Federal updates

ED issues updated military mobilization guidance
As we all know, many members of the U.S. Armed Forces are being called to active duty or reassigned due to the recent military mobilization. Among these servicemen and women are students and borrowers affiliated with our institutions whose educational or loan repayment circumstances are being interrupted due to this life change.

TG updates

TG Conference keynote to focus on taking a step beyond
In keeping with the theme of the 2003 TG Conference—FFELP: Live in Concert!—this year's keynote address will feature guitar virtuoso and humorist Mike Rayburn. Mike Rayburn has been awarded the prestigious Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity—past recipients include President Jimmy Carter, Jackson Browne, and Kenny Rogers. Mike draws from his wealth of experiences here and abroad to illustrate that one person can make a difference in this world.

AIE.org provides online college planning tools for families
Adventures In Education (AIE), TG's public-service website, now offers two online calculators to help families and students estimate college costs and plan for the future. The Early College-Cost Estimator and College Aid Calculator are user-friendly tools, designed for AIE by Think Ahead Inc., to help families make informed decisions about college planning. Both calculators are available at www.AIE.org.

This, that, and the other...

ED last week announced some improvements to its Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website:

• All FSA brochures and pamphlets promoting federal aid are now available in a single area of IFAP called "Aids to Promoting Federal Aid."
• FSA now offers downloadable computer-based training on the new Common Origination and Disbursement Process and EDExpress.
• A new series of Web pages offers counselors information and suggestions for addressing critical problems of misinformation and lack of information about postsecondary education options and financial aid.

More information on these improvements is available in ED's announcement, available at www.ifap.ed.gov/
eannouncements/
0326LooksWhatNew.html.