"After the bungled launch of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid last year, officials at the U.S. Education Department knew they had to do things differently for the next financial aid cycle," Inside Higher Ed reports.

... "Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said that lack of transparency was financial aid professionals’ biggest gripe with the department during the 2023–24 cycle."

"'It’s one thing to run into unexpected challenges; it’s another to not tell anyone about it,' she said."

... "Over the past few months, McCarthy said, the department has worked hard to restore the community’s trust in FSA. She and many other institutional and organizational partners were pleasantly surprised at the steady stream of communication about issues with the 2024–25 form, even small ones, during this fall’s testing period."

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: 1/30/2025