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Tips for Effective Communication with the 110th Congress

As a financial aid administrator or partner, you have the ability to effect change on behalf of your students and institutions; however, the manner in which you do this may indeed impact the outcome. Practical tips are shared in an effort to increase your effectiveness in the political process. Your efforts can and do make a difference!

State in Clear Language (or as clearly as regulatory language can be) the Reason for Your Contact – and Get to the Point Quickly – Indicate "Support For or Against" an issue upfront, as often staffers don't get to the details but simply take counts.

Get to Know the Staffers – This may provide the leverage you need to make direct contact with an elected official.

Be Tactful – You certainly don't want to alienate the powers who will ultimately make the decisions for you, your students and your institution.

Be Brief as Brevity is Best – It's the same premise as "Simple is More" (not to exceed one page in length where possible).

Use Statistics to Illustrate Major Points – Localize them to your campus – How will your students be impacted by a regulation or a proposed regulation?

Use Anecdotal Evidence to Illustrate Your Point – One cannot underestimate the power of a flesh and blood example – Be careful, however, about privacy unless you have a signed release to mention a specific name and circumstance.

Acknowledge the Efforts of the Elected Official – Regardless of the nature of the contact, express appreciation to the elected official for the work that's being done in behalf of students.

Retain Copies of Correspondence and Share Information – If you are responding to a NPRM or Reauthorization Task Force request, share your response with the appropriate entity (e.g., NASFAA).

NASFAA provides more information on how to communicate with Congress at www.nasfaa.org/publications/2001/gcommunicatingwithcongress.html.

To make contact with the 107th Congress, see www.visi.com/juan/congress/.