2024_Conference_Images/2024 conference logo 

2024 JOINT CASFAA/OASFAA CONFERENCE AGENDA 

FORGED IN STEEL: CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY

Please download complete agenda HERE and program HERE

Sunday, June 2, 2024

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm      McMaster Campus Residence & Parking Check-in

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm      CASFAA Meet & Greet for new members

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm      Sunday Night Welcome Cocktail Reception for All Attendees*

*Light refreshments only

Day 1 – Monday, June 3, 2024

TIME

ACTIVITY

Ongoing

MCMASTER CAMPUS RESIDENCE & PARKING CHECK-IN

8:00 am – 9:30 am

CONFERENCE CHECK-IN

BREAKFAST (to start at 8:30am)

9:30 am – 10:00 am         

WELCOME

Land Acknowledgement:

Rita Mukherjee, Assistant Registrar, Government Aid, McMaster University

Opening Remarks:

Sarah Robinson, Acting Registrar, McMaster University

Conference Overview:

Josh Levac, Niagara College – CASFAA President

Shaun Anderson, Carleton University – OASFAA Co-Chair

Celeste Coles, Durham, Durham College – OASFAA Co-Chair

10:00 am – 10:45 am

Keynote Speaker:

Renata Hall, PhD Candidate, RSW, BSW, BScManager, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Programs, Equity & Inclusion Office, McMaster University

“The Impact of Financial Inclusion: Materializing Belongingness in Academia”

10:45 am – 11:00 am

BREAK

11:00 am – 12:15 pm (include Q&A)

Plenary Session:

Johnathan Wallace, Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFAP)

“Supporting Access to Post-Secondary Education through the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program”

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

LUNCH

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Breakout Session:

Christine Doolittle, Director, Indigenous Student Services, McMaster University

Elizabeth Way, Senior Associate Registrar, Aid & Awards, McMaster University

Justine Henhawk-Bomberry, Director, Post-Secondary Student Services, Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office

“Empowering Indigenous Learners: Navigating Financial Challenges and Embracing Holistic Support”

Breakout Session:

Farahnaaz Kanji, Director of Youth Strategy – RBC Future Launch, Royal Bank of Canada

“Untapped Potential: Working Together to Open Doors to Opportunity Through Scholarships”

Roundtable Discussion:

Joel Dooley-May, Assistant Registrar, Student Financial Support, University of Calgary

“Award Selection and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility”

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

BREAK

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Roundtable Discussion:

Jiffin Arboleda, Senior Financial Aid Specialist, University of Toronto

“US Aid – Best Practices for Process Title IV Loans, Alternative/Private Loans, and Veterans Affairs Benefits”

Roundtable Discussion:

Suzanne Tyson, VP Social Responsibility, guard.me international insurance

Clark Hortsing, Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships, guard.me international insurance

“How Can We Help?”
Discussion Questions:
1. Aside from students’ large educational expenses, what are the most frequently mentioned financial challenges that your students are facing? Are the challenges different for domestic vs. international students?
2. What are the top 2-3 challenges that you and your FAO colleagues are facing?
3.What is one thing you wish you could do to provide more students with more support?

Breakout Session:

Fiona Halbert, Assistant Registrar Financial Support, University of Alberta

Cam Maus, Manager-ES Operations, University of Calgary

“Empowering International Students: Navigating Financial Challenges in Higher Education”

FREE EVENING

 

Day 2 – Tuesday, June 4, 2024

TIME

ACTIVITY

Ongoing

MCMASTER CAMPUS RESIDENCE & PARKING CHECK-IN

8:30 am – 9:30 am

CONFERENCE CHECK-IN

BREAKFAST (to start at 8:30am)

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Roundtable Discussion:

Lana Hardwick, Financial Aid Administrator, Niagara College, OASFAA Regional Representative

Tanya Martinsen, Financial Aid Advisor, Niagara College

Marissa Ditto, Financial Aid Advisor, Niagara College

“Financial Aid Information: Academic Progress, One-Stop Model – Integration Services, and Institutional Aid

  • Broken into three 20-minute discussions

Breakout Session: 

Yingyi Chen, Assistant Registrar, International Student Awards and Financial Aid, Dalhousie University

Justin McKiel, Assistant Registrar, Financial Aid, Dalhousie University

“Unpacking Personal Bias in Financial Need Assessment”

Breakout Session: 

Necia Martins, MBA, EdD, Associate Registrar, Student Finance & Client Services, Wilfrid Laurier University

Elizabeth Way, MTS, Senior Associate Registrar, Aid & Awards, McMaster University

2023/2024 CASFAA National Data Benchmarking Project Co-chair

“Digging into the Data – 2023/2024 CASFAA National Data Benchmarking”

11:00 am – 11:15 am

BREAK

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Plenary Session:

Dr. Rick Monture, Associate Professor, Department of English and Cultural Studies/Indigenous Studies Department, BA, MA, PhD, McMaster University

"Beyond the Land Acknowledgement: First Nations and University Spaces”

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

LUNCH

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Breakout Session:

James Cawlishaw
Manager, Business Systems Unit
Student Financial Assistance Branch
Ministry of Colleges & Universities (Ontario)

“OSAP Updates”

Breakout Session:

Jennifer Da Silva, Associate Direction of Financial Aid, University Registrar’s Office, University of Toronto

Donna Wall, Associate Registrar & Director, Financial Aid & Awards, Vice Provost Strategic Enrolment Management, University of Toronto

“Redesign of University of Toronto’s Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS) Program”

Roundtable Discussion

Preston Aitken, Blackbaud, Inc., Strategic Account Executive, Higher Ed

“An Introduction to Blackbaud Award Management”

Sponsored by Blackbaud

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

BREAK

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Roundtable Discussion:

Emily Naddaf, Director of Strategy and Community Growth, Wealthsimple Foundation

Leen Li, CEO, Wealthsimple Foundation

Pierre Labbee, Manager of Partnership & Engagement for the Canada Education Savings Program, Employment & Social Development Canada

“Enabling Access to the Canada Learning Bond for Adult Beneficiaries”

Sponsored by Wealthsimple Foundation

Roundtable Discussion:

Celeste Coles, Manager, Financial Aid & Awards, Co-Chair of OASFAA

“Having Difficult Conversations”

Breakout Session:

Marc Guindon, Manager, Educational Institutional Relations and Services & Customer Success Lead, Finastra

“Updates from the National Student Loans Service Centre”

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

BANQUET DINNER

 

Day 3 – Wednesday, June 5, 2024

TIME

ACTIVITY

8:30 am – 9:30 am

BREAKFAST

9:45 am – 10:45 am

Plenary Session:

Sherry Beduk, M.S.W., R.S.W., Lead Program Coordinator, Disability Services, Student Accessibility Services, McMaster University
Roksana Sobota, M.Ed, RP (Qualifying), Lead Program Coordinator, Disability Services, Student Accessibility Services, McMaster University


“Supporting Success for Students with Disabilities in Post-Secondary Education”

11:00 am – 11:15 am

BREAK

11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Breakout Session:

Matt Horner, Team Lead, Student Services, McMaster University

“Inflation-Busting: Ideas to Help Students Manage Limited Resources in an Increasingly Expensive World”

Roundtable Discussion:

Danielle Aspin, Financial Aid Coordinator, Trent University

“Effective Student Engagement: Hosting Meaningful Conversations & Increasing Funding Applications"

Breakout Session

Mary Fisher-MacDonnell, Financial Aid Officer St. Frances Xavier University

“Your CASFAA Board at Work for You"

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Closing Remarks:

CASFAA/OASFAA Presidents

 

BOXED LUNCH TO GO