This article is the third in a series of six that delves into Title IV-related issues contained in the House Democrats' bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, the College Affordability Act (CAA), and focuses on proposed changes affecting campus-based aid programs. The CAA revises the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Federal Work-Study (FWS) program allocation formulas, phasing out the base guarantee and incorporating institutional accountability for enrolling Pell Grant-eligible students into the eligibility requirements to participate in those programs. It also creates a new Emergency Financial Aid Grant program, and resurrects the expired Perkins Loan program as the Federal Direct Perkins Loan Program.

While a more diverse population of students has been enrolling in higher education, this trend is likely to reverse if tuition costs — coupled with relatively low per-student funding from states — continue to rise, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at the Department of Education A. Wayne Johnson announced plans to resign and run for a seat in the Senate, according to The Wall Street Journal. Johnson called the student loan system “fundamentally broken,” the news outlet reported, and “plans a long-shot bid” for a seat in the Senate that will be vacant when Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) retires in December. Johnson said that he would run as a Republican and propose forgiving up to $50,000 for all borrowers with federal student loan debt, and creating a tax credit of up to $50,000 for borrowers who repaid their debt. Johnson was appointed as the chief operating officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid in 2017, but moved into a new position within the year focused on the "delivery of financial aid to millions of students and their families." Johnson first debuted ED’s overhaul of the student loan system, “Next Generation Financial Aid Services Environment,” in 2017.

The Certified Financial Aid Administrator™ (CFAA) Program Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — certified an additional 25 CFAAs this October. Since the launch of the program in June 2019, 100 financial aid professionals have earned this designation. You can join your peers on the CFAA Registry! Check to see if you are eligible to pursue certification using our free, interactive tool.

Join us Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. ET for the special, two-hour extended edition of the Verification 2020-21 webinar. You'll be provided an overview of 2020-21 verification requirements along with highlights of any new or changed data elements and documentation requirements. We will also review new Department of Education verification guidance provided over the past year, as well as some complicated cases that come up year after year. Join David Futrell, NASFAA Knowledgebase and AskRegs manager, as he leads you through the latest verification requirements. Register now.

As momentum continues to build toward a potential reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, NASFAA has convened the 2019-20 Rapid Response Network. The group of 24 includes eight never-before served committee members. The task force is charged with providing timely, relevant feedback and examples to inquiries related to proposed legislation, regulations, and initiatives. Members will engage in discussions with NASFAA policy staff to help inform potential recommendations and official policy positions. Read the full task force charter. 

Happy NASFAA Member Appreciation Day! Today marks 53 years since the founding of our organization, and to celebrate we ran a contest on social media this month to reward some of our members for all the amazing, hard work they do each day. To enter, members liked our Member Appreciation Day contest post on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tagged two financial aid professionals who inspire them. Congratulations to our three winners — Sarah Baumhoff of Kennesaw State University, Tony Tanking of Benedictine College, and Elena Ballesteros of Rio Salado College — who will each receive a pizza party for their office and a complimentary NASFAA U course or webinar of their choosing. Thank you to all of our members who entered the contest — we celebrate you today, and every day.

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