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Attigo® by Ascendium®. Viva student success! We're going to miss seeing you at NASFAA this year. To minimize the loss, visit our virtual exhibit booth to reap the benefits of a conference experience. You'll have an opportunity for professional development, learn more about our nationally recognized default management support, online student success curriculum and student debt letter, and do some networking. Learn more at attigo.com/viva.

With less than 100 days until the end of the current fiscal year, the annual appropriations process has yet to begin in earnest. The legislative calendar is already narrowing with the upcoming August recess and full swing of the presidential campaign rapidly approaching, making the prospect of wrapping up federal spending negotiations related to the Department of Education (ED) and higher education programs by the start of the next fiscal year a herculean effort.

Borrowers facing distress from their student loan debt are disproportionately concentrated in majority-Black and majority-Latino neighborhoods, according to a new report from the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC). The report, titled “Disparate Debts: How Student Loans Drive Racial Inequality Across American Cities,” analyzed data previously collected by regional Federal Reserve Banks from borrowers in Philadelphia, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. to determine how they are handling their student loan debt.

This AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A was updated on June 29, 2020 to clarify that, even under the Return to Title IV (R2T4) waiver, the school cannot disburse Title IV aid for which the student was not eligible at the time of withdrawal or disbursement. View the full answer to this question to learn more and search for answers to your other pressing regulatory and compliance questions, in NASFAA's AskRegs Knowledgebase.

This AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A was updated on June 29, 2020 to clarify that, even under the R2T4 waiver, the school cannot disburse Title IV aid for which the student was not eligible at the time of withdrawal or disbursement. View the full answer to this question to learn more and search for answers to your other pressing regulatory and compliance questions, in NASFAA's AskRegs Knowledgebase.

This AskRegs Knowledgebase Q&A was updated on June 29, 2020 to include U.S. Department of Education (ED) guidance NASFAA has received via a member school. View the full answer to this question to learn more and search for answers to your other pressing regulatory and compliance questions, in NASFAA's AskRegs Knowledgebase.

NASFAA seeks to provide exceptional professional support and development to build an engaged and diverse community through accurate information sharing. As a membership association, NASFAA relies on the dues of its members to support its training initiatives, research and advocacy efforts, and myriad other projects. If you have not yet submitted your payment, you may pay online at this time to ensure everyone at your institution/organization will receive continued access to NASFAA's many tools and resources. Please direct questions to [email protected] or (202) 785-0453 ext. 1. Thank you for supporting NASFAA.

It may be difficult to know where to begin as a new financial aid leader. Pam Lowrey, director of financial aid at Gateway Technical College, received executive coaching from Blue Icon Advisors as a first-time financial aid director. The coach conducted interviews and a staff survey to learn about the office and Lowrey’s leadership style. Working remotely with her coach, Lowrey "accomplished much, thanks to the assistance from Blue Icon." Contact Blue Icon to learn how a coach can help you effectively lead a financial aid office.

Today is the last day NASFAA’s Certified Financial Aid Administrator^® application fee is waived. Tomorrow, the $50 fee will go into effect. Apply now to take advantage of the savings. You will have an entire year from the date your application is approved to take the exam, so don’t wait to apply! Check your eligibility using our free Interactive Tool. Then grab your resume and apply online. Begin your journey towards certification today!

Brand new to the NASFAA U online course offerings, Fundamentals of Student Financial Aid is a four-week interactive online course beginning in just two weeks, on July 7. NASFAA U instructors will provide focused lessons on the fundamentals of financial aid including applying, financial aid concepts, categories and types of financial aid, the Title IV aid programs, other federal sources of student assistance, and comparing financial aid offers. This course is the perfect learning tool for new financial aid professionals, admissions or enrollment representatives, and high school counselors. Upon passing the course, you will receive a NASFAA U Certificate. Register today to reserve your seat.

As part of ongoing efforts to ensure that Federal Student Aid and the Department of Education (ED) provide the school community with resources to assist them in administering the Title IV programs on their campuses, the department has implemented a Title IV Institutional Survey. Through this survey, the department will assess the ease with which schools are able to conduct business with the department.

On June 23, 2020, ED published an Electronic Announcement that explains the sequester required changes to the Title IV federal student aid programs. The June 23, 2020 Electronic Announcement notes decreased origination fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans (for both parent and graduate student borrowers) with a first disbursement on or after Oct. 1, 2020 and before Oct. 1, 2021. In this announcement, the department reminds schools how the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System will process Direct Loans with the new origination fees and how to correct records if necessary.

Forward progress continues on the Next Gen FSA initiative and StudentAid.gov, ED’s single front door on the web for students, parents, and borrowers. On June 28, 2020, the department made additional updates to features designed to promote financial literacy and improve the information and self-service tools available to our customers. These updates continue to provide students, parents, and borrowers with clear, actionable information about the aid they have received and personalized guidance on the loan repayment process. This announcement summarizes updated features that are now available.

In response to grant monitors need for a better reporting mechanism for grantee budgets, the G5 team developed an electronic budget form for grantees to complete. This electronic form requires grantees to detail the budget categories from which they are expending funds for Department grant monitors to track more carefully the drawdowns and financial management systems of grantees. Although this form may be used by all grantees, at this time only grantees on cost reimbursement or route payment status will be required to use this form when reporting their budget, requesting funds, and accessing funds.

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