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GradBridge. Our second-look private student loans give students who were previously denied by another lender access to a new path to financing. Through expanded credit criteria, we help more students and families bridge the gap between college costs and available aid so they can stay enrolled and continue toward graduation. Learn more about GradBridge.

This week on "Off The Cuff," Melanie is joined by Nalia to preview the 2026 midterm elections and what that could mean for student aid policy just a few days before Election Day. First, the team details how the makeup of Congress could change with the midterm elections, including House and Senate education leadership.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) began phase 2 of registration for its in-person training conference on December 14-16. Under phase 2, registration to attend the FSA Training Conference is open to institutions that may have missed phase 1 registration, along with state agencies, third‑party servicers, software vendors, community‑based organizations, associations and advocacy organizations, and other FSA partner groups. Additionally, under phase 2, institutions are able to register additional representatives, since there is no longer a three-person cap. This registration phase will remain open until December 9, or until capacity is reached, whichever comes first, FSA noted.

Get the recognition you deserve by earning the FAAC® designation. If your application has already been approved, purchase the Certified Financial Aid Administrator® Knowledge Exam. Schedule your session online until the 21st of this month, or any of the upcoming testing windows. If you haven’t applied yet, take advantage of the waived application fee and complete your application online right away. Learn more about the testing process and make sure you meet all of the technical requirements. Utilize candidate resources to review for the exam.

Please join us in congratulating Alison Cagle and Reed Allison on their new jobs. Celebrate your own career developments by completing the "Movers and Shakers" form to share the news with your colleagues.

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