Off The Cuff
Hosted by NASFAA staff, this podcast offers an unscripted view of hot financial aid and higher education-related topics. The hosts discuss what's happening inside the Beltway to give you an insider's perspective.
Have ideas or requests for what you'd like to have us cover in the coming months? Send your comments, questions, and suggestions using our podcast feedback form.
Featured Episodes with Special Guests
"Off The Cuff" is also available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Recent Episodes
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OTC AskRegs Experts: Unpacking Late Disbursements and Unofficial Withdrawals
April 18, 2025 - This week on "Off the Cuff," David and Maria discuss two topics associated with end-of-year issues, late disbursements and unofficial withdrawals. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: NASFAA's 2026-27 FAFSA Comments and Updated R2T4 Decision Trees
April 11, 2025 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Jill and Sarah discuss NASFAA's submitted comments on the upcoming 2026-27 FAFSA and an updated resource, NASFAA's R2T4 decision trees. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: All Things New - Executive Orders, Melanie Storey, PSLF and IDR Updates
April 4, 2025 - Beth, Jill and Hugh discuss some of the latest headlines impacting student financial aid, covering NASFAA's new president and CEO, executive orders impacting ED, an upcoming NegReg and more. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Diving Into Consumer Information
March 21, 2025 - Hugh, David and Tonya discuss consumer information and potential blindspots for compliance requirements. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Mass Layoffs at ED, Chances of a Shutdown, and the PSLF Executive Order
March 14, 2025 - Beth, Karen, Allie and Hugh dig into ED's plan to lay off nearly half of its workforce, impacts of a possible government shutdown and the executive order on PSLF. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Federal Tax Information and More FAFSA Guidance
March 7, 2025 - Hugh, Jill and Sarah discuss updates to Federal Tax Information and guidance for the 2026-27 FAFSA. -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Unpacking ED's DEI Dear Colleague Letter, SAVE Plan Updates, and Batch Corrections Functionality
February 28, 2025 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth and Karen are joined by Megan and Jill to discuss multiple updates from the Department of Education (ED). -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Working Through the Trump Administration's Latest Effort to Dismantle Education Department
February 6, 2025 - This week, Allie and Karen are joined by Megan and Nalia to discuss the latest news reports that President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would seek to dismantle the Department of Education. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Working Through SAP Blind Spots
January 31, 2025 - David and Hugh work through some possible blind spots for standards for academic progress (SAP). -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Updated Timelines for NSLDS, Batch Corrections, GE & FVT
January 24, 2025 - The team discusses the latest news surrounding NSLDS, beta testing for batch corrections and the reopening of GE & FVT reporting. -
OTC From the Field: Under Secretary James Kvaal Discusses ED's Priorities During the Biden-Era
January 15, 2025 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth and Karen are joined by U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal. -
OTC From the Field: A Conversation with ED's 2025-26 FAFSA Executive Advisor Jeremy Singer
December 19, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth and Karen are joined by Jeremy Singer, the president of College Board, who earlier this year was hired by the Department of Education (ED) to serve as FAFSA executive advisor for the launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Recapping the FSA Virtual Training Conference and Potential Paths of Biden-Era Regulations Under a Trump Administration
December 13, 2024 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Jill and Sarah recap last week's Federal Student Aid (FSA) Virtual Training Conference and detail what could happen with Biden administration regulations under the incoming Trump administration. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Diving into Common Questions Found on NASFAA U
November 15, 2024 - Hugh and David are joined by Tonya Hsiung, NASFAA U Program Manager, to discuss and answer some common questions surrounding NASFAA U courses. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Updates on GE & FVT Reporting
November 8, 2024 - Hugh, Sarah, and Jill discuss the latest news on Gainful Employment (GE) and Financial Value Transparency (FVT) -
OTC Inside The Beltway: 2024-25 and 2025-26 FAFSA Updates and the 2024 Election
November 1, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth, Jill, Rachel, and Nalia discuss FAFSA updates and how the 2024 election may shape financial aid policy for the next administration. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Updates on 2024-25 Paper FAFSA Processing, Conflicting Information, and Known Issues
October 25, 2024 - This week on "Off the Cuff," David and Hugh discuss multiple updates with the 2024-25 FAFSA, starting off with the latest processing timelines for the 2024-25 paper FAFSA. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Jay Treaty Updates and Resources for Institutions Impacted by Natural Disasters
October 18, 2024 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Sarah and Hugh discuss 2024-25 changes in documentation requirements related to Jay Treaty students and dig into the background of this guidance within the FSA Handbook. -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Beta Testing Begins for the 2025-26 FAFSA
October 4, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Beth and Karen are joined by Jon Fansmith, the American Council on Education's senior vice president of government relations and national engagement, to discuss new updates with the FAFSA and the appropriations process. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: What Makes Professional Judgment So Special?
