Spectrum Health Systems Unveils Scholarship Program with Assumption University oe.boudreau Mon, 11/13/2023 - 08:33 WORCESTER, Mass. – November 7, 2023 – Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive continuum of addiction treatment and behavioral health services throughout Massachusetts, announced today its partnership with Assumption University to create a scholarship program for its employees to complete the university’s clinical counseling psychology master’s program. “We continue to see an increased need for both representation and clinical care service accessibility for those individuals from underrepresented communities, and this scholarship is one step towards changing those realities,” shared Heidi DiRoberto, regional executive director at Spectrum Health Systems. “Continuing education is an important initiative for our organization and our industry, and through our partnership with Assumption University, we are committed to offering our employees the opportunity to further expand their knowledge and expertise within the behavioral health field and ultimately better serve individuals in need of care.” Spectrum Health Systems and Assumption University have a long history of working together to prepare professionals heading into the mental health field. This scholarship program will help further aid in their shared mission to diversify the clinician field. To qualify for this program, applicants must be a full-time Spectrum employee, have been employed for a minimum of one year and in good standing. After completion of the master’s degree program, employees will continue a full-time position at Spectrum.Mariana Valera, the first recipient of the scholarship. “We are happy to join Spectrum in naming Mariana Valera, recovery support navigator at Spectrum’s Lincoln Street outpatient center, as the first recipient of this scholarship,” shares Dr. Regina Kuersten-Hogan, program director of the accredited Clinical Counseling Psychology master’s degree program at Assumption University. “Through our partnership, we have seen first-hand the work the organization is doing to diversify the clinician field and meet the needs of all clients. We are proud to partner with Spectrum to support efforts to increase access to individualized treatment for clients through training in cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments in mental health counseling at Assumption University.” Spectrum Health Systems and Assumption University will be offering this scholarship opportunity on a yearly basis to support its staff and student development. To learn more about the program and how to apply for the Fall 2024 semester, visit the link here. For more information about Spectrum Health Systems, visit spectrumhealthsystems.org or call 1-877-MyRehab. For more information about the Clinical Counseling Psychology master’s degree program at Assumption University, please visit www.assumption.edu/graduate/clinical-counseling-psychology or call Assumption’s Graduate Admissions Office at 1-508-767-7365. About Spectrum Health Systems: Based in Worcester, Mass. and founded in 1969, Spectrum Health Systems, Inc. is a private, non-profit substance use and mental health treatment provider. Spectrum offers the largest and most complete continuum of addiction treatment in New England -- including medical detoxification, residential rehabilitation, outpatient services, medication for addiction recovery, and peer recovery support. Spectrum also offers inpatient detoxification and residential treatment for commercially insured and private pay clients through its subsidiary, The New England Recovery Center. About Assumption University: Assumption University is a comprehensive, private Catholic liberal arts institution, sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. We awaken in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Assumption is a diverse community that welcomes different points of view and embraces all who share our mission. Enlivened by the Catholic affirmation of the harmony of faith and reason and by the pursuit of the truth in the company of friends, an Assumption education transforms the minds and hearts of students. Media Contact: Alli Schoff Matter Communications on behalf of Spectrum Health Systems 978-518-4816 spectrum@matternow.com Assumption-Spectrum-web-large.pngGeneralMon, 11/13/2023 - 08:33

Assumption University Honors Veterans Day oe.boudreau Fri, 11/10/2023 - 12:50 On November 7^th, in celebration of Veterans Day, Assumption University honored those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, including those within the AU community, with a ceremony in the Atrium of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The service included a presentation of the colors and a performance of the National Anthem by Assumption’s Chorale. “Our world is dangerous, and veterans put themselves on the line to keep that danger at bay, so that we have the luxury of learning for learning’s sake,” President Greg Weiner said in his opening remarks. “Simply to say ‘thank you’ feels grossly inadequate…but when all else fails, words are what we have.” After Weiner’s speech, the guest speaker for