2023 Conference

"The Power of Connection Through Change"

Conference Schedule

Day/Meeting Location

Time

Topic

Speaker

May 16, 2023

Tuesday

 

 

Emerald Ballroom

4:00 – 12:00 AM

Corporate Partner Set up

 

Ballroom Foyer

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Conference Registration 

 

Emerald Ballroom

5:00 – 5: 45 PM

Corporate Partner meeting

 

 

 

 

 

May 17, 2023

Wednesday

 

 

Pool Deck

7:15 – 8:15 AM

Breakfast

 

Ballroom Foyer

7:30 – 8:30 AM

Conference Registration

 

Crystal Ballroom  1

 

8:30 – 9:00 AM

Presidents Welcome, Opening Remarks & Corporate Sponsor Introductions

Rebecca Schlafer

Chapman University

General Session

Crystal Ballroom  1

 

9:00 – 10:15 AM

Keynote Speaker

Change Is Mandatory...Stress Is Optional

Change is something we all have to deal with, but the stress that accompanies change is more of choice. In this heavily researched session, Garrison applies his signature humor to a very serious topic. This fun, comprehensive program offers tools and tips for getting through big change with very little stress. More importantly, it creates an emotional shift for attendees as they see how much control they have over how change affects them. This session also shows attendees how stress is more about what we believe than it is about what is actually happening. From embracing big transitions in technology to dealing with growth or downsizing, this presentation helps leaders, employees and customers implement necessary changes with minimal resistance.

Garrison Wynn, CSP

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

10:15 – 10:45 AM

Break with Corporate Partners

 

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom  1

 

10:45 – 11:45 AM

Excelling in Customer Service in a Hybrid Environment While Maintaining Staff Morale, Partnerships, and Communication

Excelling in customer service in a hybrid environment, while maintaining staff morale, partnerships, and communication.

 

Veronica Olvera and Tracy Stutts, UC San Diego

Presentation

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom 
 

10:45 - 11:45 AM

 

Collection 101 - Back to Basics 

In this session we will discuss the entire collections process; from identifying account data for extraction, pre-collections, in-house collections, private collection agencies to ultimately deem an account uncollectable. Throughout our journey, we will provide tips for best practices to help you navigate your way through the everchanging collection process.

James Macias, CU Boulder

Matt Fryc, ConServe

Karen Reddick, NCM

Presentation

Pool Deck

 

11:50 - 12:50

 

Lunch

 

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom  1

1:00 - 2:00 PM

 

CFPB Update

CFPB - An overview of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, their oversight and priorities as it affects Student Financial Services.

Lori Hartung, ECSI

Presentation

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom 

1:00 - 2:00 PM

U.C. San Diego's Journey to a Cashless Future

The “UC San Diego’s Journey to a Cashless Future” presentation will cover how technology reduced the processing of physical cash at the Cashier’s Office while maintaining a high level of customer service experience and keeping the portal open for future technology implementations.

Larry Angel, UC San Diego

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

2:00 - 2:30 PM

Break with Corporate Partners

 

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom

 

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Transcript Restrictions - No Holding Back

There is much talk about the impact of holds on student success at the national and state level. Join us for a deep dive into the analysis of the impact all holds can have on student retention and completion through a study conducted by WICHE and how Portland State University is using their data on financial holds to improve student outcomes, assess impact and drive policy.

Amanda Bierbrauer, Portland State University

Olivia Tufo, WICHE

Presentation

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

 

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Staff Engagement in a Hybrid Environment

As a pilot project in 2017, USF’s Student Accounts department transitioned to a hybrid work environment.  The hybrid work pilot was driven by operational needs, work space constraints, and Bay Area traffic.  Over the past 6 years there have been many modifications, improvements and challenges to our hybrid environment.  Join me as we discuss the ever-changing higher education work landscape and how we engage and interact with our staff.
 

