Federal Updates

Reauthorization watch
It's a new year and the first session of the 109th Congress is well underway. Congress has wasted no time getting things in gear for a possible reauthorization this year. Both the House and the Senate recently introduced several higher education bills, most of which focus on improving access to higher education for low- and middle-income students.

ED to deliver draft FY 2003 cohort default rates
On February 14, ED plans to electronically transmit official cohort default rate notification packages (eCDRs) to all schools located in the United States. Through eCDR, the schools receive official cohort default rate packages instantly and electronically rather than through courier service as hard copy. Foreign schools are not required to participate in this electronic process. Foreign school CDR notification packages will be mailed February 14.

TG Updates

TG offers free telephone conference on understanding, using cohort default rate information
To assist student financial aid professionals in understanding and using cohort default rate information to benefit their institutions and their student loan borrowers, TG will host a free telephone conference entitled "Understanding Cohort Default Rates" on Thursday, February 24, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (CST).

Common Manual

Common Manual Updates
Information on recent updates to the Common Manual.

Legislative Update

The February 7 issue of TG's Legislative Report includes updates on the Texas Legislature's initial FY 2006-2007 appropriations bill that proposes to decrease funding for the TEXAS Grant program and to increase funding for the Texas B-On Time loan program; an update of higher education- and student financial aid-related bills that have been filed for consideration during the 79th Texas legislative session; a congressional update; and a Sunset Advisory Commission Review update. Keep up with the latest developments by reading the full report on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/index.cfm.

This, That, and the Other...

Lumina Foundation for Education, a private, independent organization, has released a report that documents the difficulties that students face in pursuing a higher education. The foundation's report states that the primary obstacles in accessing and succeeding in higher education are inadequate preparation; insufficient awareness information, guidance, and encouragement; and unmet financial need. The study asserts that the inability of federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs to make up the difference between family finances and rising college prices has become a fundamental barrier to a higher education for many students. To view the report, What We Know about Access and Success in Postsecondary Education, visit www.luminafoundation.org/
research/what_we_know/
index.html.