By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
2023 was another big year of changes for the financial aid community, with the implementation of FAFSA simplification fully underway. As aid offices wait in limbo for the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA by December 31, many financial aid professionals have unanswered questions and concerns. Beyond FAFSA simplification, other big news rocked the financial aid community. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s student debt relief plan, which would have canceled up to $20,000 in student debt for eligible borrowers, and ruled that race can not be considered in college and university admissions. There were also other changes in the financial aid world, including negotiated rulemaking for student debt relief, and final rules on a new income-driven repayment plan, gainful employment, and more. Here are the top 10 articles NASFAA readers consumed in 2023:
FSA Announces Date Range, Road Map for 2024-25 FAFSA Launch
March 21, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Tuesday released a road map outlining delivery dates for 2024-25 FAFSA resources and confirmed that the new FAFSA will be released sometime in December this year.
SCOTUS Blocks Biden’s Student Loan Debt Cancellation Program
June 30, 2023 - The United States Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of a challenge to President Joe Biden’s student loan debt cancellation program, halting the administration from carrying out its executive action that would cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for eligible borrowers.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Conscious Admissions Policies
June 29, 2023 - The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on Thursday ruled that race can not be considered in college and university admissions, striking down more than 40 years of precedent in a move that will also impact how some postsecondary student financial aid is awarded.
Biden Outlines Next Steps for Student Debt Cancellation and Repayment Plans
June 30, 2023 - Despite a fatal blow from the United States Supreme Court, President Joe Biden doubled down on his efforts to carry out his student loan debt cancellation program on Friday and announced that the Department of Education (ED) would instead pursue implementing the plan through the negotiated rulemaking process.
Biden to End Pandemic’s Emergency Declaration on May 11. Here’s What It Means for Financial Aid
February 1, 2023 - President Joe Biden on Monday announced that the White House will end the ongoing national emergency declarations tied to the coronavirus pandemic on May 11. The administration has used the authority granted by the emergency powers as justification for a number of higher education initiatives — including its student debt cancellation program — and other regulatory flexibilities related to federal student aid programs.
ED Releases 2024-25 Draft FAFSA for Public Comment
March 24, 2023 - On Thursday the Department of Education (ED) released its first draft of the 2024-25 FAFSA as well as the Incarcerated Applicant Form, for use by students enrolled in Prison Education Programs, and draft output documents. This year’s preview is especially noteworthy because of the significant changes to the application process as a result of the FUTURE Act and the FAFSA Simplification Act.
April 12, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) in a letter to college presidents, chancellors, and chief executive officers is reminding institutions of higher education about the significant overhauls set to impact the financial aid system in the upcoming academic year, and urging institutional leaders to be prepared for potential impacts the changes may bring.
FSA Outlines 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification Changes in New Dear Colleague Letter
August 4, 2023 - The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Friday released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) outlining multiple changes in the 2024-25 award year due to FAFSA simplification, such as implementation of the Student Aid Index (SAI), and calculation of the federal Pell Grant, among other changes.
FSA Announces 2024-25 FAFSA Will Go Live By December 31, ISIR Delivery Delayed
November 15, 2023 - Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Wednesday announced that the 2024-25 FAFSA will go live by December 31, 2023, meeting the statutory requirement that the form must be available by January 1.
Deep Dive: ED Issues FAFSA Simplification Implementation Guidance for 2024-25 Award Year
August 9, 2023 - On Friday, the Department of Education (ED) released implementation guidance and an updated FAQ document for the FAFSA simplification provisions that become effective in the 2024-25 award year.
Publication Date: 12/4/2023
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