 

Bryan Wallander, University of San Francisco

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

3:30 - 3:45

Break with Corporate Partners

 

General Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

 

3:45 - 5:00 PM

Biscuit Bites - Leadership Lessons of Ted Lasso

The one-and-only Ted Lasso taught us many lessons post 2020.  We will review leadership through his lens in this facilitated discussion and these lessons will be applicable even if you do not know the full Ted story.  Leadership and the development of the essential skills are more important than ever in our changing world of work.  Your technical skills are foundational; however, you will be called upon to continue to improve your talents to build teams and create new solutions for Higher Education.  We rarely walk alone.

Diane Fennig

Presentation

Reception

Pool Deck

 

5:30 - 6:15 PM

PacWest SFS Hosted Reception

 

Dinner

 

6:15 PM

Dinner on your own to explore San Diego area

 

May 18, 2023

Thursday

 

 

Pool Deck

7:15 -8:15 AM

Breakfast

 

Crystal Ballroom  1

8:30 – 9:00 AM

General Remarks & Gold Sponsor Speaking Opportunity

PacWest SFS Committee

 

General Session

Crystal Ballroom  1

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Washington Update

COHEAO Board member, Karen Reddick, will provide an update on higher education-related activity in Washington, D.C., covering the status of the Student Loan Industry, including the wind-down of the Perkins Loan program.  She will address the Department of Ed and CFPB activities related to financial services and cover other relevant state laws.  Karen will also review current COHEAO priorities and advocacy efforts.

Karen Reddick, National Credit Management

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

10:00 – 10:45 AM

Break with Corporate Partners

 

General Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

 

10:45 – 12:00 PM

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

You have successfully landed a leadership role within your college or university. Your campus has invested in you. Now, how do you manage your career? This interactive session lead by Diane Fennig, former Career Management Director, College Administrator, and now Search Consultant, will give you some strategies and tactics of how to keep your career on track or how to re-invent yourself for your next career appointment.   This is a new day in Higher Education, how do you create your next.

Diane Fennig

Presentation

Document 1

Document 2

Emerald Ballroom

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Lunch

 

General Session

Crystal Ballroom  1

 

 

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Current State of Debt Collections in Higher Education

With each passing year, the issues facing higher education debt and the collection industry seem to get more complex and challenging. This session will discuss recent developments throughout the country impacting the collection of college and university debt. From state laws, state regulators, federal regulators, and case law developments – the landscape is constantly shifting. Chad will provide updates that are timely and relevant to the higher education community.

Chad Echols, Attorney The Echols Firm, LLC

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

2:00 – 2:15 PM

Break with Corporate Partners

 

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom 

 

2:15 – 3:15 PM

Affordability in Higher Education

As the cost of higher education has sky-rocketed, colleges and universities are continuously exploring ways to help students better afford their education.

In this session, two universities discuss various ways they have  worked to make their institution more affordable for students and families, including an added focus on payment plans, financial transparency, enhanced communication and other campus initiatives.

 

Rosemary Irvine, CSU Northridge

Brett Cassell, CU Boulder

Presentation

 

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

2:15 – 3:15 PM

Preventing Fraud On Your Campus

Think of this, your institution has 20 thousand students enrolling for at least two semesters each year. Each semester they pay their tuition and fees online. That gives bad actors at least 40,000 opportunities to compromise just one account! With fraud attacks increasing dramatically, institutions must be constantly looking for solutions to aid their fraud prevention efforts. During this session subject matter experts will walk through how to take a platform approach to payments on campus, how to determine your level of risk, and explore the tools available to help prevent fraud from both a payments and operational perspective. Attendees will come away with an understanding of risk vs. fraud, the techniques being used by hackers, and best practices to protect every point of interaction on campus.

Robyn Bongartz, Wichita State University

John McElroy, Touchnet

Presentation

Emerald Ballroom

3:15 – 3:45 PM

Break with Corporate Partners

 

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

 

 

3:45 – 4:45 PM

Federal Perkins Update

“Federal Perkins Update '': Also known as Government Assignments from A to Z. The goal of this session is to walk through the process of assigning a Perkins loan to the Dept. of Education.  During the session, details on the process, best practices, and common errors will be addressed.  If you are new to Perkins and this process or have been doing assignments for years, this is the session for you.

