Lincoln, Neb. (June 25, 2018) – Inceptia, a leader in uncomplicating financial aid for students and schools, announces new solutions to their Financial Aid Management suite.

Inceptia is pleased to announce Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator as the newest additions to their Financial Aid Management solutions – uncomplicated solutions financial aid administrators can leverage to streamline processes and connect with students.

“Managing financial aid for students isn’t getting any easier. Financial Aid offices are tasked with gathering a lot of student information to deliver the best financial aid possible, and getting awards out quickly to help with enrollment, while helping students understand their responsibilities”, says Deana Unger, Vice President, Financial Aid Operations. “Adding these two solutions creates a complete solution set to assist throughout the student lifecycle.”

Form Innovator makes it easier to gather student information in an intuitive, automated way. Choose from the interview-style forms included with the solution, upload existing forms and create new forms with the form builder. Collecting information online also saves time from scanning and indexing.

Award Letter Advisor helps you promote enrollment with an easy-to-understand format that outlines the details of a student’s financial aid package and school cost estimate. The template-style design makes it easy to populate with student data and brand with your school’s messaging and logo so you can distribute quickly.

Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator are easy for students to access through the secure Student Knowledge HQ dashboard, 24/7, on any device.

“It’s our mission to continue to serve and educate students on their financial journey and provide schools solutions that will help increase productivity, save time and make financial aid easier,” said Inceptia president and CEO Randy Heesacker. “Award Letter Advisor and Form Innovator fit perfectly into our solutions that serve both the student and school.”

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 278,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Since 2005 I have been engaged in the design, development, implementation, expansion, and assessment of financial wellness programming and services at the fourth largest public 4-year university in Texas – The University of North Texas. Perseverance, commitment, and understanding that failure is not final helped to transform the concept of collegiate financial wellness programming into the Student Money Management Center. Since that first semester I have been joined by an incredible group of professional colleagues and student workers with one common DNA – a passion to serve students. Our efforts, successes, and even failures helped build a national award-winning program. Together we provide a dynamic array of student-centric programs and services meeting the ever-changing face of the student experience for our diverse student body of more than 38,000 traditional, non-traditional, on-campus, and online students. Even after 38 semesters this small group of determined and creative spirits is still making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of students every year.

As a leader and educator, I often found myself existing on a professional island within higher education due to the limited number of collegiate financial wellness programs that existed across the state and nation during our center’s formative years. From 2005 to 2013 my colleagues and I were often invited to present workshops on our center and the emerging field of collegiate financial wellness at conferences addressing broader student issues within the purview of the fields of student affairs, financial aid, academic counseling, and business administration. While I appreciated the opportunity to share our experiences with other professionals and educators in higher education, I still felt like the ‘odd man out,’ since the majority of conference attendees were engaged in other aspects of the student experience. I wondered if I would ever find my own place.

Then in 2014 I received an invitation to attend the first National Summit on Collegiate Financial Wellness. What? Not only was there a conference dedicated solely to the mission of our center, there were others doing the same jobs and putting on similar programs as our team. Suddenly all feelings of professional isolation evaporated quicker than raindrops hitting the sidewalk during a summer thunderstorm in Texas. With a mixture of excitement and relief I packed my bags and boarded the flight to Ohio.

Within minutes of walking into the summit’s first event I knew that I had found my place. The actress Gina Bellman once noted, “I love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village.” That first summit experience made the big old world of higher education that I was floating through like a satellite for years feel more like a little village filled with wonderful friends. No longer did I experience awkward silences when talking with other conference attendees about my team’s dreams and challenges. Throughout the summit I connected with talented and innovative educators and practitioners from a cross section of higher education institutions, from community colleges to professional certification programs to four-year universities. One connection led to another that then led to another and so on. I left that inaugural summit revitalized.

I have been fortunate over the years to attend and present at other summits. Today I consider the summit to be my primary professional development opportunity. The summit continues to be a rich source of ideas, possibilities, and best practices shared by colleagues. The very nature of the summit of learning and sharing has resonated throughout the field of collegiate financial wellness. From my personal experiences within higher education, it would be quite hard to identify another group of colleagues who readily and openly share insights, experiences, and resources with their peers as I have found across the field of financial wellness. This pulse of fellowship that flows throughout our field has at its heart the national summit.

