Enrollment leaders have choices and decisions to make that will impact not only their college or university, but also the future lives of students. Today, on the Enrollment Edge, I dig into the topic of financial aid and college access with Megan Hartless, Coordinator of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Blue Ridge Community College. Megan is a veteran of building unique and effective financial aid policies that target providing access to higher education. As the landscape of college enrollment changes in the coming years, it is estimated that access to financial resources for first generation and high-need students will increase. College financial aid and enrollment leaders will have to be intentional about providing the limited available financial resources if they hope to enroll and graduate those students. Bottom line? Many colleges will have to shift their aid model from providing what students want, to providing what they need.

About our Guest
Megan Hartless accidentally began her career in financial aid in 2003 as a graduate assistant doing Federal Work Study at Virginia Commonwealth University while pursuing her MFA in Theatre Pedagogy. After graduating in 2006, she continued her gluttony for punishment and decided to pursue a long-term career in financial aid. She worked in the financial aid office at Mary Baldwin College (now University) for eight years, ending her tenure there as Associate Director in 2014. She has also taught Public Speaking and Communications courses at VCU, John Tyler Community College, and Blue Ridge Community College. She presently serves as the Coordinator of Financial Aid at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia.