2026 ISFAA Annual Conference

Stronger Together: Resilience Through Community

Wednesday, March 11 - Friday, March 13, 2026

Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel
11925 N. Meridian Street, Carmel, IN 46032
1 (800) 228-9290

 Book your group rate for ISFAA Annual Conference - March 2022 by February 17, 2026

Stronger Together: Resilience Through Community reflects the collective strength of Indiana’s financial aid professionals as we navigate change, embrace challenges, and remain steadfast in our commitment to student success. This year’s theme highlights the vital role of community in building resilience—fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another as we lead our institutions through an evolving higher education landscape. Together, we are stronger, more adaptable, and better equipped to serve our students with excellence.

 DRAFT Conference Agenda

ISFAA 2026 Conference Agenda
TIME TYPE SESSION TITLE
(Level 1: New, Level 2: Intermediate, Level 3: Experienced)
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Pre-Conference Session 1 Verification (Level 1)
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Pre-Conference Session 2 Packaging and Aid Notification (Level 2)
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Pre-Conference Session 3 Cash Management (Level 3)
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Exhibitor/Vendor Setup  
10:00 am – 4:30 pm Registration Open  
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Exhibits Open  
12:00 pm. - 1:00 pm Lunch on Your Own  
12:00 pm Silent Auction Open
Bidding through Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
 
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Welcome and Vendor Introductions  
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Keynote Kevin McClure
The Caring  University
: A Roadmap to Reimaging the Higher Education Workplace
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Break and Vendors  
3:00 pm– 4:00 pm Breakout Session

Stronger Together Through Knowledge: Key Insights into Private Student Lending (ALL)

  Breakout Session

Starting Stronger Together: A Newcomer’s Welcome! (Level 1)

  Breakout Session

Understanding Citizenship and Immigration Status with Financial Aid
Eligibility (ALL)

  Breakout Session

Recognizing Priorities in Work & Life for Self-Care (Level 2 & 3)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm President's Reception  
6:00 pm Dinner on Your Own  
Thursday, March 12, 2026
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast on your Own  
8:00 am - 5:30 pm Registration Open  
8:00 am - 4:30 pm Exhibits Open  
9:00 am - 10:00 am General Session (The Hub) OB3/Negotiated Rulemaking Update
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 am Break and Vendors  
10:30 am - 11:15 am Breakout Session

Building your skills as a Leader:
Emotional Intelligence 101

  Breakout Session

Part 1 - Stronger Together: Basics of Compliance and Supporting Students with Focus on PJ and SAP (Level 1)

  Breakout Session

Work-Study that Works: Strategies for a Stronger Campus (Level 2)

  Breakout Session Modules & Distance Ed (Level 3)
11:15 am - 12:00 pm Lunch  
12:00 pm Business Meeting  ISFAA Business Meeting & MASFAA Update
12:30 pm -1:15 pm General Session NASFAA Updates
1:15 pm - 1:30 pm Break and Vendors  
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Breakout Session Workforce Pell (All)
  Breakout Session

Part 2 -Stronger Together: Basics of Compliance and Supporting Students(Level 1)

  Breakout Session

Enrollment Management Essentials: A Guide for Financial Aid Professionals (Level 3)

  Breakout Session

Understanding Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations and Policies (ALL)

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Break and Vendors  
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm Breakout Session

Building Community with Robots: Office Tools and AI for the Financial Aid Professional (ALL)

  Breakout Session

A Shared Responsibility: Monitoring Adds, Drops, and Withdrawals (Level 1)

  Breakout Session

Bridging the Gap: Private Loan Strategies in a Post-PLUS Landscape (Level 2 & 3)

  Breakout Session

10 Common Questions Schools Have About A Federal Program Review (Level
3)

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm Break and Vendors  
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Breakout Session

Stronger Together: Strengthening Veteran Success Through Education and Community (Level 1 & 2)

  Breakout Session Tips & Tricks for FAFSA Issues (All)
  Breakout Session

Internal and External Threats Facing Title IV Institutions (Level 2 & 3)

  Breakout Session

Email content: How much is too much to share? (ALL)

4:30 pm Silent Auction & Vendor Area Closes  
4:15 pm - 6:15 pm Dinner on Your Own  
6:00 pm  Doors Open for Bingo BINGO! Fundraiser for Foster Success!

7:00 pm  Bingo Fundraiser 

Register now for your 10 Bingo cards, dauber and prizes.

Friday, March 13, 2026
8:00 am - 9:00 am Breakfast on Your Own/Checkout  
8:00 am - 9:00 am Registration Desk Open  
9:00 am - 10:00 am Breakout Session Scholar Track Training (Level 1)
  Breakout Session

Building Your Professional Village: Tool for Career Growth and Connection (Level 1 & 2)

  Breakout Session Navigating Change Together: HRSA Loans as a Resource Beyond Title IV (Level 2 & 3)
  Breakout Session Pathways to Possibility: Advancing Foster Youth Success
10:00 am -10:30 am Break and Checkout  
10:30 am - 11:15 am Brunch  
11:15 am Housekeeping and Raffle  
11:30 am - 12:30 pm ICHE Update State Update
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Passing of the gavel/ Awards/ Closing Remarks  
 1:30 pm End of Conference  

 

 

2026 Conference Sponsors

 

 

 

 

 
   
   

 

 


Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend!
More details—including hotel booking, registration, and session proposals—coming later in 2025.