COHEAO 2021 Annual Conference
COHEAO held its 2021 annual conference virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, COHEAO still had a robust agenda with participants hearing from experts all across the country. Rep. Mark Pocan delivered the keynote address.
The sessions for the conference are below:
Session: COHEAO’s Washington Update
COHEAO Executive Director Harrison Wadsworth will set the stage for the rest of the conference with an update on higher education related activity in Washington, D.C. and what is relevant to COHEAO members
Speakers: Harrison Wadsworth, COHEAO Executive Director
Robert Moran, COHEAO Associate Director
Moderator: Lori Hartung, COHEAO President
Session: Cashless Campuses and Payment Methods in a Remote Environment
This session will provide guidance on how to transition your campus into a mobile payment environment. We will discuss the efficiencies, administrative cost savings and overall security. Join the Texas A&M team to discover how they transitioned to a cashless and checkless shop and could do more with less by implementing digital automation to address the challenges associated with today’s newfound reality seamlessly.
Speakers: Peggy Carey, Texas A&M University
Jennifer Lightfoot, Texas A&M University
Moderator: Beth Gloekler
Session: Impact of COVID in Higher Education
Join our panel in a discussion to review the aftermath of COVID-19. What have schools done? How are colleges and universities adapting? What is your Continuity plan? What are the repercussions in departments throughout campus? We will hear from representatives in the International Affairs Department, Residence Life Department, Financial Aid Department and the Bursar’s office.
Speakers:
Maria Brown, University Cashier’s Director, North Carolina State University
Andrea Davis, Manager, Student Account Operations, Harvard University
Linda Kasper, Executive Director of Housing, University of Georgia
Marcia Taylor, International Services Director, University of South Florida
Moderator: Jim Garrant
Session: Financial Wellness: During and After a Pandemic
During times of crisis, like the global pandemic, it’s imperative to keep control your finances. With all the uncertainty, everyone has had to navigate their finances in unchartered ways. In this presentation, Wealth Advisor Jason Jupiterwala will discuss some simple but often overlooked strategies to manage your finances so you can remain on solid footing during times of hardship. You will leave this session understanding financial literacy principles to help employees and students reach their financial goals and emerge triumphantly post-pandemic with a plan for economic sustainability.
Speakers: Jason Jupiterwala, Thrivent
Moderator: Lottia Windham
Session: Congressional Address: Representative Mark Pocan
Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Rep. Pocan is committed to using his experience from both the private and public sectors to fight for policies that promote economic and social justice and support the families of south central Wisconsin.
In the 117th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee; the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee; and the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee. He previously served on the Budget Committee and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Rep. Pocan is also the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), the largest values based caucus in the Democratic Party, where he is a strong voice for progressive values in Congress.
Speaker: Congressman Mark Pocan
Moderator: Jeff Pfund, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Reporting on Education in D.C. in the Strangest of Time
Michael Stratford is an education reporter for POLITICO Pro. He most recently covered federal higher education policy and student loans at Inside Higher Ed, with previous bylines at The Associated Press, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Join us to hear about his exciting career and to participate in the Q&A portion of the session.
Speaker: Michael Stratford, Politico
Moderator: Nancy Lange
Session: Regulatory Compliance-Everything You Want to Know; Ask an Attorney
2020 was a year of many challenges for the student lending and servicing industry on the compliance and regulatory. From the financial impacts of COVID-19, to the CFPB publishing its final collection rule, to the student loan collections and interest moratorium, there were many compliance challenges to overcome and those look to continue into 2021 as the dust settled and the new Biden Administration gets up and running. Our panel will discuss ongoing legal, regulatory, and compliance trends in student lending, what those mean for your organization, and make best practice suggestions for how to approach the future. This not to miss session will provide attendees with an opportunity to get answers to all your 2021 compliance questions and concerns.
Speakers: John Culhane, Ballard Spahr
Stefanie Jackman, Ballard Spahr
Robert Schuerger, The Law Firm of Robert Schuerger
Moderator: Bob Perrin
Session: Collection Agency Panel
A panel of collection agency representatives will discuss topics relevant to schools including trends, regulations in third party collections. The first part of the session will consist of panelists discussing the top trends, followed by a question and answer discussion.
Speakers: Chris Baker, General Revenue Corporation
Doug Plummer, Key 2 Recovery
Dominic Queirolo, Conserve
Karen Reddick, National Credit Management
Moderator: James Seward
Session: Your Perkins Portfolio – What Is Your Strategy?
This session will provide key factors necessary to properly assess and analyze your Perkins portfolio. We will discuss the distribution of assets notice, assignment of defaulted loans, grass roots efforts, the Perkins ARC proposal and answer questions.
Speakers: Jan Hnilica, Trinity Christian College
Maria Livolsi, State University of New York
LaToya Smith, Butler University
Moderator: Chris Stompanato
Session: Department of Education Update
The Department of Education continues to implement new rules and offer new guidance. This session will include a review of the actions of the Department in 2020 and a glimpse into possible future regulatory actions in 2021. Expected is an update on the requirement to assign defaulted loans.
Speaker: Bruce Honer, Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid
Moderator: Maria Livolsi
Session: Institutional Loans, Payment Plans and Alternative Financing Solutions
In the aftermath of COVID- This session will review rules and strategies for implementation and guidance on best practices. Our COHEAO Task Force panel of experts will discuss TCPA, interest rates, loan defaults and limitations. We will also review alternative financing methods, including income share agreements and what schools have done to assist with affordability.
Speakers: Joe Weglarz, Marist College
JP Pfund, University of Wisconsin
Angela Galardi Ceresnie, Climb Credit
Moderator: Bob Frick
Session: How NACHA Rules Affect Your Payment Processing
In this session, presenters will review how the new NACHA rules and other ACH requirements will affect your school’s incoming payments and outgoing ACH transactions. We will also review what new rules and existing ACH requirements have been extended based on pandemic relief.
Speakers: Lori Carbonara, ECSI
Julia Norwood, ECSI
Moderator: Rechelle Brown
Session: Institutional Loans, Payment Plans and Alternative Financing Solutions
In the aftermath of COVID- This session will review rules and strategies for implementation and guidance on best practices. Our COHEAO Task Force panel of experts will discuss TCPA, interest rates, loan defaults and limitations. We will also review alternative financing methods, including income share agreements and what schools have done to assist with affordability.
Speakers: Joe Weglarz, Marist College
JP Pfund, University of Wisconsin
Angela Galardi Ceresnie, Climb Credit
Moderator: Bob Frick
