"For the first time in its 20-year history, the federal government's Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance is going to be led by a representative of a student-loan company," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. "Members of the committee, which describes itself as 'an independent source of advice and counsel to Congress and the secretary of education on student financial-aid policy,' today elected Scott A. Giles of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation as their new chairman for the coming year. His term begins Wednesday. Mr. Giles serves as vice president for policy, research, and planning at Vermont Student Assistance, a nonprofit student-loan provider. Allison G. Jones, assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs in the California State University system, was elected vice chairman. Both were elected without debate and without dissent in a brief meeting of the advisory committee held by conference call."