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TG Updates

Shoptalk Online 210, June 24, 2003

TG Updates

New default aversion resources to debut at NASFAA

TG will unveil two new default aversion resources for schools at next month's NASFAA Conference. Visitors to the TG booth (#515) will receive the first copies of a colorful new default prevention calendar and a newly updated edition of TG's popular default aversion training model.

2003-2004 Default Prevention Calendar
This new resource from TG gives schools 16 months worth of practical ideas for helping students avoid default. Each month features colorful and clever graphics that use humor to make points about financial issues facing students. The graphics were conceived as a fresh new extension of TG's series of award-winning default aversion posters (examples of recent posters are featured on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/council/cmef_initiatives.cfm).
New Default Training Model
In addition to updating content and enhancing the design, TG has given its popular default training model a new name: "A Clear and Present Danger to Institutional and Student Success: A Training Model for Embedding Student Loan Default Aversion within Strategic Enrollment Management."

The new model explains how integrating default aversion strategies into institutional enrollment management plans can help students enjoy a sound financial future — and help produce higher graduation rates, increased alumni support, and stronger student connections for campuses using these strategies.

More conference information
For more information on what TG has in store for NASFAA attendees, visit our conference pages on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/nasfaa2003/index.cfm. The full agenda and further information on the conference is available on NASFAA's conference site at www.nasfaa.org/subhomes/annualconference2003/home.html.

Reminder: TG holds consolidation teleconference this week

Loan consolidation has been a hot topic this year. More borrowers than ever are exploring consolidation as a means to lock in record-low interest rates. Now that rates are going even lower in July (see "Interest rates - how low will they go?" in Shoptalk Online Edition 207), we may have even more borrowers considering consolidation. To help you counsel borrowers about this option, TG is holding a teleconference entitled "Maximizing the Consolidation Opportunity" this Thursday, June 26, from 2-3 p.m. CDT.

The teleconference is free of charge and open to participants from any institution. Although the event is just a couple of days away, there's still time to register — just contact Premiere Teleconferencing at (800) 289-0579 and reference confirmation number 480261.

Conference registrants can also review materials related to the teleconference to help them prepare for the event on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/custfocus/teleconf030626.cfm.

TG, Council host gathering of student loan servicers

TG and its partner, the Council for the Management of Educational Finance, hosted 32 representatives of student loan servicers and other members of the student financial aid community in Dallas on June 5 for the second Industry Dialogue with Loan Servicers. This year's discussion topic was "Education Loan Servicing in the New Economy," which included an overview of economic indicators and a summary of borrower indebtedness and default/delinquency trends, followed by two roundtable discussions on loan consolidation and alternative loans.

This year's dialogue
As a result of the discussion, Industry Dialogue participants developed several recommendations that could be jointly implemented to strengthen default prevention efforts for students who receive alternative loans to finance their postsecondary education, or who consolidate their loans. These recommendations will be presented and discussed at the Council's annual planning meeting in late June.

"TG wholeheartedly appreciates the time and effort that the Council and our business partners committed to the Industry Dialogue," said Sue McMillin, TG senior vice president for customer relations and business operations. "It was very gratifying to us and to the other participants that this year's discussion focused on students and how to improve our collective efforts to help families and students effectively manage debt and prevent delinquency."

Participants
Participants from the lending and servicing communities included representatives from Affiliated Computer Services, Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Citibank, edamerica, First Marblehead Education Resources, First National Bank - Bryan/College Station, LoanStar Educational Loans, LoanStar Systems, Nelnet, North Texas Higher Education Authority, Panhandle-Plains Student Loan Center, Sallie Mae, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Southwest Student Services Corporation, Student Loan Xpress, SunTech, and Wells Fargo Education Financial Services.

Participants from the higher education community included representatives from Austin Community College, Berry College, Court Reporting Institute of Dallas, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Texas A&M University - College Station, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, University of Houston, University of Texas - Austin, University of Texas - Brownsville, and University of Texas - El Paso.

More information
Last year, discussion from the Industry Dialogue resulted in two publications that have been made available to the financial aid community: a white paper on loan servicing and a revised publication of "Servicers: Your Partners in Default Prevention." Both documents are available on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/council/cmef_initiatives.cfm or by calling (800) 252-9743, ext. 4990.

For more information about recent activity by TG and the Council, see "New Council initiatives help reduce student loan default" in Shoptalk Online Edition 207.