"Simplifying the aid process has been a central plank of President Obama's aggressive agenda to increase college going and completion, and on Wednesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan will lay out the administration's plan for doing so in his first appearance before the White House press corps," Inside Higher Ed reports. "A preview of the plan shared with reporters Tuesday suggests that the administration will (as it seems to be doing on many fronts these days) take a moderate path, undertaking significant but not revolutionary changes, and doing so in stages. Under the proposal, the Education Department would make some changes in the next six months, using better technology on the popular Web-based form to allow independent students to skip over a set of questions about their parents' finances that don't apply to them, for instance, and, come January, letting students from low-income families skirt questions about their financial assets, which don't affect the aid available for such students."

You can read the complete June 24, 2009 Inside Higher Ed article on-line.

Additional Media Coverage

Form for student loans will become shorter CNN

Education Dept. Plan Would Make It Easier to Apply for Student Aid The Chronicle of Higher Education

New plans will free up the 'Free Application' for student aid USA Today

Government to Simplify Online Application for College Loans The Wall Street Journal

Easing a College Financial Aid Headache The New York Times

Streamlined Process for Federal Student Aid The Washington Post

Posting of "Financial Aid in the News" does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. If you attempt to access an article and receive a "not found" message, it is likely that the article has been removed from the site. Posted 06/24/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.