Federal Updates

Delayed provisions on the HERAzon
Many changes brought about by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) are old news by now, but as you review your processes and programming for the upcoming academic year, please be aware of several HERA provisions with delayed implementation dates.

Pell grant maximum increases for first time in four years
On February 15, 2007, President Bush signed House Joint Resolution 20 into law (Public Law 110-5), setting the spending levels for multiple federal programs for FY 2007, a fiscal year that is already more than one-third completed. One of the most notable items included in the spending package is a $260 increase in the maximum Pell grant, from $4,050 to $4,310. This is the first increase in the maximum Pell grant in four years.

TG Updates

TG names John Zanot director of product management
TG has named John Zanot, a career high-tech marketing executive, as the company's new director of product management.

AdvanTG Web™ enhancements and TG Versatile Routing™ rollout rescheduled
TG is extending our pilot test of the Versatile Routing (VR) project after a detailed assessment of the pilot test status and pilot partner feedback. The project was originally planned for implementation on February 24.

TG's Financial Aid Leadership Symposium scores high with participants
This year’s Symposium, held February 5 - 9 in Round Rock, Texas, brought together 15 financial aid professionals from every type of institution — public, private, four-year, and two-year colleges. The event was a huge success with participants, who scored it a 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5. In particular, attendees praised the interactive presentation style and the wealth of information.

Texas A&M makes presentation on its TG-supported Aggie Summer Institute program
On February 9, representatives from Texas A&M - College Station (TAMU) presented the results of their 2006 student outreach campaign, Aggie Summer Institute, at the TG Campus in Round Rock, Texas.

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
Can a school delay the delivery of federal (Title IV) funds until a student completes an institutional document, such as an institutional aid application or certification statement, even if all other requirements for the delivery of funds have been met?

This, That, and the Other...

For several years now, TG has held a Financial Aid 4K Fun Run/Walk as part of the TG Annual Conference. This year's event will be held on Wednesday, April 4. Participants will meet in the lobby of the Hilton Austin from 6 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. and walk a short three blocks to Austin's Town Lake Hike 'n' Bike Trail. From there, participants can run or walk a scenic 2.5 mile loop. Registration fees for the event will benefit The Austin Jazz Workshop, which is a unique project that brings professional jazz musicians directly into the public school classroom to work with young people. Join us for this year's run/walk and enrich the school experience of a young child. You can learn about the TG Conference and register by visiting www.tgslc.org/tgconference/index.cfm.