the event, Gary Senecal, Assistant Professor of Human Services, spoke about his experience as a member of the United States Army Reserve since 2013, specifically his time serving in Somalia to provide medical care to wounded service members. Senecal emphasized how much of an impact serving has had on both his life and his outlook on teamwork and community. “I’ve learned a lot during my time in the service…teamwork, comradery, fulfillment in connection with others,” Senecal said. “I don’t know if I’ve found greater joy than being a part of that tight-knit group of people. This experience of comradery and connection only happens in the military.” Senecal also spoke about his return to campus after service, saying that the Assumption community was able to help with the transition from life in military service back to work as a professor. “When I came back to campus, I cannot begin to describe how welcoming it was,” he said. “There are days when I miss doing the work that I did…nevertheless, I am thankful to have those sentiments placated by having a job that replicates it and allows me to operate daily in the company of friends.” For many years, Assumption has offered programs and resources for students who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces in order to help them adjust to both college life and life outside of military service. Beginning with the creation of the Veterans’ Success Committee, faculty, staff, and students work together to ensure that veterans on Assumption’s campus have everything they need to thrive and be successful. “I had a very difficult time making the transition from a combat zone to college when I got back from Vietnam,” said Michael Rubino, former Chair of the Veterans’ Success Committee and Veterans Recruitment Coordinator. “Because I had that experience, I am now able to help students make that transition.” Due to the number of efforts put forth by the Veterans’ Success Committee, along with other programs across campus, Assumption was honored by Military Friendly as one of the nation’s Top Ten Military Friendly Schools for 2023-2024. According to Military Friendly’s methodology and criteria, factors that determine rankings include: “retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates.” These efforts include the creation of a veterans’ lounge, located currently in the Information Technology Center, to allow veterans a dedicated space on campus to gather and form communities. Rubino stressed that the lounge is extremely important to the veteran community on campus so they can have a place to connect and relate to one another. “It gives the veterans a place to go to meet one another and so forth and try to work out problems because they all understand each other’s backgrounds,” Rubino said. “I have found oftentimes that veterans who have been in combat zones only feel comfortable talking to other veterans who have been in similar situations.” On Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th, a ceremony will be held to honor veterans in the Assumption community. This ceremony will be held at halftime of the Assumption Greyhounds football game against Southern Connecticut State, which kicks off at 12:00pm at Brian Kelly ‘83 Stadium. Veterans-AU-Web-2.pngAssumption University community members present the colors at the November 7th Veterans Day ceremony.GeneralFri, 11/10/2023 - 12:50 Olivia Boudreau

Nursing Class of 2023 Has 100 Percent NCLEX-RN® Passing Rate oe.boudreau Thu, 11/09/2023 - 15:57 Assumption University’s Froelich School of Nursing announced that every member of its first graduating class has passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) following their graduation from the program this May. The NCLEX-RN® is an exam regulated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which oversees each state’s board of registration and nursing. The national exam is the final step in the licensure process to become a registered nurse. According to data gathered and reported by NCSBN, the average pass rate for all candidates who took the NCLEX-RN® from January through September 2023 was 88.55 percent. In April of 2023, the NCLEX-RN® test plan was updated to correlate to the revisions made on the exam. The Next Generation NCLEX-RN®, with a focus on testing the exam taker’s clinical judgment was launched on April 1 after years of research and item development. “Amongst us in nursing education, we had never seen these kinds of exam items,” said Caitlin Stover, Dean of the Froelich School of Nursing. “It was really important to structure a curriculum that embeds clinical judgment scenarios, exam items, and simulations in every course so that the students had exposure and confidence going into this exam.” “The class of 2023’s success is a validation of all of the hard work that we have put in over the past couple of years,” said Stover. “We have things on paper, we give really high-quality exams, and we follow principles of best teaching-learning strategies, but you don’t know until you get the official results.” Along with all passing the NCLEX-RN®, each of the nurses from the class of 2023 are now employed at various hospitals across