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Federal Updates
Commission on the Future of Higher Education releases final report
Last week, the Commission on the Future of Higher Education released its long awaited report, A Test of Our Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education. The document is the fifth and final version of a report that the Commission has been working on since its creation one year ago. Tasked with developing a comprehensive national strategy for postsecondary education that will meet the needs of America's future, the Commission drafted a report that focuses on the areas of access, cost and affordability, financial aid, learning, transparency and accountability, and innovation in postsecondary education.
ACSFA report cites financial barriers as biggest impediment to postsecondary education access
Mortgaging Our Future, a report recently released by the federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA), states that, because of financial barriers in higher education, millions of college-qualified high school students will be unable to obtain bachelor's degrees. The ACSFA provides guidance to Congress and to the Secretary of Education on student financial aid matters.
New disbursement guidelines for students studying outside the United States
The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) established new requirements for the direct disbursement of Stafford loans to students studying abroad and at foreign schools. This article examines both the policy and procedural angles for each type of direct disbursement.
TG Updates
Hiring staff? Bring them up to speed fast with these nine tips
Remember that first day on the job when you began working in financial aid? Perhaps it was a Work-Study position or even a temp job. You probably didn't know a lot about financial aid, and the process for doing things seemed hard to understand, especially given the pace of many financial aid offices. Now that you're hiring staff, think back to that time: How did you feel? What could have helped you learn your job even more quickly? Policy information? A detail of office practice? Or just some form of reassurance?
Order the new poster on the Texas Financial Aid Information Center for your office
The Texas Financial Aid Information Center (TFAIC) offers Texas schools year-round support on any issue related to student financial aid. The center serves as a one-stop resource for schools, students, and families who have questions about financial aid eligibility, the application process, state financial aid programs, education-related tax benefits, and more. Created by the Texas Legislature, the center is a collaborative effort of TG, the Texas Association of Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA), and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Since its inception in 1999, the center has provided help to thousands of students and families.
Got a financial aid question? Ask TG™
In financial aid, good customer service means getting comprehensive answers fast. TG provides multiple ways of getting those answers: Strong call center support, training on varied policy and industry issues, and an online query tool that works like an electronic guru on all things financial aid.
Trends and Issues
Question of the week
What new Title IV loan deferment was authorized under the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA)?
Legislative Update
The September 21 issue of TG's Legislative Report looks closely at two publications released by the federal government: A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education, produced by the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education; and Mortgaging Our Future, put together by Congressional Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA). Among other things, the report considers the viability of various recommendations made in these studies. Learn more by reading the full report on TG Online at www.tgslc.org/lege_report/index.cfm.
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