Presenter - Lori Hartung - ECSI

Chris Stompanato - ECSI

As federal loan programs undergo major changes, higher ed institutions are reassessing how to meet evolving student financial needs. With a growing interest in private loan programs, school administrators face new questions around compliance, servicing, and long-term sustainability. In this shifting environment, understanding your options and responsibilities has never been more critical.

Our ECSI student loan experts will examine the latest industry research influencing private lending. We’ll share best practices for navigating the complexities of private loan programs,

including compliance considerations and servicing strategies. Whether you’re currently offering private loans or considering launching a program, this session will offer critical insights for effective program design and management.

Learning Objectives:

- Understand the industry trends and upcoming changes that may impact private loan strategies

- Explore best practices for designing and administering compliant institutional loan programs

- Gain insights into servicing considerations and technology solutions that support long-term institutional loan management

Check in at the PDG Registration & Information desk to pick up your name badge and conference materials. Conference staff are here throughout the conference to answer your questions.

Meet exhibitors with creative technology and service solutions in the Exhibit Hall. Don't forget to get your PDG passport stamped at each exhibitor table to be eligible for fun giveaways and prizes!

Presenter: Steven Selander - President, Professional Development Group III

Enjoy coffee and tea in the ballroom foyer while you network and visit with exhibitors on service/product offerings.

Presenter: Patrick Beirne - Wayne State University

This presentation lays out all aspects of the student accounts receivables aging process, including methodology and strategies for success - from the onset of billing through the allowance and write off process. Learn together strategies for maximizing recovery and student retention from pre-delinquency, through pre-collect, to agency referral, all the way through bad debt write-off. During this presentation we will develop understanding of the importance of reporting and data analysis to gauge historical success in student receivables recovery.

Transition break between concurrent sessions.

Presenter: Marissa Burill - Austin Community College

Intended outcomes: - Define “financial dignity” and explain its relationship to mental health outcomes in college environments. Identify three financial stressors commonly experienced by students and staff and how they show up in behavior and academic performance.

Join your colleagues for a private reception.

PDG conference staff are available during this time if you have any questions.

Meet exhibitors with creative technology and service solutions in the Exhibit Hall. Don't forget to get your PDG passport stamped at each exhibitor table to be eligible for fun giveaways and prizes.

Join your colleagues for a hearty breakfast.

Presenter: Lori Hartung - ECSI

Chris Wyckoff - ECSI

Despite the availability of financial resources like scholarships, work-study programs, and payment plans, more than 30% of students miss tuition deadlines each term. Balancing tuition, housing, technology, and daily expenses leaves many students financially strained and at risk of falling behind. While higher ed institutions provide a range of support options, students are often met with a maze of disconnected tools and departments. The result? Missed payments, delayed enrollments, and lost tuition revenue.

In this session, ECSI tuition recovery experts will examine a growing challenge in higher education: fragmented student financial support. We’ll explore how departmental silos, inconsistent communication, and complex processes create barriers for students trying to access the help they need. The solution isn’t to add more tools–it’s to build a connected system where existing resources work together to fully support students.

Drawing on data-driven insights, we’ll show how institutions can adopt a more cross-functional, collaborative approach to student financial support. You’ll learn practical strategies for addressing missed tuition payments by breaking down silos and leveraging technology that connects resources into a unified system–helping students stay on track, both academically and financially.

Learning Objectives:

- Identify and address internal silos and communication gaps that create barriers for students

- Learn how cross-functional collaboration improves student financial support

- Explore technology solutions that streamline financial recovery efforts and communications

Enjoy coffee and tea in the ballroom foyer while you network and visit with exhibitors on service/product offerings.

Presenter: Thomas Soy - Schuerger Law Group

This session will cover new and updated hot topics in collection litigation with an emphasis on incorporating compliant strategy into litigation efforts. This session will discuss internal and external factors that collection law firms face from evolving regulatory challenges to heightened judicial scrutiny.

Key learning points and practical skills in this session: stay up to date on compliance, regulatory, and case law developments. Implement policies and procedures for effective and efficient collection litigation from cradle to grave. Develop a big-picture plan for litigating university-based collection portfolios.

Transition break between concurrent sessions.

