Financial aid practices identified as warranting improved and/or more consistent administration on the institutional level are examined. The following areas were selected for study because of their emergence as sources of conflicting or inefficient management practices from institution to institution: the role of the financial aid office in the institutional hierarchy, development and dissemination of student information sources, financial aid counseling for special student populations, and approaches and practice to financial aid packaging. Topics include the following: organizational considerations, perceptions of the financial aid office, compliance with government regulations, improving the position of the aid office, a model of a student financial information publication, techniques used to identify students in special populations (minority groups, women, veterans, and handicapped students), counseling students on special aid programs, and pre-packaging considerations. The following financial aid manuals are examined: NACUBO Manual, NATTS Manual, and NASFAA Manual. An attempt is made to gauge the utility of the manuals for financial aid offices. (SW)