Last year, the Higher Education Financial Wellness Summit (HEFW) was rebranded from the National Summit on Collegiate Financial Wellness. Even with a name change one constant has remained – to be the premier collegiate financial wellness professional development event. The 2018 HEFW is being held at Portland State University, July 15-17. Registration is open (hefwa.org/2018-registration) through July 15 - it's not too late! I am already looking forward to connecting with friends and learning from others across all areas of higher education who are helping students realize greater success in their personal financial lives. Pack your bags for Portland!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAUL F GOEBEL MBA, CPFM^™ is the founding and managing director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Texas. The center has received numerous national and institutional awards of excellence under his leadership. Paul and his team of professionals and student mentors have worked tirelessly to streamline all money management education services under the oversight of one dedicated office serving as a single entry point to eliminate frustrations and confusion among students seeking support, counsel, and resources. Paul was named Educator of the Year by two national associations and was selected to serve as Inceptia’s inaugural HEFW Ambassador.

Lincoln, Neb. (January 9, 2018) – Inceptia, a division of NSLP, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Lone Star College Knowledge Corps, an AmeriCorps program, to further the financial literacy of Texas high school students. Inceptia’s online financial education program, Financial Avenue, will combine with College Knowledge Corps’ current programming and outreach efforts to better equip these students for a lifetime of financial capability.

Financial Avenue offers engaging, interactive online courses specially designed to align with the learning needs of today’s tech-savvy students. Through learning objectives aligned with the financial education core competencies established by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission, students will gain knowledge of key personal finance concepts from budgeting and investing to debt and repayment, and come away from each course with a customized action plan to translate concepts into behaviors. Courses like “Psychology of Money” also guide students toward an understanding of their personal relationship with money, so they can alter habits to become more financially healthy and aware.

The mission of College Knowledge Corps is to partner 2nd and 3rd year college students with high school or 1st year students to build skills for a positive college experience. By sharing their knowledge and experience with mentees, the members of College Knowledge Corps reinforce their own knowledge of these skills, continuing their own growth and creating a win-win scenario for all students.

With this partnership, both organizations seek to empower Texas high schoolers with the critical knowledge to navigate the financial choices associated with college and beyond. “With Financial Avenue, Inceptia’s mission has always been to educate and support student financial success, and help build solid futures,” remarked Randy Heesacker, president and CEO of Inceptia.

"Our partnership with the College Knowledge Corps gives us an exciting opportunity to connect with high school students and offer them valuable financial literacy resources they may not receive anywhere else. Together, we can put them on track to financial success early on."

"We are very excited to partner with Inceptia to provide Financial Avenue to complement the financial education outreach already being conducted through our program. This online curriculum provides a solid foundation in all the need-to-know financial topics that students face now and into the future," said Keelie Barrow, program manager for Lone Star AmeriCorps College Knowledge Corps.

For more information, please visit www.financialavenue.org.

ABOUT AMERICORPS COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE CORPS
The College Knowledge Corps is a program funded by AmeriCorps. Through this program, 2nd and 3rd year college students, already successful in navigating the complexities of high school and college processes, can become AmeriCorps members and mentor high school or 1st year college students in skills that help them to have a positive college experience. Ultimately, as our members mentor others, their own knowledge of these skills will be reinforced, allowing the members to continue to the next step of their own education.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 160,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

ABOUT LONE STAR COLLEGE
Lone Star College has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSC remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest- growing community colleges in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.

Lincoln, Neb. (October 05, 2017) – On September 28^th, Lincoln’s Railyard was host to “Financial Literacy Rocks!”, a rock concert to raise funds for financial literacy throughout Nebraska. As part of their nonprofit mission and commitment to Nebraska students, Inceptia proudly co-sponsored the event with the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Over the past few years, the NCEE has made great strides in engaging Nebraska students by introducing financial education through the music of Gooding, a global financial literacy rock band. After performing a high-energy set for students, Gooding talks frankly to students about their financial struggles as a band. Through their relatable message, and tips for financial empowerment, student response throughout Nebraska has been overwhelmingly positive.

Jennifer Davidson, president of the NCEE, explains why the concerts are so well-received.

“Partnering with Gooding has been the most fun and engaging way to bring the important financial literacy message to today’s students. The rock concert catches the students off guard and they are paying attention; it’s not something they are used to in a school setting. They have a great time listening to truly amazing musicians. After the concert piece the magic truly happens. The band has established how authentic and cool they are; then, Gooding, the lead singer and guitarist who has a natural teacher instinct and demeanor, talks to students about the importance of saving, how compound interest works, why to stay away from payday lenders, and how making wise financial decisions can give you the opportunity to make your dreams come true; if you are not a slave to debt you have so much more freedom to reach your goals.”

“We feel so strongly about supporting the work of NCEE, and Gooding, because we are committed to advancing financial education in our home state,” explains Carissa Uhlman, vice president of student success at Inceptia. “Our mission has always been to financially empower students, and we’re happy to play a role in supporting Gooding’s message through music.”

