October 10, 2005

Panel discussion to feature history of Purdue financial aid

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The past and present of financial aid will gather at Purdue University on Oct. 14 as part of Homecoming week.

With their tenures dating back to 1965, the current and former financial aid directors will gather for a panel discussion during a luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Purdue Memorial Union's West Faculty Lounge. They will talk about financial aid issues facing both students and administrators in the past and future.

"Former financial aid directors have seen the world of financial aid change as much as the landscape of the Purdue campus. Back in 1894, still in the early years of Purdue, in-state tuition was $15 per year," said Joyce Hall, Division of Financial Aid executive director. "Not only has tuition changed, but so has the way students pay for their educations. In addition to federal grants, students are now relying more on privately funded scholarships and student loans."

Past Purdue directors have made strides in the world of financial aid, Hall said. Of the four former directors of financial aid at Purdue since the mid-1960s, three have gone on to serve as leaders of the Midwest or national associations of financial aid administrators.

Former financial aid directors on tap to attend include Richard L. Tombaugh, Donald E. Holec, Marvin R. Schlatter and Natala K. Hart.

Tombaugh served as the assistant director of admissions, director of student loans and director of financial aid from 1965-72 at Purdue. He served as the first leader of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators after leaving Purdue. Tombaugh now works as president/CEO of Education Finance Consulting Group in Jacksonville, Fla.

Holec was Purdue's financial aid director from 1972-84. He served as president of both the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators while at Purdue. Holec is the founder and CEO of Holec Financial Aid Services Inc.

Schlatter worked in the Division of Financial Aid from 1975-88 and served as interim director from 1984-85. He is currently the associate dean of students at Purdue.

Hart was the Purdue director of financial aid from 1985-89. She left Purdue to serve as executive director of the State Student Assistance Commission after being appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh. Hart received the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators President's Award in 1985. She is now director of financial aid at Ohio State University.

Hall has served as director since 1989. She served as president of the Midwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators and received the group's Allen W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award. She also served as president of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association and received the association's Distinguished Service Award.

"Because past directors have served in such influential positions after they left campus, Purdue's own system and administrators have had a big impact on how financial aid was administered at colleges and institutions across the country," Hall said.

"Many former and current employees have fond memories of these influential directors. It will be a good chance for everyone to get reacquainted, as well as talk about issues affecting the financial aid profession."

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Joyce Hall, (765) 494-5090, jjhall@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Journalists can attend the invitation-only luncheon and panel discussion by contacting Joyce Bryant, secretary to executive director, (765) 494-5090, jkbryant@purdue.edu

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