Bulldog Applause: Spotlight on the Office of Student Financial Planning

The student Financial Planning team (front row, left to right): Denise Stowman, Kristi Fuller, Kaylie Burnside, Jolaine Sweiger, Brandy Eganhouse, Matt Marr, and James Gieseke. Back row, left to right: Susan Ladd, Merrie Frentress, Chris Ditter, Debbie Kem, Brandi Miller, Pam Smith, and Sheila Goodwin.

Drake’s All Staff Council Recognition Committee celebrated the Student Financial Planning team with a surprise cookie delivery (compliments of Drake Dining). Read the spotlight below to learn how the Office of Student Financial Planning makes Drake a better place.

Primary Function: The Office of Student Financial Planning  provides counseling and services designed to help students and their families meet the costs of financing an education at Drake University. Their office plays an integral role in the recruiting process. As part of the Office of Finance and Office of Student Financial Planning division, they continue to work toward their shared service standard goals:

Knowledgeable & Collaborative Spirit
Provide Solutions Not Excuses
Take Ownership
Foster an Innovative Environment

Professional & Ethical Behavior
Be Accountable as Team Members and Individuals
Value and Trust Others
Uphold Professional, Ethical, and Confidential Standards

Respectful & Responsive Interactions
Exceed Expectations
Be an Ambassador for Drake University
Recognize Contributions

Staff: There are 14 members of the Student Financial Planning team. Combined, these members total over 198 years of experience at Drake.

Longest serving team member: Denise Stowman, assistant director-grants, scholarships, and verification; 31 years at Drake.

Newest team member: Kayli Burnside, administrative assistant 1, is the information desk receptionist. Kayli started in February of 2016.

What are some recent challenges and accomplishments of note that others in the University might not know about?
Within the past two years, the financial aid processing timeline has changed drastically. The Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) is now available for families to complete beginning on Oct. 1 each year versus the prior date of Jan. 1. This has pushed our financial aid processing timeline up by three months, which requires earlier coordination of information with other offices on campus as well as software updates from Ellucian. Although this has been challenging, our office has been able to get financial aid packages to students in a very timely fashion. For 2018-2019, we already have close to 400 more financial aid award packages sent out to students than this time last year.

What else would you like to share with the Drake campus?
At the recent 50th Anniversary Celebration of our state professional organization, the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (IASFAA), the Drake Office of Student Financial Planning was recognized in a very special way. While there are over 60 colleges and universities in our state, in the 50 years of IASFAA’s existence, three schools have provided 17 of IASFAA’s forty-six presidents. Drake was one of the recognized schools with five individuals serving as IASFAA president. Three of those five, Chris Ditter, Kristi Fuller, and Susan Ladd are members of the current Office of Student Financial Planning staff.

Terri Howard, Drake Law School/All Staff Council