those responsibilities, but also their commitment to uphold the highest ethical standards.”
Skarr joins the ranks of an elite group of more than 300 other financial aid professionals who earned the FAAC designation after successfully passing a comprehensive knowledge exam and affirming commitment to the standards of ethical behavior that have long been a hallmark of the financial aid profession.
Skarr joined FAS in March 2023. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Clayton State University, and the Loan Coordinator and Quincy University. Skarr is an active member of the financial aid community serving on NASFAA’s 2023 Staffing and Benchmarking Taskforce and is currently a member of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission’s Alumni Steering Committee.
“Financial aid administrators work in a highly-regulated, continuously-evolving industry where knowledge matters,” says Craig Alan Slaughter, 2023-24 CFAA Program commission chair and director of financial aid at Kenyon College. “As part of an inclusive and supportive FAAC community, we commit to the highest standards of professionalism and professional development to support the success of the communities, institutions and students we serve.”
More information about the certification program may be found at nasfaa.org/certification_overview, or by contacting NASFAA’s certification program staff via email at certification@nasfaa.org.
Are you facing staffing challenges at your institution that will affect your ability to handle the current federal changes?
Contact FAS today for a quick consultation on how we can help you discover solutions tailored to your unique needs. Reach out at 770.988.9447 or via email at info@FinancialAidServices.org. We look forward to connecting with institutions ready to overcome challenges and elevate their financial aid and student business services.
About FAS
Financial Aid Services (FAS) has served higher education for over 30 years. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, FAS provides consulting, staffing, processing, and assessment services to assist institutions with improving operational efficiency, student satisfaction, and regulatory compliance in financial aid and student business services. FAS’ accomplished team averages 28 years of experience and has a combined 1,600 years of higher education experience. With clients in 49 states, FAS has successfully served over 1,800 institutions nationwide. The Company’s extensive experience combined with industry-leading expertise and focus on superior client outcomes, enables FAS to deliver lasting results to its clients and the students they serve. Visit www.FinancialAidServices.org for more information.
Contact FAS today for a quick consultation on how we can help you discover solutions tailored to your unique needs. Reach out at 770.988.9447 or via email at info@FinancialAidServices.org.We look forward to connecting with institutions ready to overcome challenges and elevate their financial aid and student business services.