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The Department of Education (ED) announced Friday it is making headway on its payment vehicle it teased at an FSA Training Conference in 2017, launching a pilot program to allow students at four previously selected universities — Jackson State University, Purdue University, the University of California-Riverside, and the University of Georgia — to receive their financial aid refunds on a prepaid card linked to the myStudentAid mobile app. ED in October 2018 published a solicitation for companies to develop the pilot, but the implementation was delayed several times due to privacy concerns, questions about fees associated with using the card, and fear over the government dictating how students use their financial aid dollars. ED wrote Friday students will be refunded or not charged for transaction fees, and will be able to manage up to $8,000 in funds from financial aid refunds, direct deposits from a job, and paper checks electronically deposited into their accounts. ED also noted it chose the companies Fiserv and Metabank to manage the initial rollout of the payment vehicle, and more schools will be added to the program throughout 2020. More information about the pilot program can be found online.

These students have been fully admitted as graduate students; their enrollment is not conditional based on prerequisite coursework. Therefore, these students are not eligible for the preparatory coursework loan limit. Your dilemma is that your institution has already admitted these students as regular, degree seeking students. A regular student is someone who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible institution for the purpose of obtaining a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential offered by the school. View the full answer to this question to learn more and search for answers to your other pressing regulatory and compliance questions, in NASFAA's AskRegs Knowledgebase.

Registered attendees have the option to attend one of three pre-conference sessions at NASFAA 2020, our annual national conference, in Las Vegas this June at no additional cost. Looking to focus on professional development? Take either the Professional Judgment or Consumer Information NASFAA U course before the conference. Or, attend a session on diversity and inclusion with guest speakers Benjamin Kennedy and Rebecca Fowler, who will give an overview of gender identities and issues, research supporting the importance of this critical work, and specific strategies for working with transgender students. Check out the Pre-Conference Sessions page for more information, including how to indicate your attendance preference. If you haven't registered for the conference yet, register now.

Take advantage of the waived $50 application fee by submitting your Certified Financial Aid Administrators® (CFAA) application on or before June 30, 2020. After your application is reviewed and approved, you will have one year to sit for the CFAA Exam, so don't wait to apply! Prior to applying, check your eligibility using the free CFAA Interactive Tool. If you're eligible, you will need to have your up-to-date resume available, which is a required part of the CFAA application. Begin your journey toward certification today!

In celebration of #NationalWomensHistoryMonth this March, NASFAA is looking back at the amazing women who have contributed to the association, the field of financial aid, and students across the country. Be on the lookout all month as we highlight women who are continuing to fight for more access and affordability in higher education, and by doing so are changing students’ lives forever. Let us know how your office is honoring women this month by tagging us on social media!

The Department of Education continues to take steps to ensure the confidentiality, security, and integrity of student and parent information related to the federal student aid programs.

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