Presenter: Wayne Young - University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Changes in the higher education legal landscape. Focused on collections, student accounts, and financial aid, while touching on other legal issues. (I am a lawyer who practiced for 20 years before changing careers). If this information is going to be presented by collection agency folks, I could address the ins and outs of bankruptcy, or how to talk to general counsel.

Enjoy lunch.

Presenters: Karen Reddick - NCM & Maria Livolsi - SUNY

In this session we will provide a comprehensive overview of the collections process from beginning to end—covering strategies, compliance, and best practices every institution should know. The presentation walks participants through the full lifecycle of debt management, starting with default prevention and borrower communication, moving through negotiation and repayment solutions, and concluding with resolution.

Key focus areas include:

Compliance Foundations – Understanding the regulatory landscape (FDCPA, FERPA, FCRA, TCPA) and how they apply to higher education receivables.

Communication Strategies – How to balance professionalism, borrower engagement, and institutional reputation in outreach.

Recovery Techniques – Customized approaches for different types of debt (tuition, Perkins, housing, fees) and borrower populations (domestic, international, recent graduates).

Student-Centered Approach – Applying motivational techniques and counseling skills to encourage repayment while maintaining positive institutional relationships.

Best Practices A–Z – Practical insights, tips, and strategies that cover the entire spectrum of collections, from initial placement to final resolution.

By the end of the presentation, attendees will gain a structured, start-to-finish understanding of collections, as well as actionable tools to enhance compliance, improve recovery rates, and preserve goodwill with students and alumni.

Enjoy coffee and tea in the ballroom foyer while you network and visit with exhibitors on service/product offerings.

Presenter: Joe Weglarz - Marist University

This session will cover the recent updates in the financial aid industry. Topics include the FAFSA application process, federal aid eligibility requirements including the new SAI. In addition, discussion on the recent federal bill and its effect on Federal Loan Programs. How will these changes effect affordability options?

Presenter: Patrick Beirne - Wayne State University.

This presentation will tell the story of Wayne State University's first of its kind Warrior Way Back program, an initiative started in 2018 that used student account debt forgiveness as a strategy to reengage students towards undergraduate graduation. Learn from program administrators how debt forgiveness can drive student reengagement while yielding high financial return on investment for the university. In this presentation we will also discuss the changing landscape of higher education enrollment and collections, the evolution of the Bursar role - and why thinking outside the box in retaining students is now more important than ever.

Transition break between concurrent sessions.

Presenter: Shelley Shearer - The George Washington University

Step-by-step process of how GWU implemented AI with their expense reporting to capture a greater depth of report review, match the audit with our policy guidelines and provide value to departments.

PDG conference staff are available during this time if you have any questions.

Meet exhibitors with creative technology and service solutions in the Exhibit Hall. Don't forget to get your PDG passport stamped at each exhibitor table to be eligible for fun giveaways.

Join your colleagues for a hearty breakfast.

Presenter: Karen Reddick - NCM

This webinar will provide an in-depth analysis of the Higher Education provisions included in the recently enacted FY2025 Budget Reconciliation legislation, informally referred to as the

“Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation introduces sweeping federal investments and policy reforms that will significantly reshape higher education funding, compliance, and accountability for years to come.

At its core, the bill represents a paradigm shift in how the federal government supports and regulates colleges and universities—expanding institutional aid and student funding opportunities while imposing new accountability measures. Among the most notable changes is the creation of a modernized federal student loan program, designed to simplify repayment, strengthen borrower protections, and broaden forgiveness pathways.

This session will examine these provisions, explore their real-world implications, and provide practical strategies to help campus leaders prepare for and adapt to this new regulatory and funding environment.

Key Focus Areas

Federal Investments & Institutional Aid – Changing funding and how it impacts institutional budgets.

Accountability & Oversight – New compliance requirements and potential risks for institutions.

Student Loan Program Modernization – Simplified repayment structures, enhanced borrower protections, and expanded forgiveness opportunities.

Policy & Compliance Shifts – How regulatory changes will influence institutional operations and reporting.

Practical Campus Strategies – Actionable guidance for leaders to prepare for implementation and minimize disruption.

Enjoy coffee and tea in the ballroom foyer while you network and visit with exhibitors on service/product offerings.

Presenter: Marissa Burill - Austin Community College

Intended outcomes:  Identify at least three cross-department collaboration opportunities for wellness initiatives on their own campus.

Utilize a shared language matrix to communicate more effectively across student-facing departments.