CASFAA’s History

In September 1971, an Ad Hoc committee met at the Huntington Hotel in Pasadena to study the desirability and feasibility of organizing the California State Financial Aid Officers Association. Members of the committee were Robert Huff of Stanford University, Gene Miller of Pasadena City College, Frank Schneider of the University of Santa Clara, and Donald Ryan of San Jose State University. The group recommended that an organizational meeting be called at the annual Western Association of Student Financial Aid Officers Conference to be held in San Diego in January 1972.

Robert Huff

Stanford University

Gene Miller

Pasadena City College

Frank Schneider

University of Santa Clara

Donald Ryan

San Jose State University

On Saturday, January 8, 1972, the meeting was held in the Toledo Room of the Sheraton Inn, San Diego. During the session, Sumner Gambee of the California State Universities and Colleges agreed to serve as chairman of the nominating committee to recommend a slate of officers for the proposed association. Robert Huff of Stanford University agreed to chair a committee to develop the constitution.

The newly elected officers of the Association held their first organizational meeting at Stanford University on June 9, 1972. As a result of the initial call for affiliation, 177 financial aid administrators in the state of California became charter members of the Association. Committee chairs were chosen, and it was decided that the first annual conference of the full membership of the organization should be held in Monterey on November 19–21, 1972. Don Ryan of San Jose State University was appointed to serve as the first conference chairman. A total of 170 members registered for the first annual conference, which was held at the Monterey Holiday Inn. Since the initial conference was called a “retreat,” rather than a formal meeting, an official business meeting was not held as part of the event.

In September 1997, a CASFAA Long-Range Strategic Planning Retreat was held in San Diego. The purpose of the retreat was to discuss ideas and make recommendations about the future direction of the Association. This included defining and refining CASFAA’s activities and organizational management. Participants examined the standing committee structure and recommended a possible realignment of activities under four main categories: (1) Training; (2) Legislative Advocacy; (3) Membership/Communication; and (4) Association Governance.

Consideration was also given to shifting from the existing standing committee structure to a project-based format. The goal was to encourage broader member involvement, allowing volunteers to contribute to specific projects without requiring a year-long commitment. Under this model, project directors would oversee initiatives throughout the year, supported by project coordinators. As a result of this retreat, CASFAA's organizational structure was re-aligned on a trial basis in 1998 using the project-based approach — a structure that continues to this day.