President Obama submitted a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2010 that provides that all Stafford and PLUS loans for the 2010-11 and subsequent award years will be originated under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. To ensure its readiness to serve all schools under the President's proposal, Federal Student Aid (FSA) is taking steps now to prepare schools for the transition from the Federal Family Education Loan Program to the Direct Loan Program.

Several Direct Loan training opportunities are currently available for schools and the Federal Student Aid staff is evaluating course offerings to meet schools' needs. In an effort to better assist the Graduate and Professional School sector, the Department is seeking input specifically about training needs for Graduate and Professional schools. In addition, it seeks feedback from Graduate and Professional schools that may have recently transitioned to the Direct Loan Program and who can offer some lessons learned and best practices about the transition process.

NASFAA's Graduate/Professional Issues Committee has been provided a specific point of contact at Federal Student Aid to hear our input. If you represent a Graduate or Professional school and have comments about training needs or can provide feedback about the transition process, you can reach our Federal Student Aid contact, Barbara Davis, via e-mail at Barbara.davis@ed.gov. Please copy NASFAA on these communications so that we can continue to be engaged in these issues.

Posted 08/11/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.