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Publication Outline

Topic of the Article

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This article will focus on implementing automation in the Banner Financial Aid system to increase higher education institutions' accuracy, efficiency, and staff satisfaction.  The benefits of automation include automating repetitive processes, such as financial aid packaging, disbursements, and compliance verification.  It will also discuss the challenges and setbacks faced during implementation and offer strategies to overcome them.

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Automation has been recognized as a solution to streamline administrative processes and improve data accuracy (Bailey et atl., 2015).  With the increasing demand for efficiency in higher education, institutions must embrace automation to reduce errors and improve service delivery (Ginther & Roberts, 2022).

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Where to Submit with Guidelines

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  • EDUCAUSE Review

  • ​Focus: Technology in higher education, covering IT, digital transformation, and innovative practices.

  • Submission Guidelines:

    • 1,000–3,500 words.

    • Requires Chicago Manual of Style for notes/citations style.

    • Articles should provide practical insights and real-world applications.

    • EDUCAUSE Submission Guidelines

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  • The Journal of Student Financial Aid (JSFA)

    • Focus: Peer-reviewed journal specializing in financial aid policies, practices, and innovations.

    • Submission Guidelines:

      • 3,000–5,000 words.

      • Peer-reviewed with a double-blind review process.

      • APA 7th edition formatting is required.

      • JSFA Submission Guidelines

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  • eCampus News

  • Focus: Online publication covering trends and practices in higher education technology.

  • Submission Guidelines:

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​Connection to Innovation Plan or Initiative

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This article aligns with my innovation plan to implement automation in Banner for financial aid staff. This will focus on the reasoning behind the initiative, emphasizing the need to minimize manual processes, reduce errors, and improve staff productivity.

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In showing how automation reduces processes, the article will demonstrate how financial aid staff can put more time into student services.  Research has shown that automation can increase processing speed and improve staff satisfaction by reducing workload (Niico AI, 2023).

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How Transformation Can Help Others

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This article will offer strategies and insights for financial aid professionals and higher education staff considering automation in their departments.  Key points include:

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  • Efficiency Gains: Demonstrates how automating tasks can significantly minimize processing time.

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  • Error Reduction: Demonstrates how automation can improve data accuracy by reducing human error. (Bailey et al., 2015).

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  • Staff Empowerment: Staff can focus on projects and student services rather than manual data entry.

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These key points will help other institutions to adopt best practices and avoid common issues when implementing financial aid automation.

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Lessons Learned or Hoped to Learn

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Lessons Learned:

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  • Automation significantly reduces processing time, improving operational efficiency.

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  • Financial aid staff adoption and training are beneficial to the success of automation initiatives.

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  • Collaborating with IT teams to ensure smooth implementation and troubleshooting.

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Hoped to Learn:

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  • The long-term impact of automation on staff satisfaction and student service quality.

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  • Best practices in pushing automation beyond financial aid and to other departments within the institution.

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  • Measuring the effectiveness of automation in terms of accuracy, processing time, and staff workload.

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Digital Resources to Include

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Case studies and reports:

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  • Research studies on the impact of automation in higher education show successes in efficiency and accuracy (Bailey et al. 2015).

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  • Reports from EDUCAUSE or NACUBO on technology trends in financial aid.

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Flowcharts or Screenshots:

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  • Visual representations of automated processes, such as financial aid packaging and verification workflows, to show before and after scenarios.

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Links to Tools and Technologies:

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  • References to financial aid automation platforms or Banner resources.

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  • Links to EDUCAUSE and NACUBO publications on financial aid automation trends.

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Audience, Digital Presence, and Message

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Audience:

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  • Higher education financial aid administrators

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  • IT leaders and team members in higher education.

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  • Institutional decision-makers exploring process automation.

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Digital Presence:

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  • This article will influence LinkedIn and professional networks for exposure and engagement with financial aid professionals.

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  • This article will be included in my portfolio, showing the innovation plan and its real-world application.

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Message: 

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  • The main message is that automation is a transformative tool that reduces administrative burden, promotes data accuracy, and allows financial aid staff to focus on student-centered services.

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  • The article will focus on the importance of implementation and ongoing support to maximize the benefits of automation.

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References

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Bailey, T. R., Jaggars, S. S., & Jenkins, D. (2015). Redesigning America's community colleges: A clearer path to student success. Harvard University Press.

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Ginther, Donna K., & Roberts, Roy A. (2022). The impact of automation on the future of work and higher education. https://journals.ku.edu/merrill/article/download/19578/17505/51282

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Niico AI. (2023). How intelligent automation can transform student experience in higher education. Niico AI. https://niico.ai/how-intelligent-automation-can-transform-student-experience-in-higher-education/

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