What's your Why?
Why
The Purpose
We believe that by automating financial aid processes in Banner, we can reduce administrative burdens, allowing for a faster, more personalized experience for students. Focusing on using automation will allow students to focus on their education, and not worry about financial delays or issues.
How
The Process
We will implement automation tools in Banner to streamline repetitive tasks, improve data accuracy, and reduce manual data entry errors which can help process financial aid in a timely manner.
What
The Result
This solution allows staff to have reduced workloads and a better work environment, focusing on student support to ensure that students have a smoother financial aid experience.
Reflecting on the Why statement, we believe that each student should have a smooth experience when applying for financial aid. This resonates on a personal level with both staff and students by committing to their success in higher education. When it comes to staff, it focuses on the value of time and effort, pushing through the challenges they face with the current processes. For students, our dedication to removing these barriers can allow students to receive federal aid in a timely manner.
On focusing on the Why, we can convey the need for change. Current manual processes in Banner have caused delays, frustrations, and errors for both staff and students. This sense of urgency is intensified in higher education where other institutions are striving to offer better support systems. It’s not about improving the automation in Banner, but a necessary progress to meet the student needs.
This statement speaks to the heart by addressing the values and needs of the stakeholders involved. Students want to focus on their education without having to stress about delays on their federal aid while staff need the essential tools to effectively do their roles well. By positioning our innovation plan with these values, we can create a deeper connection and create a path for change. Connecting on an emotional level can help overcome resistance and see the benefits of automation in the workplace (Kotter, 2011).
Highlighting our Why brings attention to our institution to reflect on the current manual processes and create an environment that brings change to our staff and students. It reduces complacency by showing the reason for the change, making the need for automation in Banner not just a necessity but a step forward towards a more efficient financial aid system (Kotter, 2013).
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