the country, such as in the UMass Medical system through their new graduate program, St. Vincent Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Midstate Medical Center, Hartford Hospital, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, and Newport Hospital. Students from the class of 2023, such as Aly Landry and James Bachini, have said that their experiences at Assumption have benefited them greatly, both in terms of when they had to know for the NCLEX-RN® exam and for their nursing careers. “My experience not only prepared me for the NCLEX-RN®, but also for getting a job as a registered nurse on the cardiothoracic surgery unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston,” said Landry. “I believe that the foundation set from my time at Assumption with a strong liberal arts curriculum coupled with diverse clinical experiences really helped me transition to practice. I have confidence in my work and can draw from the values learned at Assumption.” “Although the entire process is incredibly stressful and difficult, I felt supported, prepared and capable thanks to the nursing curriculum and education that the wonderful Froelich School of Nursing faculty provided,” said Bachini. “I was also supported by a faculty mentor who helped motivate me and keep me on track with my studying for the boards as well as providing additional resources whenever needed.” The importance of the nursing program’s preparation for nursing students to enter their careers as compassionate professionals was also emphasized by both Stover and Bachini as a former student in the program. “The NCLEX-RN® is 100 percent important, but we pride ourselves on developing the professionalism required of the nurse as well,” she said. “The success of the program is a reiteration of Assumption’s commitment to develop the workforce in a time of a huge nursing shortage, making sure that these nurses are high quality and compassionate.” “Upon my hiring as a staff nurse at Beth Israel Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts, I have felt that I have the proper skills in place to support me in my new position,” said Bachini. “We [nurses of the class of 2023] are well prepared to professionally and compassionately treat and serve patients today and well into the future.” The success of the class of 2023 was also aided by many other departments on campus that assisted in laying the science foundations, such as the as well as the humanities departments who were instrumental in establishing a foundation of critical thinking and reasoning that nursing knowledge is built upon. “This wasn’t just nursing’s success,” said Stover. “This was all hands-on deck, all departments that educate the students along their transformative journey here at Assumption.” nclex23-large.jpgStudents from the Froelich School of Nursing's Class of 2023 stand in front of the Catrambone Health Sciences Building. GeneralThu, 11/09/2023 - 15:57 Olivia Boudreau

Senator Robyn Kennedy ’03 Leads Town Hall on Community Engagement and Women’s Intersectional Leadership oe.boudreau Mon, 11/06/2023 - 11:22 To kick off fall semester programming for Assumption’s Women’s Studies Program, Massachusetts State Senator Robyn Kennedy, a member of the class of 2003, participated in a town hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center on October 17th to discuss topics such as community engagement and women’s leadership. “I never envisioned that I would someday be standing here as your state senator,” Kennedy said. “Keep your eyes open, your hearts open, and your dreams big.” Kennedy, who graduated from Assumption with a bachelor’s degree in history, currently serves as State Senator for the First Worcester District of Massachusetts, which includes Boylston, West Boylston, Northborough, Berlin, Bolton, and most of Worcester. Through her career, Kennedy has worked in multiple different public service roles, including Chief Operating Officer at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Central Massachusetts and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Over 140 students, faculty, staff, and alumni filled Ballroom A as Senator Kennedy advocated for policies such as the care economy, making the workforce more accessible for all, period poverty, and early education for all children. Senator Kennedy was introduced by Cinzia Pica, Director of the Women’s Studies Program and Professor and Chair of the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies Department, and Kathryn Cannistraro ‘24, a human services major and women’s studies minor, who recently received the Outstanding Student in Human Services Award from the National Organization for Human Services. Kennedy began her speech by connecting her public service to her undergraduate experience at Assumption, saying she found inspiration in the university motto, “Until Christ be Formed in You.” She also said that in her public service, she works to “drive the mission of the university into a values system,” ensuring that Assumption’s mission is reflected in her work. She emphasized the importance of passionate leadership, encouraging students to take action in the Worcester community