New Director of Office of Student Aid Calls
Robert P. Friedman, the new Director of Student Aid and Associate Director of Enrollment Services sees as his primary goal providing "the best customer service to students, staff and faculty."
Robert P. Friedman, the new Director of Student Aid and Associate Director of Enrollment Services sees as his primary goal providing "the best customer service to students, staff and faculty." "Customer service is the single most important function of the Office of Student Aid," said Friedman. "Together with the effective delivery of federal, state, and institutional aid, striving for quality customer service is the paramount job of this office." While confronted with four out of eight positions in the Office of Student Aid open at this time, Friedman plans to train his staff, especially those on front-line. "The young professionals we have on staff right now will be going for extensive financial aid training. Regulations change and we must stay in step with those changes." "The student aid world is an ever-changing environment," Friedman said. "Processes are becoming more electronic. Successful student aid professionals realize and embrace these changes. The changes are positive for students because they allow the student aid professional to spend more time counseling students." "The plan right now," Friedman continued, "will include getting as much information as possible out on the Web. But just as important, and perhaps more so, students can walk in here between nine and six and talk to somebody, whether it be myself or members of my staff. We're here to serve." Friedman also spoke about advancing a political agenda for the Office of Student Aid that would include changes in state and federal aid programs through lobbying. For example, Friedman's office will be concentrating on dramatically increasing New York State's TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) grants along with a consortium of other like-minded institutions. He will be working with Assemblyman Edward Sullivan, who heads the Higher Education Committee of the State Assembly to increase TAP grants for graduate education programs. Friedman said, "This is a perfect incentive to attract quality professionals to education." Friedman comes to TC from Fordham University, where he was the Senior Associate Director of Student Financial Services at the Rose Hill Campus. Earlier in his career he was the assistant director of Admission and Financial Aid at De Paul University, where he is completing his M.A. and has received a management certificate. He is a member of the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Friedman and his wife Gina have two children, Kristen who is two-and-a-half years old and Kevin who is six months old. "I feel a great sense of community here," said Friedman. "I feel at home already." webmaster@www.tc.columbia.edu
Published Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2001