Automated and Audit-Ready with PowerFAIDS – PowerFAIDS

Institution

Kirtland Community College

Location

Grayling, Michigan

Enrollment

1,900

Learn More

www.kirtland.edu

At other institutions, automating the packaging process meant constant reliance on IT staff and complex SQL programming. Before PowerFAIDS, Kirtland's team packaged awards manually, a process that took nearly two weeks to complete. "With PowerFAIDS, we can set up selection sets and PIT rules, allowing us to move through the packaging process in hours instead of days."

R2T4 and Small Offices

Transforming R2T4

The Return to Title IV (R2T4) process has also transformed the office's workflow. Setting up the process at the start of the year gives the team confidence that calculations are accurate and compliant, replacing a manual process that once required working in COD, printing forms, and completing returns by hand. Since implementing PowerFAIDS, Kirtland processes nearly 200 R2T4 annually and has had no audit findings — notable given that it's one of the U.S. Department of Education's most common compliance findings each year.

Built for Small Offices

PowerFAIDS' intuitive design makes a real difference for a small office like Kirtland's. Batch processing and communication scheduling are especially valuable: staff can send all student communications at once or schedule them in advance, so critical processes continue seamlessly even when a staff member is out.

"Since using PowerFAIDS, we've had no audit findings related to financial aid administration. That level of reliability gives us peace of mind and allows us to approach each audit cycle with confidence."

Director of Financial Aid

Real-Time Visibility

Customizable views and alerts make it easy for the team to monitor student progress and pending requirements in real time. That visibility helps the office stay proactive rather than reactive, shifting more time toward student support and away from manual tracking.

Confidence in Compliance

PowerFAIDS' built-in federal and state regulatory checks help ensure Kirtland meets requirements for awarding, disbursement, and reconciliation. The system's audit trail and reporting functions make decisions easy to document and verify — critical during audits and program reviews.

Robust Reporting

Robust reporting tools also let staff pull data quickly for internal tracking, board reports, and state submissions, reducing errors and supporting faster, data-informed decisions.

Supporting the Student Experience

PowerFAIDS has made the financial aid process faster, clearer, and more transparent for Kirtland students. Award notifications now arrive much sooner, and automated communication tools ensure reminders and updates go out on schedule.

Less Waiting, More Support

Because the system reduces manual work, students spend less time waiting for updates and more time focused on enrollment and academic success. Combined with document submission tools and automated notifications, students feel more supported and informed throughout the process.

A Strategic Advantage

Automation frees Kirtland's team from hours of manual data entry and award adjustments, giving staff more time for one-on-one counseling and meaningful student interactions. Ongoing support and innovation — including user community resources and continuous updates that reflect regulatory changes — help keep the office compliant, efficient, and student-centered.

About Kirtland Community College

Kirtland Community College, located in Grayling, Michigan, is the largest community college district in the state geographically, serving students across nine counties in northern Michigan. Founded in 1966, Kirtland offers dozens of degree and certificate programs — including transfer associate degrees — across arts and sciences, business, industrial trades, and health sciences. With campuses in Grayling and Gaylord, Kirtland provides personalized attention in a small-college setting while helping students build pathways to further education and career success.

About PowerFAIDS

PowerFAIDS is a comprehensive, customizable software solution that automates the financial aid process. It allows institutions to efficiently and equitably administer aid, eliminating hours of paperwork and allowing for more student interaction. It gives schools the information and tools they need for smarter, faster service while making sure they are in compliance with the latest federal requirements. The easy-to-use software allows professionals to manage the full range of institutional aid programs. PowerFAIDS offers unlimited industry-leading support comprised of former financial aid practitioners who understand the work of aid offices.