Lara Allworth, ECSI

Charleen Bell, CSU Northridge

Presentation

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom 

 

3:45 - 4:45 PM

 

Auditing Collection Agencies and Vice Versa

What and why audit your collection agency and campus collection unit? Compliance with state, federal, and internal regulations is of the utmost importance, not just for your department’s operational well-being.  Your internal audit process ensures your collection unit and partnership with the collection agency’s operation have accountability with best practices.

 

James Jones, Reliant

MyVan Hua, Cal Poly Pomona

Joe Weglarz, Marist College

Presentation

General Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

4:45- 5:15PM

PacWest SFS Introduction of Committee Nominees 

PacWest SFS Introduction of Committee Nominees

 

Free Time

 

5:15 PM

Dinner on your own to explore San Diego area

 

May 19, 2023

Friday

 

 

Pool Deck

7:15 – 8:15 AM

Breakfast

 

Crystal Ballroom  1

8:30 - 9:00 AM

General remarks

PacWest SFS Committee

General Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Ask the Attorney

Here is your chance to ask an attorney all of your collection related questions

Chad Echols, Attorney The Echols Firm, LLCBallroom

 

 

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Hotel Checkout

 

Concurrent Session

Opal Ballroom

10:30 – 11:30 AM

Birds of a Feather - Cashiering

Join your shared interest group for an informal open discussion on the topics that mean the most to you. Get help solving that nagging problem, or share a solution that has worked for your campus.

Larry Angel, UC San Diego

Stacy Sullivan, Flywire

Virgil Lloyd, Nelnet

Roge Karma, Nelnet

Presentation

Concurrent Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

 

10:30 - 11:30 AM

 

Birds of a Feather - Collections

Join your shared interest group for an informal open discussion on the topics that mean the most to you. Get help solving that nagging problem, or share a solution that has worked for your campus.

MyVan Hua, Cal Poly Pomona

Robyn Bongartz, Wichita State University

 

General Session

Crystal Ballroom 1

11:30 – 11:45 AM

Closing Remarks

Rebecca Schlafer, President PacWest SFS

 

11:45 AM

Conference Concludes

 

 

Photo Gallery

Corporate Partners

PacWest would like to thank the following Corporate Partners for their support of our conference.

Bank Mobile Disbursements logo
Cedar Financial logo
Coast Professional, Inc.
Con Serve logo
ECSI logo
FHC logo

Flywire has been solving complex payment problems for students and education institutions since 2011. Today, we continue to remove boundaries by connecting millions of students with more than 2,400 institutions to improve the payment experience worldwide. Backed by our powerful global payment network, Flywire’s Comprehensive Receivables Solution delivers on life's most important moments by enabling institutions to seamlessly receive and reconcile payments from anyone, anywhere in the world–at any time. Visit edu.flywire.com or email learnmore@flywire.com to experience the Flywire difference.  

Flywire logo
General Revenue Corporation
GradGuard logo
ICR logo
Nelnet logo
Pay my Tuition logo
radius logo
Reliant logo

TouchNet unifies campuswide payments and ID management software solutions for institutions of higher education around the world. Colleges and universities rely on TouchNet to integrate and secure payments, permissions, and other related business transactions for a comprehensive, actionable view campuswide. TouchNet’s unmatched integration, transparency, and security gives institutions greater control over transactions, costs, and compliance. As the market leader in higher education commerce technology, our platform-driven approach enables greater operational efficiencies and self-service access to real-time information for students and staff. TouchNet is a Global Payments company.

Touchnet logo
Transact
Williams & Fudge logo
Coachella Valley Clean Cities Coalition

Contact Us

PacWest SFS
18111 Nordhoff Street, Box # 8359
Northridge, CA 91330
info@pacwestsfs.org