through volunteering for campaigns and uplifting and caring for those among us. “We need more leaders – we need the conviction as leaders to be driven by passion,” Senator Kennedy said. “Leaders willing to listen to and to be led by those who are most impacted by any issue we are facing.” To emphasize this point further, Kennedy quoted Bible verse Matthew 25:40, “…Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,’” saying they were words that have always been important to her work. Kennedy made a point throughout her talk to encourage students to get involved in the Worcester community, including doing both community service and volunteering for local campaigns, saying that doing this work “helps [students] learn and grow [their] own values systems.” After an introduction of her major policy initiatives and promoting getting involved in the community, Kennedy fielded questions from Assumption students on topics such as the opioid crisis, immigration into Massachusetts, and housing. While answering these questions, Kennedy promoted more resources being allocated to community wellbeing, making child care more affordable for families, increased capacities for addiction treatment spaces, and pay increases for teachers, among many other policies. Toward the end of the town hall, Kennedy was asked for any advice she had for seniors getting ready to graduate. To answer, Kennedy stressed the importance of internships, telling students to “take advantage of internships that may not be in your field,” saying that interning can help students learn both what they are and aren’t interested in. AU-Robyn-Kennedy-Image.jpgAssumption University graduate from the class of 2003 Senator Robyn Kennedy participates in a town hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center.GeneralMon, 11/06/2023 - 11:22 Olivia Boudreau

Assumption Receives Recognition for Use of VAWA STOP Grant Funds oe.boudreau Tue, 10/31/2023 - 13:53 Assumption University’s Department of Public Safety has been awarded funding from the Massachusetts Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant program to help develop and strengthen initiatives for the prevention of and response to incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on campus. “We’re so grateful to grantees like Assumption University’s Police Department, who are using grant funds to staff a Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Campus Advocate role, provide SA/DV training to resident assistants and train officers and dispatchers in trauma-informed response and investigations,” the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research said in its announcement. Since 2015, Assumption’s Department of Public Safety has partnered with Pathways for Change, Inc., a local organization dedicated to finding solutions to end sexual violence, to provide free and confidential support for those who have been impacted by sexual violence via a Campus Advocate program. Assumption’s Campus Advocate can be reached by survivors for assistance reporting violence, navigating Title IX requirements, and for general support during these difficult situations. The Campus Advocate is available year-round, 24/7, either via the Pathways for Change, Inc. hotline or the office on campus so that services may be provided whenever survivors are in need. “Domestic violence situations are usually very complex,” said Lieutenant Rebecca Gagne, the senior sexual assault investigator at Assumption University. “Our Campus Advocate program has ensured that domestic violence survivors have access to resource referrals that are responsive to their unique circumstances within a university setting.” possible-vawa-large.jpgA view of Assumption University's campus from above. GeneralTue, 10/31/2023 - 13:53 Olivia Boudreau

ASPIRE Program Launches for Alumni and Student Partnership oe.boudreau Thu, 10/26/2023 - 15:35 This fall, Assumption University launched the Alumni-Student Partnerships in Reflective Engagement (ASPIRE) program, offering new opportunities for students and alumni to connect over meaningful conversation and mentorship. ASPIRE began this fall through the Center for Purpose and Vocation (CPV), an office on campus that assists students on their vocational journeys. ASPIRE, along with SOPHIA (the Sophomore Initiative at Assumption), are programs designed for students to explore what they are passionate about and discover how those passions can translate into meaningful vocations. “SOPHIA has been so successful for sophomores,” said David Crowley, professor of Biology and Director of the ASPIRE program. “But we lacked official programming that would allow juniors and seniors to continue to think about their vocation and how things are developing in their lives.” ASPIRE thus became the brainchild of a team of alumni and faculty that included Crowley and Esteban Loustaunau, professor of Spanish and Director of the Center for Purpose and Vocation. Together, after receiving a Program Development Grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), the team built a program that seeks to build meaningful relationships between current juniors and seniors and alumni. Through these