Shoptalk Online 294

ED approves new teacher loan forgiveness forms
Last week, ED released Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-05-02, announcing the availability of the revised Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application and Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forbearance Form. The previous versions of the forms expired October 31, 2004; however, ED has allowed FFELP participants to use the expired forms until the revised forms became available.

ED releases updated unpaid refund discharge application
ED recently published Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-05-03/FP-05-03 announcing the approval of the Loan Discharge Application: Unpaid Refund for use in the FFELP and the Federal Direct Loan Program.

TG Updates

Rattled by RT4? Attend TG's free RT4 telephone conference
TG invites you to join a free telephone conference on the return of Title IV funds (RT4) entitled "RT4 Basics and Beyond" on Thursday, March 17, from 2 to 3 p.m. (CST).

TG publishes new report on state of student aid
TG has released a new edition of the State of Student Aid and Higher Education in Texas. The report contains data on college costs for the 2004-2005 academic year, the sources and types of financial aid available in the state, and the indebtedness of Texas college students, as well as information on Texas educational attainment levels and the state's rapidly changing demographics.

Trends and Issues

TG co-sponsors chat event on distance education, financial aid
How distance education affects a student's financial aid options will be the topic of an upcoming Mapping Your Future™ (MYF) online chat event scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, at 2 p.m. (CST) on the Mapping Your Future website, www.mapping-your-future.org.

Legislative Update

The February 25 edition of TG's Legislative Report includes updates on a provision of the initial FY 2006-2007 Texas state appropriations bill draft developed by the Legislative Budget Board that proposes to decrease appropriations for the TEXAS Grant program and increase appropriations for the Texas B-On-Time Programs; the higher education- and student financial aid-related bills that have been pre-filed for consideration during the 79th Texas Legislative Session; and a congressional update on federal legislation affecting higher education and student financial aid, including Pell grants and the GEAR UP Program, among others. Keep up with the latest developments by reading the full report on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/index.cfm.

Want an easy way to obtain forms, brochures, and other printed materials? It's as simple as a click of your mouse. You choose the publication and TG does the rest. Visit www.tgslc.org/
publications/index.cfm.

This, That, and the Other...

Here is a little something to think about over your morning cup of joe. A handful of college professors around the nation have begun offering courses that study coffee and its effect on society. A sociology professor in Kentucky called it an "academic epiphany" when he realized he was forming relationships with other regulars at his morning coffee shop that he may otherwise never have known. According to the article, 15 students enrolled in his class "The Café and Public Life," which focuses "not only on coffee as a drink, but how its consumption has changed society through the ages." To read the article, visit www.cnn.com/2005/
EDUCATION/02/25/
coffee.class.ap/index.html.

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Shoptalk Online is published by TG. Unless specifically noted, the policies and procedures outlined in Shoptalk Online apply only to loans made under TG's guarantee and not to loans underwritten by other guarantors.

To ask questions about the articles in Shoptalk Online, please contact Communications at (800) 252-9743, ext. 4732 or communications@tgslc.org.

Contributors to this edition: Kristin Boyer, Kelly Kaelin, Sandy Keller, Art Martinez, and Susan Martinez. Edited by TG Communications and Policy and Regulatory Affairs. Designed by TG Communications.

©2005 Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation.
The TG logo is a trademark of Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation.