Federal Updates

Taking a closer look at the final rules: Prohibited inducements and preferred lender lists
This week’s article in a series focusing on areas of the November 1, 2007, final rules will examine prohibited inducements and preferred lender lists.

TG Updates

"Training today, Preparing for tomorrow" — Set your sights on TG's 2008 TG Annual Training Conference
FFELP and industry-related training provides you with the foundation to do your job well and to benefit students. Each year, TG offers a three-day round-up of workshops and forums that emphasizes training in the nuts and bolts of financial aid. Well-attended and regularly praised for its polish and organization, the TG Annual Training Conference has come to be a choice stop for many financial aid professionals attending spring conferences.

TG to hold information forums on Public Benefit Grant Program
TG invites you to an information forum to hear about the Public Benefit Grant Program and to ask questions about grant funding opportunities for 2008-09. TG's philanthropic initiative has awarded approximately $10 million over the past three years to nonprofit institutions and organizations to help fund efforts leading to greater access to higher education and student success.

Tech Report

Resetting your password through TG's encryption service: Tumbleweed™ Secure Messenger Portal
TG secures all outbound e-mail messages through an e-mail encryption software product known as Tumbleweed. To receive such TG messages, you must visit a TG-hosted Web site and enter a password. You may occasionally need to reset your password. If so, this article will tell you how.

Trends and Issues

Question of the week
I understand that there are new entrance counseling requirements for Grad PLUS borrowers. Do parent PLUS borrowers also have to participate in entrance counseling sessions?

Common Manual

Common Manual Updates
Information on recent updates to the Common Manual.

This, That, and the Other...

More high school juniors and seniors are forgoing summer vacations and summer jobs for pricey college preparatory programs. Some colleges, like Pennsylvania State University or the University of Wisconsin, are working with service companies to offer young adults one or more weeks on campus during the summer. While there, students take regular coursework, bone up on the basics of particular subjects, sharpen their test performance for the SATs, or learn more about college admissions.

These programs can cost upwards of $7,000 depending on the package, but more students are flocking to them for a taste of college and to get a better shot at gaining admittance to the college of their choice.

Learn more about these programs by reading the complete New York Times article at www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/travel/03heads.html?_r=2&ex=1359781200&en=55af07fdbdfb5220&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin.