Federal Updates

Sally Stroup to leave ED for House committee
On Thursday, an ED spokeswoman confirmed that Sally Stroup is stepping down from her position as ED's assistant secretary of postsecondary education. Stroup has served as ED's top advisor on higher education related matters for the last four years and is headed back to serve as the deputy staff director of House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she served as a top aide from 1993 to 2001.

ED reiterates commitment to enforce single-holder rule
ED recently issued Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) FP-06-03 to "reiterate and confirm" its position that, beginning April 1, 2006, it will enforce the single-holder rule in the making of FFELP Consolidation loans.

Correction to previous Shoptalk Online edition
TG regrets the following error regarding exit counseling in Shoptalk Online, Edition 341.

TG Updates

TG offers two free telephone conferences on ED guidance on the Higher Education Reconciliation Act
Now that ED has weighed in on the loan-related provisions of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act (HERA), TG would like to provide its school and lender partners with an analysis of this latest guidance to help you to implement the forthcoming changes at your institution. Thus, TG invites you to join one of two free telephone conferences, titled "ED Guidance on the Higher Education Reconciliation Act."

2006 TG Conference includes second Financial Aid 4K
Attention runners and walkers: The 2006 TG Conference, which will be held April 18 - 20 in Austin, Texas, will feature the second annual Financial Aid 4K Fun Run/Walk. Those looking to start Wednesday morning on a healthy note can get in a short run, jog, or walk on the scenic Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail and help raise money for an educational charity.

Question of the week
Can a lender pay the origination fee on behalf of a borrower?

Legislative Update

The March 17 issue of TG's Legislative Report includes updates on the Higher Education Act of 2006. 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...

The iPod has become ubiquitous among teens and young adults as a convenient way to store and listen to music. But now, iPods are finding homes in the classrooms of colleges and universities as more professors begin to use the gadgets as education tools — to download movies and other course material, receive podcasts and even view campus brochures. Apple Computer Inc. has even launched "iTunes U," a nationwide service that makes lectures and other materials available online. To read the CNN.com article, visit www.cnn.com/2006/
EDUCATION/03/20/
ipod.university.ap/index.html.