Common Manual Updates

Note: Current Common Manual Updates (Updates) and an integrated version of the Common Manual (integrated version) are available on TG Online under "Schools & Lenders." By posting Updates and the integrated version online, TG offers its customers access to new policies shortly after the Common Manual Governing Board approves them.

If you want to be notified each time Updates and a revised integrated version are posted online, you can join TG's electronic news service, TG NetWorks. To join, go to TG Online at www.tgslc.org, click "Subscribe," and complete the online form.

School and Program Eligibility at Additional Locations
The Common Manual has been revised to include Final Rules concerning the addition of school locations. When a school adds a licensed and accredited location that offers at least 50% of an educational program, the school must report to the Department before delivering Title IV funds to eligible students attending the added location. Reporting consists of submitting an electronic application that provides specific information about the added location and other required documentation. Further information on these requirements can be found in 34 CFR 600.20 and in The Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook, Institutional Eligibility and Participation. In addition, after reporting, a school must have approval from the Department before it can deliver Title IV funds to eligible students attending the added location if it meets any of the following criteria:

• The school is provisionally certified.
• The school is on the reimbursement or cash monitoring system of payment.
• The school has acquired the assets of another school that provided educational programs at that location during the preceding year, and the other school participated in Title IV programs during that year.
• The school would be subject to a loss of eligibility due to its cohort default rate if it adds the location.
• The school has been notified by the Department that it must apply for approval of an additional location.

Affected Sections: 4.1.C.
Effective Date: School locations added on or after July 1, 2001
Basis: Final Rules published in Part IX of the Federal Register, pages 65662-65676, dated November 1, 2000; §600.20 and §600.21
Policy Information: Reference 485
Guarantor Comments: Schools are reminded to notify each applicable guarantor and the Department in writing within 10 days when adding a location.

Electronic Notification When Crediting a Student's Account
If a school credits a student's school account with Stafford or PLUS loan proceeds, the school is required to notify the student or parent borrower. This notice may be written or electronically transmitted. Common Manual policy has been revised to state that if the notice is sent electronically, the school must confirm receipt of the notice by the student, or parent borrower in the case of a PLUS loan, and must maintain documentation of that confirmation. Methods by which a school could confirm receipt include, but are not limited to, electronic confirmations or receipts automatically generated by the school's e-mail system. Previous guidance stated that the school had to require the student, or parent in the case of a PLUS loan, to confirm receipt.

Affected Sections: 6.3.C.
Effective Date: Electronic notifications sent by the school on or after July 1, 2001
Basis: Final Rules published in Part IX of the Federal Register, pages 65662-65676, dated November 1, 2000; §668.165(a)(3)(ii)
Policy Information: Reference 486
Guarantor Comments: None.

Back to Top