Federal Updates

Stafford Loan MPN Extended
The current Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) expired on August 31, 2002. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved an emergency 30-day extension of the expiration date to September 30, 2002.

ED Announces New FSA Chief Operating Officer
Effective later this month, ED's office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will have a student loan industry veteran as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). On August 28, Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced that Theresa S. Shaw will replace Greg Woods, who recently resigned from the position for health reasons.

ED Issues Update on 2002 Child Care Forgiveness
ED recently issued an update on the status of the Child Care Provider Loan Forgiveness Program (CCPLFP) for fiscal year (FY) 2002.

NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Enhances Attendance Tracking
Earlier this year, ED made several changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)—including the introduction of the new Enrollment Reporting process (for more information, see Shoptalk Online, Edition 140). Improvements to the NSLDS keep coming, with recent changes to the Enrollment Reporting attendance tracking feature making this useful tool even better than before.

TG Updates

TG's Contributions to NCHELP Committees
TG has several team members participating on 2002-2003 National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP) committees. The NCHELP committees bring member industry partners together to explore ways to improve the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).

Trends and Issues

Sept. 11 Scholarship Fund Reaches $100 Million Goal
The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund recently reached its goal of raising $100 million to provide educational assistance for postsecondary study to dependents (children and spouses) of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11 attacks.

Edufacts™—August 2002
The largest and most diverse student population started postsecondary education this fall.

Legislative Update

The September 5 Legislative Report includes articles about the challenges faced by the 107th Congress as they begin their final session, the unveiling of Texas' new college savings plan and renaming of its prepaid college tuition program, and enhancements to Texas student aid plans proposed by state office candidates. Read the details at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/
2002/lr_020905.cfm.

Quick Links

• Edufacts™—
  August 2002

This, That, and the Other...

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) recently issued an interim rule that allows commuter students from Mexico and Canada to study on a part-time basis at schools located within 75 miles of the United States border.

Mexican and Canadian nationals have attended U.S. schools as part-time commuters in the past, but this activity was threatened after security measures were tightened following the events of last September 11. The INS has clarified that in the interest of the special relationship between the U.S. and its neighbors, it would allow students to carry out their studies, provided that they carry required documentation.

For more information about this interim rule, view the INS press release at www.ins.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/
newsrels/students_NR.htm.

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