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

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

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 Sooy - 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.

Presenter: Sean Steinmarc

Higher education leaders know that compliance can feel like a haunted maze — full of shifting policies, eerie oversight, and hidden pitfalls waiting to jump out. As institutions confront evolving federal loan rules, complex CFPB expectations, and tightening state regulations, keeping your institutional loan programs both compliant and student-friendly can be downright spooky.

In this session, you’ll uncover practical strategies to keep the compliance goblins at bay while supporting enrollment and fiscal health. Learn how to design institutional loan programs that align with federal and state standards, protect your institution from compliance “scares,” and strengthen outcomes for students and your bottom line.

You’ll walk away with clear, actionable approaches to:

• Illuminate the shadowy corners of institutional loan compliance

• Balance student support with sound financial practices

• Build resilient, compliant loan structures that won’t haunt your business office later

Transition break between concurrent sessions.

Presenter: John Noah - Harding University

With declining enrollments and rising financial pressure, institutions can’t afford for problems with the tuition payment experience to derail persistence. This session explores how modern, student-first approaches can transform the entire financial journey—from billing through pre-collections—by shifting from punitive, confusing processes to proactive engagement that helps students stay on track.

Attendees will learn how to recognize the warning signs of a broken billing and pre-collections process, uncover the real reasons students delay or default on payment, and see how leading institutions are using personalized, mobile-first communication and flexible plans to resolve accounts earlier. The session will share real-world examples across the lifecycle, highlighting strategies to:

• Simplify complex billing and payment experiences

• Engage students before problems escalate into past-due balances

• Reduce administrative strain with smarter processes and tools

• Build clarity and compassion that strengthen both student outcomes and institutional health

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.

Presenter: Brinda Nirmal

Strategic Procurement Optimization with Analytics & AI shows how universities can modernize procure-to-pay operations using data analytics, anomaly detection, and AI-driven sourcing models. By benchmarking policies and analyzing thousands of transactions, the project achieved faster cycle times, reduced off contract spend, and sustained supplier diversity, demonstrating how intelligent automation can make procurement faster, fairer, and more transparent.

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 & Amber Greenway Neher - Detroit Regional Chamber

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.

Panelists:

• Sean Steinmarc, CEO at TFC Tuition, Loan Task Force Chair at COHEAO (Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations)

• Maria Livolsi, Director at State University of New York, Student Loan Service Center, VP at COHEAO (Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations)

Description: This essential panel addresses the seismic shifts in student lending following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's elimination of Grad PLUS loans and modifications to loan discharge provisions. As institutions face unprecedented funding gaps and evolving compliance requirements, campus-based and institutional loan programs have moved from supplementary to critical funding sources.

Our expert panel will explore how institutions are adapting their loan strategies in 2025's transformed landscape. From managing remaining Federal Campus-Based programs (Perkins, Health Professions, and Nursing loans) amid new regulatory changes, to rapidly scaling institutional payment plans that fill federal funding gaps, this session provides actionable strategies for financial aid and collections professionals navigating uncharted territory.

 Key Takeaways:

• Impact of OBBB changes on campus-based loan programs and new compliance requirements for 2025

• Strategies for expanding institutional payment plans to offset eliminated federal loan programs

• Best practices for managing increased loan volume while maintaining compliance with CFPB, TILA, and state regulations

• Proven borrower communication techniques adapted for students facing reduced federal aid options

• Risk mitigation frameworks for institutions carrying larger receivables portfolios

• Integration strategies for aligning institutional loans with remaining federal aid programs

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.

Presenter: Lori Hartung - ECSI

After more than three years of paused payments, the return to repayment has created a ripple effect across borrowers, institutions, and the broader higher-ed marketplace.  This session will unpack the timeline of the payment pause, explore the on-ramp provisions, and highlight the financial and institutional impacts institutions must prepare for.  

3 Key Takeaways: 

• Borrower & Institutional Risks

• Policy & Compliance Shifts

• Proactive Campus Strategies

Facilitator: Julie Selander, University of Minnesota

The Closing Town Hall session will offer two rounds of facilitated breakout conversations with your colleagues aimed at helping you deepen your understanding of what you learned at the conference, and will help you identify take away ideas to implement when you return to the office.