The September 28^th event raised over $7,000 to help fund future Nebraska concerts throughout the upcoming school year. The event also marked Inceptia’s fourth sponsorship in bringing Gooding to Nebraska schools.

ABOUT THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION
The Nebraska Council on Economic Education is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, housed at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, College of Business Administration. Its mission is to act as a catalyst and lead a statewide initiative to advance economic literacy by primarily focusing on educating Nebraska's students and providing professional development for K-12 educators. For more information on the Council please contact Jennifer Davidson at jdavidson2@unl.edu or visit nebraskacouncil.unl.edu.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (September 7, 2017) – For the second consecutive year, Nebraska nonprofit Inceptia and personal finance company NerdWallet have partnered to create a free eGuide, “Great Advice for Parents.” The guide, which features a collection of articles from NerdWallet’s experts, is intended to provide parents and students with valuable information regarding college planning and finances.

"Avoiding burdensome college debt starts well before students ever set foot on campus," says Brianna McGurran, student loans expert at NerdWallet. "Understanding the financial aid families are eligible for, how much money they can afford to contribute, and the risks of taking on too much debt now can have a significant long-term impact on their financial health."

This year’s guide was developed to help parents and students answer the tough questions of college choice and affordability, as well as student financial responsibility. “With increasing tuition and expenses, we know that it’s no longer just parents who worry about the cost of college” says Carissa Uhlman, vice president of student success at Inceptia. “We want to help families start having these critical money discussions now so they can plan wisely for college costs, and focus on student success once they start classes.”

The 2017 edition of Great Advice for Parents contains articles that focus on three distinct areas:

• Planning for College
• Tips for Parents
• Tips for Students

“Great Advice for Parents” is also meant to be a useful resource for high school educators, counselors, coaches, and mentors, as well as other nonprofit organizations that assist students and families in preparing for college. It is available for free download or may be shared with students and families through our downloadable Great Advice for Parents flyer.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

ABOUT NERDWALLET
NerdWallet offers consumers clarity for all of life’s financial decisions. Whether it’s credit cards, insurance, student loans or investing, people lack the clear, unbiased information they need to make the best choice. With NerdWallet, consumers have free access to user-friendly tools and advice that save time and money, and give them the freedom to do more. NerdWallet is based in San Francisco and employs more than 440 Nerds. For more information, visit nerdwallet.com.

Lincoln, Neb. (September 6, 2017) – Inceptia, a leader in helping schools and students navigate the student loan landscape, has been named an Ellucian partner. In this role, Inceptia will bring extended support to schools, making it simpler for financial aid administrators to outsource key functions while saving them time and money.

“We’re excited to integrate our innovative solutions with Ellucian’s respected financial aid management and student information systems, Banner^® and Colleague^®,” said Deana Unger, vice president, financial aid operations. “As an Ellucian partner, we can provide schools with an uncomplicated and holistic approach to financial aid processes, while also being able to transfer student data in real time.”

Inceptia’s suite of financial aid management solutions offers time-saving processes for financial aid administrators and intuitive support tools for students:

• Verification Gateway – This secure, mobile-friendly web portal seamlessly guides students and parents through verification. Two options, Full-Service and the new software-only SaaS version, are available.
• PJ Advisor – Offering an accessible, supportive and secure solution, this mobile-ready website streamlines the process of collecting information schools need to evaluate financial aid appeals.
• SAP Advisor – A fully automated online solution, SAP Advisor provides students, faculty and financial aid staff the tools to quickly and seamlessly manage the Satisfactory Academic Progress process and SAP appeals.

“Offering schools smarter ways to simplify the many processes involved in financial aid management is at the heart of what we do,” said Inceptia president and CEO Randy Heesacker, “Partnering with Ellucian is another step toward helping financial aid managers spend less time managing the process and more time counseling their students.”

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (June 20, 2017) – To reach students who aren’t meeting required academic standards and need to file an appeal, Inceptia has introduced SAP Advisor — a holistic solution that features a fully automated, intuitive online process.

“When a student receives a Satisfactory Academic Progress warning it can be a confusing and stressful situation, especially when it comes to navigating the steps required for the appeals process,” said Randy Heesacker, NSLP president and CEO.

“As part of Inceptia’s mission to bring greater efficiency to financial aid management, we’ve developed SAP Advisor to help students, faculty, and financial aid staff manage the entire process quickly and seamlessly.”

The new solution from Inceptia offers a two-fold benefit by helping students and schools:

• Streamline the Appeal Process – SAP Advisor gives students a dynamic platform to guide them through the appeal process via automated electronic appeal submission. For schools that have tasked a committee to review appeals, SAP Advisor facilitates and speeds up the process by allowing committee members to vote on appeal submissions remotely.
• Manage the Academic Plan – As some schools require an Academic Plan to supplement the appeal process, SAP Advisor provides an online portal where students and advisors can communicate virtually, build and monitor the plan.

