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BW Financial Aid Director Carrie Short's award-winning initiative, "Better FAFSA Help," was born out of a desire to confront "a cesspool of bad information" aimed at families on social media.
Navigating college financial aid processes can be daunting and confusing for prospective students and families. That challenge is made worse when bad actors and misinformation are added to the mix.
Enter Baldwin Wallace University's director of financial aid, Carrie Short, who decided to fight back with a professionally monitored Facebook group offering legitimate answers and advice.
Her effort, which has grown to include more than 42,000 members and 100 verified financial aid professionals acting as moderators, was recently honored with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Gold Star Award.
The origin of the "Better FAFSA Help" Facebook group emerged from a serious problem plaguing students and families during the challenging 2023-24 FAFSA rollout, which suffered significant implementation delays.
"At that time, there was an unmoderated Facebook group simply called 'FAFSA' that had become what was a cesspool of bad information and people trying to make a buck off of students and families with legitimate questions," Short explained.
Financial aid professionals, who had their own Facebook community, frequently shared concerns about the misinformation spreading unchecked.
After unsuccessful attempts to appeal to the owners of the problematic group and Facebook, Short took decisive action. "The idea to start a help group to counter the misinformation was floating among professionals, but no one seemed to want to get it started. I decided that I would!"
Short established what was originally called the "FAFSA Discussion Group – Legit" and later renamed it "Better FAFSA Help" to help families distinguish legitimate help from the numerous paid consultant groups and misinformation sources. She strategically invited fellow financial aid administrators to join as moderators to ensure credible advice.
Under Short's leadership, the group has grown exponentially. It operates as an open group where anyone can join and view posts without membership, but maintains strict standards for content quality.
"We don't allow requests for paid help, nor do we allow consultants to advertise or mention their services. All advice is free," Short emphasized. "We also actively monitor for incorrect information."
Short's "Better FAFSA Help" initiative was selected by NASFAA's Awards Committee for exemplifying excellence in serving students and the financial aid profession. The Facebook group was specifically recognized for combating misinformation during the challenging 2023-24 FAFSA rollout and providing a trusted, supportive community where members can openly discuss financial aid questions, ask for help and share their experiences.
While the immediate crisis of FAFSA Simplification implementation has passed, Short's creation continues to serve families nationwide. The group fields questions not only about the FAFSA form but also provides general financial aid guidance, maintaining an active and engaged membership.
Short predicts, "As long as the FAFSA form exists and federal financial aid is available, I think this group will be utilized."
Scott Schulz, BW's vice president for enrollment management, says Short's dedication to serving students and families shines at BW and beyond.
"Carrie's commitment to innovation is second to none," he says. "It is wonderful to see Carrie recognized by NASFAA for her expertise and effectiveness as a national leader in financial aid practice."
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at approximately 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the U.S. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators.
