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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
3/18/2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-The Office of Financial Aid at Northwestern State University has received a Quality Assurance designation from the U.S. Department of Education. The designation is awarded to financial aid offices which continually meet the needs of their students. NSU is the only Louisiana college or university to gain this achievement.
"This designation is a compliment to the staff in the financial aid office," said director of financial aid Misti Chelette. "We do our best to take the time to explain procedures to our students and serve them as quickly as possible. I have thought that our people do outstanding work and this validates what they do."
Chelette said the Quality Assurance designation is similar to accreditation for an academic department. Financial aid offices must apply for the designation and be evaluated by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the process, Northwestern had to run test data, reports and other measures to provide proof of timeliness, types of aid offered, the amount of aid processed and the number of students benefiting from aid.
"The process was very demanding, but was worth it," said Chelette. "It showed that we meet the needs of our students in a timely manner."
NSU's Office of Financial Aid disperses approximately $50 million in assistance each year which includes scholarships, grants and loans. About 80 percent of Northwestern students receive some form of financial aid.
"A strong, efficient financial aid office is vital to everything Northwestern does to serve our students," said NSU president Dr. Randall J. Webb. "The Quality Assurance designation is the result of a concerted effort to make our financial aid operation into one of the best."
Northwestern has improved its financial aid office by placing more information on its Web site and implementing an electronic funds transfer service which speeds the delivery of funds to students.
The designation has several advantages for the Office of Financial Aid and NSU students. Chelette said Northwestern will be among the first to use new U.S. Department of Education software when it is released. This software will allow financial aid staff to process paperwork more quickly.