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As a reminder, institutions must submit their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Annual Performance Reports (APRs) to the Department of Education by 11:59 p.m. ET today, Friday May 6, 2022. The APR covers activities funded between Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021 and is in addition to requirements to publicly post HEERF quarterly reports. All annual reporting must be submitted through ED's data collection portal. Institutions that fail to submit an APR by the deadline will lose access to HEERF grant funds as a result of the institution’s noncompliance with its reporting requirements as specified by their HEERF Certification and Agreement or Supplemental Agreement. The Department is unable to grant or support extension requests for annual reporting.

This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's assistant vice president for government relations, to discuss the latest news surrounding the potential for broader student loan debt relief that the White House is actively examining, and the wide-ranging implications executive action could have on higher education financing. Karen also reminds listeners about an important May 6 deadline for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and provides some helpful guidance on the process. Hugh rounds things out by providing a recap of some of the week’s higher education news, with some concerning numbers on FAFSA renewals and a new report detailing how policymakers can go about promoting more equitable degree completions.

Please join us in congratulating Vicki Kucera, area director of financial aid services at Central Community College, Nebraska, who will retire in June after 41 years in the industry; Lisamarie Loguidice, who was promoted from financial aid coordinator to assistant director of financial aid training at New York University; Alexia-Renee Derkasch, who was promoted from senior counselor of global financial support to assistant director of international financial aid at New York University; Matthew Kirksey, FAAC®, formerly the associate director of financial aid at the University of Akron, who is now the director of financial aid and scholarships at Stark State College; Carey Jennings, formerly the financial aid counselor at Idaho State University, who is now an assistant director at Viterbo University; Jacquelyn Lesueur, formerly the assistant director of financial aid at Mississippi University for Women, who is now the associate director of financial aid at Mississippi State University; Chanay Banks, who was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid at American University; and Meaghan Curtis, who was promoted from financial aid counselor to assistant director of financial aid at American University. Celebrate your own career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form to share the news with your colleagues.

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