connections and conversations, undergraduate students are provided with an opportunity to begin thinking about and planning for their post-graduation lives. The ASPIRE program facilitates these connections through engaging events, including a kickoff social reception at a Worcester Red Sox game, “ASPIRE nights” on campus, and dinners with specific topics for students and alumni to discuss.Assumption University students, faculty, and alumni attend a Worcester Red Sox game through the ASPIRE program. “There’s no prescription for how we live after college,” Crowley said. “But it’s great to hear shared frustrations and shared experiences, especially from people who have been in our students’ shoes.” The first ASPIRE night was held on October 5th, and conversation focused on what students could expect from life after graduation, specifically focusing on the development and maintenance of relationships. “We discussed a lot of questions that make you think in that realm of like, okay, I’m going to be an alumnus soon, I have to start thinking about what comes afterwards,” said Noah Laren, a political science major from the class of 2024. “It’s good to know and understand that these are things that I should expect. A lot of the friends I have here…we may not be as close in two, three, maybe five years down the road. Understanding that things like that will happen is crucial.” The students who attended the ASPIRE night also emphasized how important it is to discuss the different paths alumni can take after graduation. “I thought it was really important to hear the variations of where they are in life,” said Kaitlin Merson, a marketing major with a sales concentration from the class of 2025.  “It was really eye opening, and I think it was also really important to establish those connections and see different ways of going about life and the different paths you can take.” Alumni who attended the event, including Megan Evangelista ‘13 and Anthony Manzi ‘17, found that discussions were equally as rewarding for them as they were for current undergraduates. “As an alumna, it’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of life,” Evangelista said. “But to have a space where I could come back and really say, ‘yeah, those fears, those concerns, those anxieties were very real, and here’s how I overcame them, or met them, or realized they didn’t actually exist,’ was a nice moment of reflection.” “It was awesome to be able to see students take the time out of their night to start thinking about life after college and engaging really intentionally,” said Manzi. “This program is really getting at the heart of the challenges and the changes that come with leaving college. It’s really great to be able to prepare students as much as possible and to make that next step less intimidating.” The next ASPIRE night, planned for January, will focus on the importance of the liberal arts in relation to vocation, expanding on the idea that there are multiple pathways students can take after graduation. “We emphasize especially to choose the major that you love, don’t focus necessarily on the career that will come along. The alumni at our event had completely different majors from what they’re doing right now, and they’re successful,” Loustaunau said. “They see the connections between, for example, their psychology major and the work they’re doing now. Your major is the toolkit for the things you’ll be doing later in life.” “For lots of people, their major doesn’t match what their career is,” Crowley said. “We want to explore that idea; how is where you’re at right now in life being served by the core curriculum experience at Assumption?” In addition to the alumni-student conversations, Crowley says that the program also aims to develop connections through community service. Some alumni involved in the program work at non-profits in the Worcester community, and Crowley and Loustaunau hope to help students and alumni build relationships through service. “It’s scary; I thought ‘it’s just gonna hit me in the face when I’m out. And then I’m going to be left alone,’” Merson said. “But no, there are so many different things you can do and so many ways you can stay connected, and so many people want to help you. After these talks, I’m thinking, ‘oh my gosh, maybe I can do it.’” ASPIRE-large.jpgAssumption students attend first "ASPIRE Night" in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center.GeneralThu, 10/26/2023 - 15:35 Olivia Boudreau

