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This week on “Off The Cuff,” Justin is joined by Scott Buchanan, Student Loan Servicing Alliance’s (SLSA) executive director, to discuss the somewhat contentious environment facing the student loan servicing industry as well as its role within the highly complicated world of higher education financing. The conversation is a deep dive about where student loan servicing stands today, how the Department of Education (ED) is handling the communication efforts surrounding the payment pause, what the eventual resumption of repayments looks like, critiques of the servicing industry, and much more. Hugh then provides a news recap including Congress’ work on a massive omnibus bill and its implications for higher education, how the administration is highlighting the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, and hints that the administration might be considering another extension of the student loan moratorium.

More borrowers have been granted loan forgiveness through the temporarily expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, with the Department of Education (ED) announcing Wednesday that more than 100,000 borrowers have been identified as qualifying for roughly $6.2 billion in student loan forgiveness. The tally is continuing to grow, as ED in January said the count was 70,000 borrowers totalling more than $5 billion in debt relief. "The PSLF announcement made today means more of our dedicated teachers, nurses, first responders, servicemembers, and many other public service workers will get meaningful relief,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. 

The most recent certification testing window has closed and the registry continues to grow! The Certified Financial Aid Administrator^® Commission — an independent certifying body of NASFAA — has now certified a total of 305 financial aid professionals across the country who have earned the FAAC^® designation. These individuals now qualify to attend the FAAC^® Forum, among other benefits. If you're interested in becoming certified, verify your eligibility using our free, interactive tool. The next testing window opens on April 6, 2022.

NASFAA is seeking a highly motivated, self-starter to join its team as a part-time Administrative Assistant to provide basic administrative support for the national office and more specifically to the Director of Strategy, Planning, and Administration, President & CEO, and Executive Vice President. The successful candidate will understand and be comfortable working in a mission-driven organization where individual and departmental goals must align with strategic priorities; have demonstrated their ability to work successfully in a team-based environment where "the whole" is more important than any one individual; and be comfortable with team-based accountability, departmental reporting and paying attention to results. Interested applicants should apply online by Monday, March 14, 2022, for full consideration.

Please join us in congratulating Angelene Patton, formerly the assistant director of special populations at Michigan State University, who is now the associate director of compliance and training at Western Michigan University; Nancy Garcia, who was promoted from lead compliance officer to assistant director of compliance and training at University of California, Los Angeles; Robert Clarke, formerly the associate director of student financial services at Washington State University, who is now the senior director of financial aid at the University of Texas at Dallas; and Lisa Hoskey, who is now the senior director of financial aid at the University of Virginia School of Law. Celebrate your own career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form to share the news with your colleagues.

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