Federal Updates

Closed School Corner
The Department of Education announces four new closures.

TG Updates

TG Finds Community College Transfers Lower-Risk Borrowers Than Expected
A recent study conducted by TG could change perceptions about how transfer students affect school cohort default rates. In the past, community college transfers were considered high-risk borrowers, and it was assumed that they defaulted at rates similar to those of the colleges from which they transferred. However, TG's study showed that while community college default rates still tend to be relatively high, transfer borrowers default at a lower rate—similar to that of borrowers at four-year institutions.

A Day in the Life…A New Series from TG
Shoptalk Online kicks off a new series this month: A Day in the Life. The articles in this series will focus on TG's internal teams and how they interact with TG's customers and partners. The articles will appear in a sequence that mirrors the life of a loan and begins, in Financial Aid Awareness Month, with information about TG's Educational Alliances' awareness team.

Trends and Issues

Feedback Helps Mapping Your Future Meet Users' Needs
Mapping Your Future (www.mapping-your-future.org) (MYF) receives thousands of messages every year. MYF responds to every message and asks for feedback, which the site uses to enhance features.

Legislative Update

TG’s February 14 Legislative Report includes an article about some budget process proposals included in the administration’s FY 2003 budget proposal and a summary of testimony from representatives of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) before a congressional committee regarding challenges faced by the HBCUs. Read both articles online at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/
2002/lr_020214.cfm.

Quick Links

• Graph About Default Rates for Transfer Students.
• TG's Legislative Report.

A Day in the Life

• ...of TG's Educational Alliances

This, That, and the Other...

President Bush's proposed budget for FY 2003 increases federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs) by 3.6 percent, to $213.4 million and $50.8 million, respectively. This increase is on par with Bush's pledge to increase funding for these institutions by 30 percent between 2001 and 2005.

Bush has also recently issued an executive order that establishes a Board of Advisors (appointed by the President) as part of the White House Initiative on HBCUs. The goal of the executive order is to "strengthen our nation's HBCUs and increase their opportunities to participate and benefit from federal programs."

For more information, view ED's press release entitled "President Bush Signs New Executive Order on HBCUs" at www.ed.gov/PressReleases/
02-2002/02122002.html.

Take a look at Adventures In Education, TG's Public Awareness website.