Assumption's Rome Campus Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary dz.pepin Wed, 10/25/2023 - 15:45 The year 2023 marks ten years since Assumption students first arrived at the University’s Rome Campus. In celebration of the program’s 10th anniversary, students and faculty have spent much of this year reminiscing about their time spent abroad as they encourage current and future students to experience Villino Dufault and Rome for themselves. “There is nothing more opening to your awareness of the world and your self-confidence than to live in a place where they don’t speak your language,” said associate professor of history, and current director of the Rome program, Lance Lazar. “You’re getting the opportunity to meet people who have and truly represent a different culture, a beautiful culture.” The program began as a collaboration between President Emeritus Francesco Cesareo, Provost Emeritus Frank Lazarus, professor of Italian Richard Bonanno, and the Augustinians of the Assumption in Rome. In 2011, a partnership began, and a building on the Assumptionists’ campus in Rome was designated to be renovated to become Assumption’s new Rome campus. “Having a presence in Rome speaks volumes about what we as a university represent and what we offer to students,” Bonanno said. “I see the Rome program as integral to who we are.” The first group, consisting of seven Assumption students, arrived in Italy in the spring of 2013. At the time, renovations were not yet complete, so the program began with a two-week academic program in Florence before the group became the first students to live in Villino Dufault. Since then, over 200 students have lived and studied on the Rome campus during the spring, fall, and summer. Six different courses are offered in the spring and fall, and two in the summer. Each student, during the spring and fall, must take at least an introductory level course in the Italian language along with four other courses that will count towards core requirements or electives. “If you’re going to a foreign place, you need to have an entree into the culture,” Lazar said. “You need to have that basis of language.”Assumption University students pose for a group photo during the Spring 2022 semester in Rome. Photo via Madeleine Arsenault '24. The summer courses are interdisciplinary, with the program usually offering selections from two different departments. However, Bonanno says that though the programs are interdisciplinary, students are encouraged to find common threads. “We come together and try to find some synergies between the two seemingly diverse disciplines, getting students to engage beyond just what they do in the classroom,” he said. While studying at the Rome campus, students are also able to take advantage of many different traveling opportunities, such as trips with professors to different cities in Italy, and three-day weekends, which allow students to explore Europe on their own. “It seemed like the entire trip was traveling,” said Declan Casey, an organizational communication major from the class of 2025. “We definitely got to explore all of Rome, and I felt like I really did get to see everything. We took advantage of our time over in Europe.” Over the past ten years, the program’s directors, including Cary LeBlanc, Patrick Corrigan, and Christian Göbel, as well as Lazar and Bonanno, have worked to ensure that the program is available for all students, including athletes and students in prescriptive majors. “To cater to students who can’t miss certain courses being taught at certain times, we’ve created a summer program,” said Bonanno. “[Having so many programs] is a push to make study abroad more accessible to our students.” “I am a student athlete, so that was kind of a concern when I was applying,” said Camille Lopez, a marketing major from the class of 2025 who participated in the Rome Program. “However, I found out three of my teammates were also studying abroad, so I figured I might as well do it. Assumption provides us with a gym pass so we were able to get our training in, and it worked out for the better.” One of the most important aspects of the Rome campus, as emphasized by multiple students, along with faculty, is the community that forms from the experience. Students and faculty have family dinners each night with authentic Italian food prepared by Chef Monica, who has been on the Rome campus for all ten years. “Students and faculty members are living in the same building, they’re breaking bread together, and they’re not just confined to a classroom,” said Bonanno. “They develop very strong bonds.” Along with forming a community amongst themselves, students also establish relationships with the Assumptionists that live on the Rome campus. Students, faculty, and the Assumptionists in Rome share a Thanksgiving meal together at the Villino Dufault. “It’s a real family environment, a community that is established,” said Lazar. “It really is living and learning together, just as Father D’Alzon intended already in the nineteenth century.” Both Lazar and Bonanno agree that the program has truly blossomed since the first journey in 2013. “We’ve really fine-tuned it,” Lazar said. “It’s really a well-running machine. It’s a little Lamborghini engine we’ve got purring here at the Assumption Rome campus.” “It’s amazing what we have managed to create,” Bonanno said. “It has been a truly wonderful experience for me to get to know the Assumptionists, to work with different faculty members, and also to think more profoundly about the place of study abroad in our curriculum.” Students who have visited Assumption’s Rome campus have agreed that studying in Rome has been one of the most impactful experiences of their lives, and professors Lazar and Bonanno have seen these transformations firsthand. “I definitely grew as a person. I am way more independent now than I was before I went,” said Madeleine Arsenault, a secondary education and history major from the class of 2024. “I would always say this while I was there: it made me so much more grateful for my life at home and being able to have the opportunity [to study abroad] …I was just so grateful to be there,” said Alyson Simpson, an actuarial science major from the class of 2025. “I also became less of a picky eater, so that was a plus.” “Part of the mission of Assumption University is to give students a transformative experience,” said Lazar. “I can say, from personal observation, I have not witnessed anything so transformative as a semester of study abroad.” AU-Rome-10Years-Large.jpgPhoto via Madeleine Arsenault '24GeneralWed, 10/25/2023 - 15:45 Olivia Boudreau