September 27, 2024 - Hugh, David and Sarah discuss all things concerning professional judgment (PJ) and dive into background information and the latest guidance. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Where Things Stand with SAVE and IDR
September 20, 2024 - Hugh and Jill discuss the latest news surrounding the SAVE program and IDR plans in general. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: A FAFSA Roadmap and Reporting Deadlines
September 13, 2024 - Beth, Karen, Jill, Hugh and Jon discuss the latest news surrounding the 2025-26 FAFSA and ED's planned beta period for the form. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing on Batch Corrections
August 2, 2024 - This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff" the team discusses the latest FAFSA development concerning batch corrections. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: The Latest on GE & FVT Regulations, SCOTUS' Regulatory Shakeup, and FAFSA Timelines
July 19, 2024 - This week on "Off the Cuff," the team discusses the latest updates with gainful employment and financial value transparency regulations, along with FAFSA news. -
OTC Inside The Beltway: Justin Signs Off
June 14, 2024 - This week on a special episode of "Off The Cuff," Justin, Karen, and Allie are joined by former OTC podcast hosts Stephen Payne and Megan Coval. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Preparing for New Regulations Effective on July 1, 2024
June 7, 2024 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Hugh, Jill, and David discuss several regulatory changes that become effective on July 1, 2024. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: 300 Episodes Later
May 31, 2024 - Justin, Karen and Allie discuss the most up-to-date FAFSA news and preview the upcoming NASFAA conferences. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: The Good, the Bad, and the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure of School Corrections
May 17, 2024 - Allie, Jill and David talk about the latest news on school corrections and dive into a discussion on crossover periods. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Cardona Faces More FAFSA Questions on the Hill
May 10, 2024 - Justin, Karen, Rachel and Jon recap a lengthy House hearing where Secretary Cardona sparred with Republicans over the budget and the FAFSA. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Debriefing the Temporary FAFSA Filing Fix for Mixed-Status Families and Cardona's Senate Hearing
May 3, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin is joined by Jill and Rachel to discuss this week’s announcement from the Department of Education (ED) of a temporary FAFSA filing fix for applicants and contributors without a Social Security number. -
OTC Inside The Beltway: New Changes at NASFAA
April 26, 2024 - This week on "Off The Cuff," Justin and Karen are joined by Beth Maglione and Charlotte Etier to discuss Justin's announcement this week that he plans to step down from his role as NASFAA's president and CEO in June. -
OTC Inside the Beltway: Biden's Student Debt Relief Program Faces SCOTUS
March 3, 2023 - Justin and Karen are joined by Jon to discuss how President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation program fared in the Supreme Court. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Examining New Guidance From ED on Third Party Servicers
February 24, 2023 - This week on "Off the Cuff," Justin, Jill, and David discuss updated guidance from the Department of Education (ED) about third party servicers. -
OTC From the Field: A Conversation With Under Secretary James Kvaal
July 1, 2022 - Justin is joined by U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal to discuss the administration's higher education priorities. -
OTC AskRegs Experts: Gainful Employment Back in the Spotlight and Disbursing Title IV Aid for Completed Payment Period
February 18, 2022 - Justin is joined by NASFAA Senior Policy Analyst Jill Desjean and NASFAA U Instructor David Tolman to break down the latest on gainful employment as the Department of Education’s (ED) negotiated rulemaking committee once again tackles the topic. -
OTC From the Field: A Conversation With Brent Tener, NASFAA’s National Chair
January 7, 2022 - Justin is joined by Brent Tener and Beth Maglione. The three dive into conversation on NASFAA’s operations, and experiences working with higher education institutions. -
Off the Cuff Feedback
January 1, 2020 - We appreciate your feedback regarding our podcast, Off the Cuff. Send your thoughts, questions, and comments using this form. We'd love to hear what you think.
