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Common Manual
Common Manual Reaches Milestone
On January 17, 2003, the Common Manual Governing Board approved the 100th batch of proposed policy changes. These policy changes, along with the policies approved in the years since the manual's inception, were developed by guarantors in close consultation with the schools, lenders, and servicers that comprise the FFELP community. The Board believes that this milestone and the collaborative work it represents are great examples of what can be accomplished when representatives of the entire FFELP community work together.
The Common Manual, conceived as a vehicle to develop a single, common set of guarantor policies, was first published in 1995. The manual replaced individual guarantor policy guides, which had many proprietary policies, and has simplified the process of administering the nation's largest education loan program.
A Continuing Commitment
Since its initial publication, FFELP guarantors have committed resources to update and improve the manual, ensuring that it is an accurate, comprehensive guide to FFELP policy. The initiative's Governing Board is comprised of a single voting member of each of the 36 guarantors. The Board is charged with the review and approval of all policy changes, as well as ensuring the efficient and timely publication of each update. To assist it in fulfilling these responsibilities, the Board elects an Executive Management Team from its membership and a Policy Committee from the expert staff of its member guarantors. For many years, the Board also was supported by the efforts of the Logistics and Information Committee, charged with editing, publishing, and distributing the manual.
In the seven years since the manual was first published, many guarantors have volunteered the time and considerable talents of their team members to the Common Manual's success. These staff members have devoted extensive resources to the development of clear, concise text, collaborative research, and technical advances in the manual's structure and delivery mechanisms.
While there have been many individuals along the way from virtually all sectors of the FFELP community who have participated in the process, the Governing Board especially recognizes the individuals (see "Common Manual Honor Roll" included after this paragraph) who have served in key roles with dedication and perseverance in this "common" effort. The Board also thanks those individuals' respective organizations for allowing team members to participate in this important and remarkable achievement. In addition, the Board recognizes the importance of community involvement and appreciates all of the individuals who throughout the past seven years have reviewed proposals, provided insightful comments and suggestions, and supported the Common Manual initiative.
Common Manual Honor Roll
TG is proud of the contributions its team members have made to the success of the Common Manual. Seven TG team members have served on Common Manual committees (three of them have chaired their respective committees, as well), and several others have put in countless hours in support of their work. These committee members are highlighted in bold on the following honor roll from the Common Manual Governing Board:
Policy Committee Members
Michelle Anderson (current and former co-chair) - TG
Kathy Bliss (current member) - Colorado Student Loan Program
Gail Braum - EdFund
Rachel Brock - Connecticut Student Loan Foundation
Carolyn Brown (current member) - Missouri Student Loan Program
Tammy Burford (current member) - EdFund
Kevin Burke (current member) - American Student Assistance
Ruth Chrismore (current administrative position) - Missouri Student Loan Program
Susan Clinton - Michigan Guarantee Agency
Aaron Cook - Northwest Education Loan Association
Cinda Eresuma (former administrative position) - Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Jacki Fairbairn (current member and former chair) - Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation
David Feitz - Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Janet Gonyea - Student Loan Guarantee Foundation of Arkansas
Brenda Grady (current member and former chair) - USA Funds
Arlene Hannawalt - Montana Student Loan Program
Margie Harvey (former chair) - TG
Cindy Hepler (current co-chair and former chair) - American Education
Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Cheryl Hughes (current member and former co-chair) - South Carolina Student Loan Corporation
Melissa Johnson - Oklahoma Guaranteed Student Loan Program
Cathryn Judd - Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Kelly Kaelin (current editor) - TG
Tess Keirn - American Education Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
John Kramer - Student Loans of North Dakota
Kathy Mascaro - Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
Nancy Masten (current member) - Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Betsy Mayotte - American Student Assistance
Wendy McAlister - North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Onaleah McClellan (current member) - Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance
Shari Mecca (former Chair) - Connecticut Student Loan Foundation
Lonny Meloon (current member) - New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation
Lynn Murphy - Education Assistance Corporation
Sharon O'Neal - National Student Loan Program
Elaine Padilla - New Mexico Student Loan Guarantee Corporation
Kathy Pratt - New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
David Raccullia - American Education Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Fay Schroeder - Michigan Guaranty Agency
Leesa Sorensen - National Student Loan Program
Sam Wilson - TG
Logistics and Information Committee/Editing Staff
Dana Barzman - American Student Assistance
Scott Brown - Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority
Dan Cosgrove - Northwest Education Loan Association
Susan Degen (former co-chair) - Oregon State Scholarship Commission
Carol Egan - American Education Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Char Feist - Student Loans of North Dakota
Tim Fitzgibbon - Iowa College Student Aid Commission
Janet Gonyea - Student Loan Guarantee Foundation of Arkansas
Wendy Hacker - American Student Assistance
Nina Hold - TG
Tenille Manning Heier - Education Assistance Corporation
Susan Johnson - Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Chris T. Keahi - Iowa College Student Aid Commission
Julie Leeper - Iowa College Student Aid Commission
John McGrath - New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
Cannon Mayes - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
Tom Melecki (former chair) - National Student Loan Program
Peter Pundt (former co-chair) - American Education Services/Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Steve Schmidt - TG
Steven Smith - TG
Ann Scott - Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation
Lori Stevens - Northstar Guarantee
Melanie Tringali - American Student Assistance
Ellen Zimmerman - Education Assistance Corporation
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