“SAP Advisor automates document collection and review, which increases the efficiency of the school’s faculty, advisors and financial aid office,” Heesacker noted. “It also increases student satisfaction and retention by empowering Millennials by giving them the self-service, intuitive online solutions that they expect.”

For more about SAP Advisor, visit Inceptia.org.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (June 5, 2017) – As thousands of Michigan college students celebrate their graduation this spring, the Michigan Department of Treasury (Treasury) is working in conjunction with Inceptia, a nonprofit company, to help residents who are facing challenges in navigating the loan repayment process.

Treasury is offering a one-year pilot program—which continues through January 1, 2018—to assist borrowers by providing free financial literacy information and one-on-one student loan delinquency counseling.

“This is an exciting time for graduating seniors, but for many of them, their first loan payments will be arriving soon. For these new alumni, the student loan repayment process can be complicated and difficult to understand,” said Randy Heesacker, NSLP president, and CEO.

“Inceptia, through this program with the Michigan Department of Treasury, is helping make the process easier to navigate so that graduates who have fallen behind on their payments can return to good financial standing.”

Michigan student loan borrowers currently delinquent on their loans can opt into the program. Participants work with counselors to develop a repayment plan that helps them return to good financial standing. In addition, they learn how to create a household budget and better understand their credit score.

To qualify, individuals must have federal student loans from a public or private nonprofit Michigan higher education institution, currently be delinquent on their student loans, and agree to provide their credit score twice during the pilot period.

“We’re pleased to salute every graduate’s achievements as they move to the next phase in their lives,” Heesacker added. “The Treasury program is one more way Inceptia is helping students get back on the right path to financial success.”

To read Inceptia’s “Great Advice for Grads Summer 2017,” including tips for living on an entry-level salary while paying students loans, how to avoid five money mistakes, and advice from graduates who have paid off student loan debt, visit https://www.inceptia.org/PDF/GreatAdviceForGrads_Summer2017.pdf.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 220,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.

Lincoln, Neb. (May 16, 2017) – With its innovative Verification Gateway solution — featuring a new Software as a Service (SaaS) option — Inceptia is making the verification process easier, faster and more accurate than ever for students and financial aid departments.

The system combines the time savings of a fully automated, seamless process with the flexibility to add personal interaction whenever needed, guiding students and parents through verification via a highly secure, mobile-friendly web portal.

"Verification Gateway now not only offers schools two valuable options for streamlining their verification process, but also gets financial aid departments online quickly," said Randy Heesacker, NSLP President and CEO.

"It’s estimated that one-third of FAFSAs are selected for verification, creating extra work for schools as well as the students they serve." Verification Gateway relieves the burden of cumbersome paperwork by offering a fully automated process for students and financial aid administrators, one that’s modern and uses today’s smart technology.

"Our system is truly intuitive and only requests the required documents so schools avoid having to sort through conflicting information and enjoy a much more streamlined, accurate process. Best of all, it’s an affordable solution for schools looking to get back more time to work directly with their students."

With Verification Gateway Full Service, final verifications are completed by Inceptia and processed within two business days of receipt of all documents.

Alternately, schools may choose Verification Gateway SaaS, a software-only option, which enables the school to complete the verifications.

Students enjoy:

• Options available for e-sign and text reminders.
• Built-in web-enabled forms and secure document upload.
• Document upload 24/7 from any device.
• Toll-free help for any questions (full-service option).

Schools benefit from:

• The ability to package student files and disburse aid more quickly.
• Monitoring of all submitted data and access to student progress views via detailed real-time reports.
• A cloud-based system, with limited school IT support required
• Integration into the school’s FAM system without requiring access to the FAM system.

"Verification Gateway meets Inceptia’s stringent security standards and complies with federal regulations," Heesacker added. "As regulations change every academic year, we keep up-to-date on those changes so schools don’t have to worry about them."

For more about Verification Gateway, visit inceptia.org/financial-aid-management.

ABOUT INCEPTIA
Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in financial aid management, default prevention, and financial education. Our mission is to support schools as they launch brilliant futures for students, armed with the knowledge to become financially responsible citizens. Since 1986, we have helped more than two million students at 5,500 schools reach their higher education dreams. Each year, we help more than 160,000 students learn how to pay for college, borrow wisely, resolve their delinquency issues, and repay their student loan obligations. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping financial aid administrators maximize resources, so they can spend more time focusing on students.