"For two years, ever since New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo began hitting up lenders and colleges for six- and seven-figure payments to settle accusations that they had violated state laws with their student loan practices, his critics have wondered what he planned to do with the millions of dollars he's collected," Inside Higher Ed reports. "Underpinning their questions has been skepticism -- especially as the months have turned to two years now -- about whether Cuomo would follow through on his promise to use the money (which, depending on how one counts, was at least $13.2 million) to help student loan borrowers. Last month, New York State's Department of State published a notice announcing the availability of "up $13 million" in "student empowerment grants" for a pair of projects. The two grants will be awarded to (1) create a "Web-based, live-operator staffed student loan center" to help students and parents choose the best loan options and minimize loan debt, and (2) produce a campaign of public service announcements about financing a college education, with an emphasis on avoiding loan debt."