Federal Updates

NSLDS Newsletter #13 announces new accommodations to NSLDS for Grad PLUS loans
This month, ED released NSLDS Newsletter #13, which provides guidance on new changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) due to the expansion of the PLUS Loan Program to graduate and professional students. First, the newsletter announces the new loan codes for Grad PLUS loans under each of the loan programs (FFELP and Direct Loan Program).

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
May a school certify an additional unsubsidized Stafford loan for a dependent undergraduate student if the parent(s) has been pre-approved for a PLUS loan, but refuses to actually apply for and borrow the loan due to financial concerns?

Common Manual

Common Manual Governing Board announces new Executive Management Team and Policy Committee membership
The Common Manual Governing Board announced the following changes to its Executive Management Team for the 2006-07 year, along with new Policy Committee members for 2006-08 on Tuesday, July 18, 2006. The Executive Management Team coordinates the annual update and production of the paper and electronic versions of the Common Manual. The team also coordinates funding of the manual, manages public relations, and facilitates special projects such as the restructure of the manual and, soon, a Common Manual website. The Policy Committee researches, drafts, edits, and maintains all policy proposals approved for the Common Manual. Terms begin August 1, 2006.

This, That, and the Other...

Internships have displaced casual hourly jobs as the more typical summer experience for college students — one that may provide valuable professional contacts or even lead to full-time employment after graduation. In a survey by Vault.com that racks student employment trends, 62 percent of college students planned to do an internship this summer, up from 41 percent two years ago, as reported in The New York Times.

But as many as half of all internships are unpaid or low-paid, career counselors say. Some students even end up paying tuition to do unpaid internships because some companies, concerned about labor laws, require students to receive academic credit for the experience. And so college administrators nationwide have become more concerned about access to internships at all socioeconomic levels. The solution, they say, is to provide financial assistance.

To read the July 19 article, visit www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/nyregion/19interns.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Free site registration is required.