Brought to you by:

Great Lakes. It’s about time. Time for a change… to save you time. From financial literacy tools with loan counseling and selection through streamlined loan application, certification, and disbursement, our one-stop shop makes private loan processing fast, easy, and effective for you and your students. Contact your representative or visit schools.mygreatlakes.org

Obstacles that prevent individuals from getting into and through college aren’t just problems for students – they cause a drag on the nation’s economy, too, according to a new White House report.

In recent updates to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Program Integrity Q&A website, ED made mid-year changes to the verification documentation requirements for IRS victims of identity theft and amended tax return filers. These changes became effective for verifications completed on or after July 7, 2015, for the 2015–16 award year, and carry forward to the 2016–17 award year.

Did you know that some of NASFAA’s most popular tools, resources, and programs are never more than a click away, anywhere on the updated NASFAA.org? Each page includes a link to the Student Aid Index (look for the orange button with the X), AskRegs (green button with a hand image) and NASFAA University (blue button with the NASFAA U icon) so you can get to these key items quickly and easily, wherever your journey on the site takes you. Stay tuned for additional tips, tricks, and info on how the updated NASFAA.org can better serve you.

NASFAA extends a hearty thank you to all of our sponsors who have stepped up to help NASFAA deliver a great conference filled with financial aid training, networking, and professional development opportunities. In particular, we'd like to recognize our Gold level sponsors – Great Lakes, Cegment (formerly Student Aid Services), and Campus Logic - for their financial support and on-site participation, which help to make our conference more valuable for attendees. Please visit the exhibit hall to speak directly with our sponsors and learn how their products and services can help you achieve your goals.

This announcement informs Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program lenders and lender servicers of new HEAL Program interest rates.

This announcement provides important information about the reallocation process, the availability of the 2014-2015 Reallocation Form and the action schools need to take to request supplemental funds for 2015-2016. 

The Department is alerting all schools that it identified and resolved a transmission issue between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Central Processing System (CPS) on Monday, July 13, 2015. 

"The total number of colleges that U.S. Department of Education regulators are more closely monitoring because of concerns about their ability to handle federal funds ticked downward slightly last month, recently released data show," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"The large for-profit college chain isn't dead. ... Yes, Corinthian Colleges hit bust. Yes, ITT Education Services is facing serious scrutiny from state and federal agencies that may yet shut down the chain. Yes, the new federal gainful employment rule will have an effect on the sector. And certainly enrollment numbers at many for-profit institutions are dropping. But the industry's heralded doom is an exaggeration," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"The for-profit college sector’s primary trade group is being buffeted by some of the same challenges its industry faces," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"Coder Bootcamps. Accelerated Learning Programs. New Economy Skills Training. Whatever you call them, these new players in higher education are multiplying. The intensive programs say they can teach job-ready skills in technology, design and related fields. In record time," according to NPR.

"Congress is unlikely to provide new funding for the 30 year old Perkins Loan program for those with 'exceptional financial need,'" Freddy Rodriguez writes in a Forbes opinion piece.

"College is expensive, and it’s especially shocking to some parents and students when they start the financing process to learn that one form — the FAFSA — may largely determine their financial fate when it comes to federal student aid," according to Credit.com's blog.

VIEW NEXT ISSUE

Contact us to submit questions, content or to purchase advertisements.