Assumption Launches Alternative to FAFSA for Academic Year 2024-2025 dz.pepin Mon, 10/23/2023 - 15:37 This fall, Assumption University debuted an innovative alternative to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) in a move designed to help students and families applying to Assumption receive expedited financial aid information. Due to the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act by Congress in 2022, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not open until December 2023, two months later than the normal October 1st opening, causing stress for students and families applying for the class of 2028. To help alleviate some of the burden this may place on incoming students and families, Assumption’s alternative form, called the Fast Track Early Aid Offer, allows the Office of Financial Aid to make offers of aid earlier than waiting for the FAFSA. The form will provide students with offers of Assumption scholarship and grant funding based on both need and merit. “We saw this as an opportunity to lead on this issue,” said William Boffi, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “Families need as much information as they can get as early as they can get it.” In the spring of 2023, Assistant Dean of Enrollment for Financial Aid Monica Blondin learned of the changes that were being made to the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year. Shortly after, the financial aid team, along with Boffi, University President Greg Weiner, and Vice President for Strategy Christina Graziano, began looking at alternatives to the form. “We realized that this was going to affect our timeline of awarding financial aid, which is a significant part of enrolling students,” Boffi said. “We were very concerned with how it was going to affect families that rely on the FAFSA to do financial aid analysis.” Boffi says that the school had considered options such as the CSS Profile, offered by the College Board, to award aid to students, but decided that they would rather have their own form that had no cost to families. “Our focus is simplicity, clarity, and eliminating barriers,” Boffi said. “And I think that’s what our form does.” Logistics for building the new form was a massive team effort in which Boffi recruited the help of Blondin, Weiner, and Graziano, along with Dean of Enrollment Katie Moulton, Director of Enrollment Operations Eric Vettese, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Robin Montalvo, Associate Director of Financial Aid and Enrollment Sarah Bergeron. “It was a months-long process of trying to figure out what our response to this would be,” Boffi said. “But it really has been a full team effort, from Greg [Weiner] to the financial aid pros who figured out a solution.” The official FAFSA will help to confirm offers of aid made to accepted students who have filled out Assumption’s financial aid form, so students will still be required to fill it out. However, the Fast Track Early Aid Offer will allow information to be distributed to families sooner than the FAFSA and may also help with the official FAFSA process. Students can fill out the form as soon as they receive their offer of acceptance. The financial aid office will then provide them with their aid offer within two weeks. Boffi emphasized that creating this alternative to the FAFSA will work to assist students in their college searches as it will help them narrow down their lists sooner. He also hopes that offering aid early will put Assumption on many students’ potential shortlists. “Students go into senior year with a big list, and they’re going to narrow it,” Boffi said. “It’s really hard to narrow down without knowing what you’re going to pay. Price is a big factor; it’s not the only factor, but it’s a big factor. But if you get some sense of what a school is going to offer, that’s a big advantage.” In the end, the goal of the form is to make what is a complicated and confusing process for students and families, easy and accessible. “We’re always trying to figure out ways to serve students and families better,” Boffi said. Students must still file the 2024-2025 FAFSA once it becomes available in December 2023 in order to confirm their financial aid offers. After December 15, 2023, all students must fill out the official FAFSA in order to receive any financial aid information. Assumption-FAFSA-Form.jpgGeneralMon, 10/23/2023 - 15:37 Olivia Boudreau