TG extends its concern to the victims of Katrina
First and foremost, TG wishes to express its heartfelt sympathy to those who have lost family, friends, or homes to Hurricane Katrina. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this massive disaster.

Second, TG would like to commend its school, lender, and servicer partners that are identifying and assisting those students and borrowers who have been impacted, directly or indirectly, by this tragedy. We are especially uplifted to see the generous spirit of schools that are receiving displaced students who are unable to attend postsecondary schools affected by the disaster. TG is here as a partner and a resource, and we will do whatever we can to assist you in easing the burden of those affected by Katrina.

TG has provided a series of articles in this edition of Shoptalk Online that we hope you will find useful as we gather information on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the financial aid industry. TG will, of course, circulate additional information as it continues to emerge.

Federal Updates

ED issues part I of its guidance on Hurricane Katrina
ED announced last week that over the next several days it will issue a series of communications to provide guidance to assist students and postsecondary educational institutions in contending with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Previous guidance issued by ED applies to Katrina
In the case of a federal disaster, ED has standing guidance, still in effect, that pertains to students and schools in areas affected by the disaster. This guidance is Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) GEN-04-04.

TG Updates

TG develops Web page for students, schools affected by Katrina
In an effort to give students and schools affected by Hurricane Katrina a central resource of information, TG has developed a Web page on TG Online that contains numerous links related to the higher education community's response to Katrina.

TG compiles questions for which we have answers
There are many questions circulating on financial aid industry listservs relating to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Title IV program administration. TG has compiled several of those questions for which current guidance exists, and provides them here.