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At Edfinancial, getting your students to the finish line is what matters most. Whether it’s answering questions about enrollment, explaining financial aid processes or preventing student loan default, we can help your students succeed. Find out how we do it by visiting us at www.edfinancial.com/HES/Casestudies

This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin, Megan, Stephen, and Allie discuss the details of a potential deal to preserve DACA into law. Democratic leaders claim they struck a deal with President Donald Trump, but the White House is disputing the claims. While it's unclear whether an official deal was agreed to, it appears lawmakers are working to make some sort of compromise for Dreamers. Justin also shares details from a conversation with FSA Chief Operating Officer Wayne Johnson, who met with NASFAA's National Chairs this week. The group discussed compliance issues, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, potential error codes with the next FAFSA cycle, and whether the Perkins Loan program will make a comeback. Plus, Stephen tells the group about two lawmakers who will make a musical performance on the Virginia-Tennessee line this weekend.

The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, or ACICS, an accreditor terminated by the Obama administration last December, is applying for recognition, the organization’s new president announced Thursday.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2017 in the Senate on Thursday. The bill, identical to the extension bill introduced in the House in May, would extend the Perkins Loan Program for an additional two years. Graduate and professional students would have Perkins eligibility restored for only the first of those two years. Without congressional action, the program will expire on Sept. 30, but momentum for an extension is growing in Congress. The House extension bill has accrued 160 bipartisan co-sponsors. Stay tuned to Today's News for continued updates on the program and extension efforts.

NASFAA is accepting volunteers for the 2018 National Conference Local Arrangements Task Force, one of two task forces that assist in planning of the 2018 NASFAA National Conference. Duties include of soliciting volunteers for the registration and information desk; overseeing the on-site information desk; providing local information for posting to the NASFAA website and inclusion in Today’s News; and assisting with performers as needed. View the task force charter and volunteer today. 

As crazy busy as the new academic year is, consider taking a few minutes to help your office work smarter, not longer, by reviewing the Recommended Good Practices within the Compliance Engine. With space for comments, this unique section is not quite a checklist, designed to provide ideas and strategies that may help your staff work efficiently, and help keep in compliance. Check it out today in the NASFAA Compliance Engine.

The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is taking numerous steps in response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irma, which is a federally declared major disaster (disaster) as defined in The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)).

On June 16, 2017, the Department of Education (the Department) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to revise the gainful employment regulations published on October 31, 2014. The Department anticipates scheduling the negotiated rulemaking sessions beginning in November or December 2017. There have been no changes to the regulations since the October 31, 2014 regulatory approval.

The Department is requesting an extension without change of burden to the currently approved information collection as any new regulations will not be finalized before the expiration of this current package. There have been no changes to the regulations since the initial collection approval.

The Department is requesting an extension without change of burden to the currently approved information collection as any new regulations will not be available before the expiration of this current package. There have been no changes to the regulations since the initial approval of the information collection on November 3, 2014.

"Only 34 percent of colleges met new student enrollment targets this year by May 1, the traditional date by which most institutions hope to have a class set," Inside Higher Ed reports. "That is a key finding of the 2017 Survey of College and University Admissions Directors, released [Wednesday] by Inside Higher Ed, in collaboration with Gallup."

"More than one-quarter of Americans hold a nondegree credential, such as a certificate or an occupational license or certification, according to new data from the federal government. And 21 percent have completed a work experience program such as an internship, residency or apprenticeship," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"As the staggering national student loan debt tally sits at an all-time high of $1.33 trillion, according to the Department of Education, many Millennials say they would go to extreme lengths to wipe their slate clean," Fox Business reports.

"Students lose nearly half of the college credits they earn transferring from one school to another, placing them at risk of exhausting federal grants and loans to repeat courses, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office Wednesday," The Washington Post reports.

"If a company trying to collect on a student loan makes harassing calls or tries to steer students into more expensive repayment plans, who can investigate?" MassLive.com writes.

"California community college students could get a year of free tuition under a bill sent to the governor on Wednesday," The Sacramento Bee reports.

"Unless you're a student at Purdue University or a higher education policy wonk, you may not have heard of a new way to pay for at least some of your college expenses: the income share agreement, or ISA," Credible reports.

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