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Kristin Boyer
TG
(512) 219-4990
(800) 252-9743, ext. 4990
kristin.boyer@tgslc.org

October 10, 2006

New partnerships to support research, outreach, need-based aid

TG expands Hispanic Higher Education Initiative

Round Rock, Texas — As a part of TG's Hispanic Higher Education Initiative, TG has established new partnerships with two national Latino-based organizations with the goal of working collaboratively to increase postsecondary education access and success among Hispanics. In addition to these new partnerships, the Initiative provides financial support through existing TG programs including the Charley Wootan Grant Program and the TG Public Benefit Grant Program to help families and students achieve their educational goals.

"TG's history and success in Texas provides a keen perspective on the many issues and challenges facing Hispanic students and their families in achieving a college education. We also realize that our future success as a nation depends on all students having access to educational opportunities beyond high school," said Sue McMillin, president and CEO for TG, a nonprofit company that provides federal student loan guarantees and helps millions of students finance higher education each year. "We're committed to learning and growing through these partnerships, and we're excited to be able to expand assistance to Hispanic students and families — wherever they may live — to help ensure their success in higher education."

TG has established three areas of focus for efforts related to the Hispanic Higher Education Initiative: educational partnerships, competitive grant funding and need-based aid. "These elements provide a comprehensive, multifaceted approach," said Jacob Fraire, TG assistant vice president for educational alliances and partnerships.

Educational partnerships
Two new educational organizations will add to the strength of TG's existing partnerships in serving the needs of Latino students and families:

Excelencia in Education, will receive a grant of $239,447 from TG to conduct a comprehensive institutional assessment and best-practices plan based on the work of six Texas-based HSIs: The University of Texas — Pan American, South Texas College, The University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas Southmost College, The University of Texas at El Paso, and El Paso Community College. The partnership will involve teams of senior-level administrators at each of the HSIs. TG will work with the organization throughout the assessment process and will make available the findings and recommendations that result.
American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) will receive a grant of $85,000 to conduct a Hispanic Student Retention Institute, produce several scholarly and best-practices research papers on Hispanics in higher education, and provide fellowships for graduate students.

Competitive grants and need-based aid
Announced earlier this month, TG's Public Benefit Grant Program will award $3.8 million to 28 institutions and organizations. Of that amount, nearly $2 million will be awarded to HSIs and other organizations that intend to provide outreach, student retention, and grant aid to Hispanics. In soliciting grant proposals for the 2006-2007 year, TG asked prospective grant applicants to indicate if they intended to provide services to Hispanic students and their families. "We were delighted to learn that many of the grant applicants proposed to serve these communities," said Fraire.

In addition, TG will award approximately $210,000 in Charley Wootan Grants to an estimated 21 Hispanic-serving Institutions for the current academic year. Established by the TG Board of Directors in 2000, the Charley Wootan Grant Program provides funding for colleges to be used for need-based aid awards to students.

For more information about TG's Hispanic Higher Education Initiative or the Public Benefit Grant Program, visit www.tgslc.org.

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About TG: TG is a public, nonprofit corporation that helps create access to higher education for millions of families and students through its role as an administrator of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Its vision is to be the premier source of information, financing, and assistance to help all families and students realize their educational and career dreams. Additional information about TG can be found online at www.tgslc.org. This press release can be downloaded from www.tgslc.org/newsroom/.