"The Department of Education is temporarily changing its federal student aid verification process to focus only on identity theft and fraud for the 2021-22 application cycle. The change is intended to help alleviate challenges students face in accessing financial aid and boost enrollment numbers for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds," Inside Higher Ed reports. 

..."In a statement, Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, noted that the verification process impacts the same population of students who have also been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, underscoring the necessity of the temporary change.

'This singular act from the Department of Education provides sweeping relief to students and schools when they need it most, and will fast-track financial aid dollars to students who are otherwise mired in bureaucratic red tape,' Draeger said."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 7/14/2021